Skyrim:Gems

From left to right: Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond

Gems are valuable gemstones that are used to create jewelry. They can be found randomly when mining ore veins, or in random loot. A separate page details soul gems, which are special types of gems used for soul trapping.

All of the items on this page are traded by jewelry merchants, and can also be sold to general goods merchants.

Valuable Gems

Most gems that you find are randomly generated, meaning that most of the possible locations are the same for all twelve types of gem. The gems that appear in randomly-generated loot depends on the player's level. The "Level (Loot)" column in the following table applies to most locations where gems are found; the "Level (Merchant)" column only applies to merchant inventories. Merchants do not stock diamonds, emeralds, or any flawless gems.

	Gem	Level (Loot)	Level (Merchant)
	Garnet	1	1
	Amethyst	1	6
	Flawless Garnet	4	N/A
	Ruby	8	12
	Flawless Amethyst	12	N/A
	Sapphire	16	24
	Flawless Ruby	20	N/A
	Emerald	24	N/A
	Flawless Sapphire	28	N/A
	Diamond	32	N/A
	Flawless Emerald	36	N/A
	Flawless Diamond	40	N/A

The leveled list is weighted so that the chances of high-level gems continue to increase as your level improves (e.g., flawless garnets are two times more likely to appear at level 6 than level 4), but there is always a chance of receiving even the lowest level gems.

The following table illustrates the possible outcomes of a single gem 'loot roll' at different character levels.

Levels
1	60.00%	40.00%
2-3	37.50%	62.50%
4-5	33.33%	55.56%	11.11%
6-7	30.00%	50.00%	20.00%
8-9	25.00%	41.67%	25.00%	8.33%
10-11	21.43%	35.71%	28.57%	14.29%
12-13	18.75%	31.25%	25.00%	18.75%	6.25%
14-15	16.67%	27.78%	22.22%	22.22%	11.11%
16-17	15.00%	25.00%	20.00%	20.00%	15.00%	5.00%
18-19	13.64%	22.73%	18.18%	18.18%	18.18%	9.09%
20-21	12.50%	20.83%	16.67%	16.67%	16.67%	12.50%	4.17%
22-23	11.54%	19.23%	15.38%	15.38%	15.38%	15.38%	7.69%
24-25	10.71%	17.86%	14.29%	14.29%	14.29%	14.29%	10.71%	3.57%
26-27	10.00%	16.67%	13.33%	13.33%	13.33%	13.33%	13.33%	6.67%
28-29	9.38%	15.63%	12.50%	12.50%	12.50%	12.50%	12.50%	9.38%	3.13%
30-31	8.82%	14.71%	11.76%	11.76%	11.76%	11.76%	11.76%	11.76%	5.88%
32-33	8.33%	13.89%	11.11%	11.11%	11.11%	11.11%	11.11%	11.11%	8.33%	2.78%
34-35	7.89%	13.16%	10.53%	10.53%	10.53%	10.53%	10.53%	10.53%	10.53%	5.26%
36-37	7.50%	12.50%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	7.50%	2.50%
38-39	7.14%	11.90%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	9.52%	4.76%
40-41	6.82%	11.36%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	9.09%	6.82%	2.27%
42-43	6.52%	10.87%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	8.70%	4.35%
44-45	6.38%	10.64%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	8.51%	6.38%
46+	6.25%	10.42%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%	8.33%

Possible locations for random gems (all using the loot leveled list) are:

• Grelka's strongbox is guaranteed to contain three gems (more with Prowler's Profit; see below)
• All Dwarven centurions are guaranteed to drop 1-3 gems.
• Boss chests and jewelry boxes in Dwarven ruins are guaranteed to drop one gem.
• Asgeir Snow-Shod, Bashnag, Bolli, Gulum-Ei, Mercer Frey, and Vex always carry multiple gems
• Each time you mine an ore vein, there is a 10% chance of receiving one gem in addition to the ore(s) that you normally receive.
• Most boss chests have a 10-25% chance of containing a gem.
• Most other sources of random loot (chests, enemy NPCs, etc.) have a small chance (typically 1% or less) of containing a gem.

