Sounds obvious, right? Of course, your jewelry must be clean and polished. The challenge comes from the level of detail captured by a DSLR camera and the proper lighting settings. The final image is often enlarged several times the actual size of the jewel. Details invisible to the naked eye will be revealed when photographed.
Clean your jewelry every time you touch it. Wearing cotton gloves can save you time and re-shoot.
Develop a set of photography guidelines for your jewelry and follow them. Consistency is key in product photography, and variations from product to product or shot to shot will distract your customer. Document everything: camera settings, lighting, background, and equipment position. Make sure you can resume recording on a different day without noticeable changes.