How can I get rid of reflections?

[forsberg]

...I've heard things such as a lightbox or polarizing filter. Anything I can do without buying extra gear to remove reflections?

[-DOOMED-]

A decent circular polarizing filter would help cut those reflections.

[Ames]

Change the angle.

[Scottish Steve]

You don't need any of that. hold a piece of card up or change the lighting and put a mirror in the right place to catch the light and direct it somewhere else.

[GuySie]

Hang up a big sheet that will catch the light from the window and make it a big diffuser. Position your camera so all you see in the crystal is the diffuse light from the sheet, nothing outside of it. Done!

[forsberg]

I held a piece of paper to diffuse the light. But once I do that, I lose the depth on the dial.

[diseno]

1-change the angle.
2-Circular polari.
3-Difuse the light (courtain/paper/reboot/gobo)

[T_I]

Indeed, diffuse the light. I used a clean canvas (the stuff you paint on) from my wife.

Without defusing.



with



Same setup, 1 minute apart. (Less, when I check the second hand )

Another watch, white dail. (pretty nasty to shoot, especially when the glass is worn)

Without



With



Tested with the first watch, redid the pictures of this one.

BTW all shots were with circular polarization filter.

These shots are both without defusing (It was pretty dark)

Without polarization



With (and change of angle)



The cheapest way is close the curtains (or place the watch away from the window), change the angle, place the camera on a tripod, set to lowest ISO (100), use the timer and time the shot correctly. (or else you get a nice action shot ;) )

[zephyrnoid]

I'm a lazy retired pro. I require that all crystals except integrated in bezel/case are REMOVED prior to my photography. I often will shoot the crystal separately and composite controlled reflections in Photoshop to give the watch some depth and to delineate the crystal's edges. In other words I want it to look like the crystal is on but via two shots rather than one. Otherwise, angle selection and my magic light box and if absolutely I actually use a 4'X6' soft box overhead for some large group shots.
This one (below)simply lacks the crystal....

This one is a composite of the crystal lit in one way and the watch in another and the background striped in in PS.

This one (below) ,a 2'X3' softbox overhead and a dark gray fill card with a hole in it on camera side

[ipolit]

A decent circular polarizing filter would help cut those reflections.

The polarizing filter can reduce reflections from the crystal, but it doesn't work for metal surfaces, so keep in mind it is not panacea.
Also you have to check if the front element of the lense is rotating when you focus, because it is difficult to shoot with pol filter if the lens is turning.