Prowler's Profit

Having the Prowler's Profit ability (from completing the quest No Stone Unturned) causes many more gems to appear. Specifically, 1-4 additional gems are guaranteed to appear in each of the following locations:

• Dropped by giants
• Dropped by dragons
• Carried by rich citizens
• All dead draugr (i.e., the ones that never come to life)
• Most treasure-type chests, including urns, burial urns, Thief Caches, and almost all boss chests
• An assortment of rare or unique containers such as the Confiscated Goods chests outside Riften, Aringoth's Safe, etc.

Possible outcomes for the extra gem roll:

1 gem	2 gems	3 gems	4 gems
9.375%	40.625%	40.625%	9.375%

This means that most of the time you will get 2-3 additional (leveled) gems.

Statistically, urns and burial urns are by far the most common source of Prowler's Profit gems; it is entirely possible, assuming you loot every urn and burial urn you come across, to collect gems at a much faster rate than you will be capable of selling them.

Gem Sources and Uses

General goods merchants generally have a 25% chance of stocking two gems, but only standard amethysts, garnets, rubies, and sapphires.

Note that although many of the gems listed below are guaranteed to occur, they can be difficult or even impossible to find, as gems are particularly prone to being scattered, especially during combat, and may end up coming to rest in a location where they cannot normally be accessed.

