Cleaning the watch before a packshot

🧽 Get your timepieces ready before shooting. Eliminate dust and traces for an irreproachable visual result.

1 hour and 30 min with dryingWool cloth, a sponge glove, nourishing colorless shoe polish, a soft-bristled toothbrush, cotton swabs and a soft lint-free clothA member of your team

⌚️When photographing your watches, especially with a macro photo lens, the smallest trace will be visible on your visuals.

Discover our advice on equipment for jewelry photography.

Dust is particularly visible on close-ups showing the bracelet, dial, or part of the case. The same goes for fingerprints.

✏️ You may waste time deleting them in post-production. Here are our tips for presenting your watches in their best light.

How do I clean a watch before taking a picture of it? 📷

Cleaning a leather watch strap

🧴 Have a go wool rag (it should not fluff) or cotton soaked in cleansing milk, or even Marseille soap.

🧽If the bracelet is very dirty, use a moistened sponge.

🧺Dry with a sponge glove, then allow the band to dry before applying a nourishing colourless shoe polish (do not use shoe creams).

Cleaning a metal or rubber bracelet

🧼For metallic or rubber bracelets, you will need: a wet soft brush and soap.

🧺Dry with a rag soft and dry. Then use a soft cloth and dab the bracelet.

If persistent stains are present, a toothbrush With soft bristles will allow you to erase them and penetrate between the links of a stainless steel bracelet.

You can also use a cotton swab.

Clean the case and its dial

🧼Again, equip yourself with a wet rag to clean both sides of the case. If, despite this first cleaning, the dirt persists, use a soft-bristled toothbrush soaked in soapy water.

🔄 Make circular movements over the entire surface of the case including the dial.

Again, if the piece is sensitive to clean, such as a dial with decorative pieces, use a cotton swab dipped insoapy water or isopropyl alcohol and make slight circular movements on its surface.

Last step before preparing your watch for the shooting

🧣Wipe the watch one last time with a soft, lint-free cloth.

⌚️Finally, let it dry at least one hour.

🧤You will then be ready to put on your gloves and position the timepiece for your photo shoot.

Find out in this tutorial How to position a watch before taking a picture.

Frequently asked questions

How to avoid fingerprints or dust on the watch before shooting?

Wear cotton gloves before handling the watch to avoid fingerprints. Also, use a soft, lint-free cloth to remove any dust before positioning.

What is the point of properly preparing the watch before shooting?

Good preparation ensures that the watch is clean and dry, reducing the need for post-production touch-ups. This optimizes capture time and produces high-quality visuals quickly.

What are the financial benefits of effective cleaning before shooting?

A well-done cleaning reduces the retouching required in post-production, which saves time and reduces the costs associated with retouching or resuming shootings.

Should a specific product be used for luxury or fragile watches?

Yes, for luxury watches or watches with decorative pieces, prefer soft products such as light soapy water or isopropyl alcohol applied gently with a cotton swab.

How important is drying before shooting?

Complete drying prevents traces of humidity or unwanted reflections on the images. A poorly dried watch may require additional touch-ups, increasing production costs.

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