Gem cutting
Who cuts gems, from what, where to get raw gems and blueprints, daily gemcutter limits, Gemcutter’s Tongs and the Gemcutter’s Bag.
Loot referenceItem atlasWhat drops whereOpen the atlas
Gems are not sold by vendors — players cut them. Blacksmiths cut regular gems, alchemists make hybrids. If you do not have these crafts, buy gems on the auction house or ask a crafter you know.
Who cuts what
- Blacksmith with the “Master Gemcutter” title (quest from the blacksmith mentor, skill 300) — all rare and epic gems and the Flawless Gem.
- Second rank, “Mythic Cutting” (quest: bring 3 Mythic Sparks and 5 epic gems) — meta gems and legendary gems.
- Alchemist 300 — rare and epic hybrids.
- Engineer 300 — Gemcutter's Tongs: remove a meta or legendary gem without destroying it.
- Leatherworker 300 — the Gemcutter's Pouch: 24 slots for gems and gemstones only.
What gems are made of
| What | Made of | Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Rare gem | Raw gem of its colour ×1, Polished Gem ×1, Thorium Ore ×2 | trainer |
| Epic gem | Raw gem ×2, Flawless Gem ×1 plus by colour: ruby — Arc Spark, emerald — 4 Gromsblood, topaz — 2 Thorium Bars | cutting blueprint |
| Rare hybrid | 1 raw gem of each of its two colours, Polished Gem ×1, Distilled Extract ×2 | trainer |
| Epic hybrid | 1 raw gem of each of its two colours, Flawless Gem ×1, Distilled Extract ×4 | cutting blueprint |
| Flawless Gem | 3 Polished Gems, Unstable Crystal, Nexus Crystal | trainer |
| Meta gem | Flawless Gem ×2, Mythic Spark ×4, 1 raw gem of each colour | meta gem blueprint |
| Legendary gem | Epic gem of its colour, Flawless Gem ×2, Mythic Spark ×10, Flame of the First Forge | legendary cutting blueprint |
Gemcutter limits
One crafter cannot cut expensive gems endlessly — this keeps the market healthy and gives every crafter work:
| What | Limit | Resets |
|---|---|---|
| Epic gems | 5 per day | 03:00 Moscow time |
| Epic hybrids | 3 per day | 03:00 Moscow time |
| Meta gems | 1 per day | 03:00 Moscow time |
| Legendary gems | 1 per week | Monday, 03:00 Moscow time |
The professions window shows what is left: “Daily gemcutter limit: 3/5 epic — resets at 03:00 Moscow time”. Rare gems and rare hybrids have no limit.
A legendary gem comes out soulbound to whoever cut it: it cannot be sold or traded.
Where to get materials
- Raw gems (red, green, yellow): thorium veins (lands 50–60) — 5%; the miner technique “Sift Ore” (skill 275): 5 Thorium Ore — 25% for one gem, 3% for two; heroic dungeon and heroic raid bosses — 5% each, once per day; elites 55–60 — 1%. The colour is random.
- Polished Gem — blacksmith 160 from rough gems and gold ore.
- Flawless Gem — cut by blacksmiths at 300; it also drops ready-made from heroic and mythic bosses and key chests.
- Mythic Spark — from mythic and timed keys, see Mythic Spark and Blueprint Scraps.
Where to get blueprints
| Blueprint | Where it drops | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Epic cutting (3 gems and 3 hybrids) | heroic raid bosses · mythic bosses · key chest +7…+10 | 2% once per day · 5% once per week · 4% per run |
| Meta gem (9) | 2 “own” mythic bosses for each | 2% each player, once per week |
| Legendary cutting (3) | raid final bosses and world bosses on mythic | 3% each player, once per week |
Unlucky with blueprints? Collect Blueprint Scraps: the Crafters' Guild trades them for any blueprint you choose.
Ready-made gems from bosses
Gems also drop ready-made: rare ones from heroic bosses (4%), epic ones from mythic bosses (8%, 12% from final and world bosses), and from the key chest +7…+10 (15% if no item dropped). The weekly key chest +7…+9 gives 1 epic gem guaranteed (you choose the colour), +10 gives 2 epic gems and an 8% chance of a legendary one. Meta gems never drop ready-made.
Read next
Gems and sockets
Sockets on item level 245+ gear, gems of three colours, hybrids, the legendary gem and meta gems: what they give and how to socket them. PvE only.
Mythic Spark and Blueprint Scraps
Mythic Spark is rare loot from mythic and timed keys: how much drops and what it is for. Blueprint Scraps are a safety net if you are unlucky.
245 crafting
57 item level 245 items from six crafts: with gem sockets, recipes from mythic bosses. Daily limits, who wears them, special trinkets.
Recipe scrolls: rare recipes from bosses
36 recipes don’t unlock with skill — you learn them from a boss scroll. Chances of 4–6%, 2.5% and 1%, when scrolls roll and how to learn one.