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 3 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 1 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 almost all boss Chests
• An assortment of other containers that normally contain loot and/or valuables, such as loot-containing Burial Urns and Urns in Nordic Ruins.

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.

Gem Sources

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 particularily 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			Notes
	Amethyst	00063b46	0.1	120	Sources: 21 guaranteed gems are found in 18 different locations. Locations with the greatest numbers are: 3 centered 120 ft SSE of Hela's Folly (Winterhold) (map) 2 in Valthume (The Reach) Can be mined from Amethyst Geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: 1 Amethyst is one of 2 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 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Storm Atronach An amethyst item is also one of 3 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of Void Salts 1 Amethyst is needed at imbuing chamber device to create Shock Spider ScrollsDB
	Diamond	00063b47	0.1	800	Sources: 7 guaranteed gems are found in 7 different locations: Hillgrund's Tomb (The Pale) Pinepeak Cavern (The Rift) Rannveig's Fast (Whiterun Hold) Riftweald Manor (Riften) 150 ft S of Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon (The Pale) (map) 150 ft SE of Shrine to Peryite (The Reach) (map) Amaund Motierre in The Bannered Mare (Whiterun) carries one. Uses: 1 Diamond is one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Gold Diamond Ring
	Emerald	00063b43	0.1	600	Sources: 13 guaranteed gems are found in 12 different locations. The only location with multiple gems is: 2 centered 320 ft W of Volskygge (Haafingar) (map) Can be mined from Emerald Geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: 1 Emerald is one of 2 items needed at a Forges to create a Gold Emerald Ring 1 Emerald is needed at imbuing chamber device to create Poison Spider ScrollsDB
	Flawless Amethyst	0006851e	0.1	180	Sources: 9 guaranteed gems are found in 8 different locations: 2 in Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) 1 at 150 ft S of Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon (The Pale) (map) 1 at 370 ft S of Swindler's Den (Whiterun Hold) (map) 1 at 130 ft NNW of Blind Cliff Cave (The Reach) (map) 1 in Dustman's Cairn (The Reach) 1 in Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) 1 in Riftweald Manor (Riften) 1 in Inner Sanctum (Markarth) Uses: 2 Flawless Amethysts are one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Gold Jeweled Necklace. An amethyst (either an Amethyst, a Flawless Amethyst, or a Silver Amethyst Ring) is one of 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Storm Atronach. An amethyst item is also one of 3 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of Void Salts. 3 are needed for the quest Sealing the Deal. 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: 5 guaranteed gems are found in 4 different locations: 2 in Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) 1 at 440 ft NNW of Reachwater Rock (The Reach) (map) in a derelict boat. 1 in Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) 1 in Kagrenzel (Eastmarch) Uses: 1 Flawless Diamond is one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Gold Diamond Necklace
	Flawless Emerald	00068520	0.1	750	Sources: 7 guaranteed gems are found in 7 different locations: Alftand Glacial Ruins (Winterhold) 160 ft ESE of Anise's Cabin (Falkreath Hold) (map) Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) Riftweald Manor (Riften) Skuldafn Temple (Eastmarch) Skuldafn Valthume (The Reach) Uses: 1 Flawless Emerald is one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Silver Emerald Necklace
	Flawless Garnet	00068521	0.1	150	Sources: 11 guaranteed gems are found in 10 different locations. The only location with multiple gems is: 2 in Brittleshin Pass (Falkreath Hold) Uses: 2 Flawless Garnets are one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Silver Jeweled Necklace
	Flawless Ruby	00068522	0.1	350	Sources: 5 guaranteed gems are found in 5 different locations: The Emperor's Quarters on the Katariah (Haafingar) Korvanjund Crypt (The Pale) 430 ft NNW of Reachwater Rock (The Reach) (map) Go downstream in the river nearby and you will find a row boat to the right. It's sitting inside the rowboat. Shriekwind Bastion (Falkreath Hold) Amaund Motierre in The Bannered Mare (Whiterun) carries one. Uses: 1 Flawless Ruby is needed for the quest The Only Cure 1 Flawless Ruby is one of 2 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 Necklaces) is one of 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Flame Atronach A ruby item is also one of 3 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of Fire Salts
	Flawless Sapphire	00068523	0.1	500	Sources: 2 guaranteed gems are found in 2 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 (The Pale) Uses: 2 Flawless Sapphires are needed for the quest Ringmaker 1 Flawless Sapphire is one of 2 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 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Frost Atronach A sapphire item is also one of 3 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of Frost Salts
	Garnet	00063b45	0.1	100	Sources: 29 guaranteed gems are found in 22 different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: 5 in Avanchnzel Animoncultory (The Rift) 2 in Hall of Rumination (Winterhold) 2 around Bannermist Tower (Falkreath Hold) 2 in Korvanjund Halls (The Pale) Uses: 1 Garnet is one of 2 items needed at a Forge to create a Silver Garnet Ring
	Ruby	00063b42	0.1	200	Sources: 22 guaranteed gems are found in 18 different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: 3 in The Midden (Winterhold) 2 in Shriekwind Bastion (Falkreath Hold) 2 around Orphan Rock (Falkreath Hold) Can be mined from Ruby Geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: 1 Ruby is one of 2 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 Necklaces) is one of 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Flame Atronach A ruby item is also one of 3 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 ScrollsDB
	Sapphire	00063b44	0.1	400	Sources: 10 guaranteed gems are found in 7 different locations. Locations with multiple gems are: 3 around Hela's Folly (Winterhold) 2 in Riften (The Rift) (map) on Sapphire Can be mined from Sapphire Geodes on SolstheimDB Uses: 1 Sapphire is one of 2 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 2 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a hostile Frost Atronach A sapphire item is also one of 3 items needed at the Atronach Forge to create a sample of Frost Salts 1 Sapphire is needed at imbuing chamber device to create Frost Spider ScrollsDB

Other

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

	Name (ID)			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