	Name (ID)	Weight	Value	Notes
	Amethyst (00063b46)	0.1	120	Sources: Twenty-one guaranteed gems are found in 18 different locations. Locations with the greatest numbers are: Three centered 120 feet south-southeast of Hela's Folly (Winterhold) (map) Two in Valthume (The Reach) Can be mined from amethyst geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: One amethyst is one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver amethyst ring. An amethyst item (either an amethyst, a flawless amethyst, or a silver amethyst ring) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile storm atronach. An amethyst item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of void salts. One amethyst is needed at imbuing chamber device to create shock spider scrolls.DB
	Diamond (00063b47)	0.1	800	Sources: Seven guaranteed gems are found in seven different locations: Hillgrund's Tomb (The Pale) Pinepeak Cavern (The Rift) Rannveig's Fast (Whiterun Hold) Riftweald Manor (Riften) 150 feet south of Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon (The Pale) (map) 150 feet southeast of Shrine to Peryite (The Reach) (map) Carried by Amaund Motierre in The Bannered Mare (Whiterun) Uses: One diamond is one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold diamond ring.
	Emerald (00063b43)	0.1	600	Sources: Thirteen guaranteed gems are found in twelve different locations. The only location with multiple gems is: Two centered 320 feet west of Volskygge (Haafingar) (map), on the sides of the pillar at the base of the steps to the word wall. Can be mined from emerald geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: One emerald is one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold emerald ring. One emerald is needed at imbuing chamber device to create poison spider scrolls.DB
	Flawless Amethyst (0006851e)	0.1	180	Sources: Nine guaranteed gems are found in eight different locations: Two in Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) One at 150 feet south of Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon (The Pale) (map) One at 370 feet south of Swindler's Den (Whiterun Hold) (map) One at 130 feet north-northwest of Blind Cliff Cave (The Reach) (map) One in Dustman's Cairn (The Reach) One in Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) One in Riftweald Manor (Riften) One in Inner Sanctum (Markarth) Uses: Two flawless amethysts are one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold jeweled necklace. An amethyst item (either an amethyst, a flawless amethyst, or a silver amethyst ring) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile storm atronach. An amethyst item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of void salts. Three are needed for the quest Sealing the Deal. A flawless amethyst is needed to create the Shrine of Akatosh in the cellar of homesteads with the Hearthfire add-on. Flawless amethysts were omitted from the VendorItemGem category. This means that they cannot be sold to jewelry merchants, but only to general goods merchants. This bug is fixed by version 1.0 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.
	Flawless Diamond (0006851f)	0.1	1000	Sources: Five guaranteed gems are found in four different locations: Two in Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) One at 440 feet north-northwest of Reachwater Rock (The Reach) (map) in a derelict boat One in Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) One in Kagrenzel (Eastmarch) Uses: One flawless diamond is one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold diamond necklace.
	Flawless Emerald (00068520)	0.1	750	Sources: Seven guaranteed gems are found in seven different locations: Alftand Glacial Ruins (Winterhold) 160 feet east-southeast of Anise's Cabin (Falkreath Hold) (map) Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) Riftweald Manor (Riften) Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) Valthume (The Reach) Uses: One flawless emerald is one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver emerald necklace.
	Flawless Garnet (00068521)	0.1	150	Sources: Eleven guaranteed gems are found in ten different locations. The only location with multiple gems is: Two in Brittleshin Pass (Falkreath Hold) Uses: Two flawless garnets are one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver jeweled necklace.
	Flawless Ruby (00068522)	0.1	350	Sources: Five guaranteed gems are found in five different locations: The Emperor's Quarters on the Katariah (Haafingar) Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) 430 feet north-northwest of Reachwater Rock (The Reach) (map), in a rowboat downstream in the river nearby Shriekwind Bastion (Falkreath Hold) Carried by Amaund Motierre in The Bannered Mare (Whiterun) Uses: One flawless ruby is needed for the quest The Only Cure. One flawless ruby is one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold ruby necklace. A ruby item (either a ruby, a flawless ruby, a silver ruby ring, or a gold ruby necklace) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile flame atronach. A ruby item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of fire salts.
	Flawless Sapphire (00068523)	0.1	500	Sources: Two guaranteed gems are found in two different locations: Inner Sanctum on the first bookcase to the left upon entry (Markarth) Korvanjund Crypt high up on a stone shelf, in a bowl to the southeast of the throne (The Pale) Uses: Two flawless sapphires are needed for the quest Ringmaker. One flawless sapphire is one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver sapphire necklace. A sapphire item (either a sapphire, a flawless sapphire, a gold sapphire ring, or a silver sapphire necklace) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile frost atronach. A sapphire item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of frost salts. Two flawless sapphires are required to craft the Aetherial CrownDG. A flawless sapphire is needed to create the Shrine of Kynareth in the cellar of homesteads with the Hearthfire add-on.
	Garnet (00063b45)	0.1	100	Sources: Twenty-nine guaranteed gems are found in twenty-two different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: Five in Avanchnzel Animoncultory (The Rift) Two in Hall of Rumination (Winterhold) Two around Bannermist Tower (Falkreath Hold) Two in Korvanjund Halls (The Pale) Uses: One garnet is one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver garnet ring.
	Ruby (00063b42)	0.1	200	Sources: Twenty-two guaranteed gems are found in eighteen different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: Three in The Midden (Winterhold) Two in Shriekwind Bastion (Falkreath Hold) Two around Orphan Rock (Falkreath Hold) Can be mined from ruby geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: One ruby is one of two items needed at a forge to create a silver ruby ring. A ruby item (either a ruby, a flawless ruby, a silver ruby ring, or a gold ruby necklace) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile flame atronach. A ruby item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of fire salts. 1 ruby is needed at imbuing chamber device to create flame spider scrolls.DB
	Sapphire (00063b44)	0.1	400	Sources: Ten guaranteed gems are found in seven different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: Three around Hela's Folly (Winterhold) Two in Riften (The Rift) (map) on Sapphire Can be mined from sapphire geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: One sapphire is one of two items needed at a forge to create a gold sapphire ring. A sapphire item (either a sapphire, a flawless sapphire, a gold sapphire ring, or a silver sapphire necklace) is one of two items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile frost atronach. A sapphire item is also one of three items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of frost salts. One sapphire is needed at imbuing chamber device to create frost spider scrolls.DB

Other

These items are classified internally as gems, but have other special uses.

	Name (ID)	Weight	Value	Notes
	Mark of Dibella 00041f95	0.5	0	Quest: Caught Red Handed
	Meridia's Beacon 0004e4e6	0.5	0	Quest: The Break of Dawn
	Right Eye of the Falmer 001092b8	5	2500	Quest reward for the quest Blindsighted. Unlike the Left Eye of the Falmer, it cannot be used for the quest The Litany of Larceny.
	Soul Gem Fragment 00067181 00067184 00067182 00067185 00067183	0.1	5	These are nothing more than minor loot. They cannot be used or transformed into a true soul gem.
	Warped Soul Gem 0006a106 0006a109 0006a107 0006a110 0006a108 0010e44b	0.5	0	Quest: Arniel's Endeavor