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Taking good quality pictures of loose gems, for most, is a struggle at best.  However, with recent breakthroughs in gem lighting equipment, even amateur photographers can now obtain dramatic results with minimal effort.   The following examples show the basic setup that should allow anyone to achieve results they can be proud of.

These images were all taken using an Nikon Coolpix S4 digital camera.  The basic setup we used included an acrylic gemstone support to position the gems in an upright position, while providing a clean and clutter free background.  We used a TableTop Studio circular LED ring light as the light source, equipped with multiple LED's and a small flourescent bulb as the main light source.  We also used a small copystand to support our camera and allow us to shoot straight down. (More details on the equipment can be found at the end of this page).

The keys to good gem photography are sharpness, lighting, exposure, and in the case of gemstone photography, trying to create some sparkle.
 

Focus-

It is worth getting out your camera's manual  to find out how to put the camera in "spot focus" mode.  The normal focus mode of digital cameras is some sort of average focus mode.  That means that the camera will look at a wide area of a scene and base the focus on that area.  Since you want to control where the camera is focusing, it's better for jewelry photography to put the camera into spot focus mode, this will allow you to control more precisely what the camera will be focusing on.   However, even in spot focus mode many digital cameras can't really "lock-in" on a small shiny object like gemstone jewelry using auto focus.  So unfortunately, for close-up jewelry photography,  you need a camera with good manual focus capability.

Another key to a sharp image is is using a copystand.  It is absolutely essential to use a copystand or similar camera support when shooting gemstones so that you can position the camera to shoot straight down without motion. A sturdy copystand is better than a flimsy one, but any copystand is many times better than no copystand. Use a copystand.

Lighting-

Another key to good gem photography is the lighting.  You have probably already discovered that an on-camera flash does not lead to good gem photos.  Not only is the camera's flash too bright at such a close distance, but it is probably in the wrong position to actually light up the gem properly.  On camera flash will also create harsh and distracting shadows. Rather than flash, we like to use continuous lighting for product photography. Using continuous lights makes it easier to visualize what the final image will be like. We prefer LEDs specifically designed for lighting gemstones. These new LEDs multiply the sparkle effect and produce such a small amount of glare that they can be positioned up close to each gem for maximum sparkle.

Exposure-

Proper exposure is also key to good gemstone photography.  (For more information on adjusting the exposure for gem images take a look at this page.)

Now lets look at some specific gem photography situations that go beyond the basics.

3. The camera, held by the copystand, can shoot directly through the circle of light.
     Be sure the camera lens is parallel to the top face of the gem to capture the most
     reflected light. Faceted gems are cut to reflect light from above.

The position of the gem in relation to the light source and camera is critical so that you see the stones sparkle.

1. The gem is positioned with the top face of the stone parallel to the light. We used a white, non-glare acrylic gem support, custom designed to hold various gem sizes and shapes upright for correct lighting.
    

2. The LED Gem light's, circular shape makes it ideal for gem illumination. This light should be centered around the stone to create even lighting and as much sparkle as possible.

... Shown left, the Gem light is tilted for illustrative purpose only. Here you can see the circle of bright LED's.

The copystand, right, holds the camera steady in the correct position ...