Editor’s Note
This article explores the evolution of the gem system from *Diablo II* to *Diablo III*, highlighting key changes in gem types, grades, and their effects on gameplay. While the core concept of socketing items remains, the sequel introduces a refined structure with fewer gem types but more total gems and enhanced customization.
In Diablo II, socketed items appeared, allowing players to socket seven types of gems—Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, and Skull—to gain effects such as additional damage, increased stats, or increased chance of special procs.
This socketed item and gem system remains intact in Diablo III. However, while there were a total of 35 gems across 7 types and 5 grades in the previous game, Diablo III features a total of 56 gems across 4 types (Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst, Topaz) and 14 grades. The number of gem types has been reduced, but the grades have been more finely segmented.
Unlike the previous game where gems could be socketed into weapons to add elemental damage, etc., socket slots now exist only on armor and are divided into headgear and other body parts, with effects differing accordingly.
While it has not been revealed whether the type of gems dropped will vary based on monster level or difficulty, it is known that lower-grade gems can be combined into higher-grade ones using the Jeweler in the crafting system. Each combination costs 50 gold. (Socket slots can also be added by a craftsman.)
Consequently, to create the highest-grade “Radiant Star” gem from the lowest-grade “Chipped” gems, one would need 1,594,323 Chipped gems and 39,588,050 gold.
Additionally, starting from grade 11, the Jeweler must be taught the design for that specific grade.
Since high-end equipment should ideally be socketed with the highest-grade gems, if high-grade gems do not drop directly, it is highly likely that hunting and trading for gem farming will become very active.
Please refer to the details below for the effects of each gem type and grade.
Ruby
Chipped
Head Slot: Experience from kills +7%
Other Slots: Attack +8
Flawed
Head Slot: Experience from kills +8%
Other Slots: Attack +14
Normal
Head Slot: Experience from kills +9%
Other Slots: Attack +20
Flawless
Head Slot: Experience from kills +10%
Other Slots: Attack +26
Perfect
Head Slot: Experience from kills +11%
Other Slots: Attack +32
Radiant
Head Slot: Experience from kills +12%
Other Slots: Attack +38
Square
Head Slot: Experience from kills +13%
Other Slots: Attack +44
Flawless Square
Head Slot: Experience from kills +14%
Other Slots: Attack +50
Perfect Square
Head Slot: Experience from kills +15%
Other Slots: Attack +56
Radiant Square
Head Slot: Experience from kills +16%
Other Slots: Attack +62
Star
Head Slot: Experience from kills +17%
Other Slots: Attack +70
Flawless Star
Head Slot: Experience from kills +18%
Other Slots: Attack +80
Perfect Star
Head Slot: Experience from kills +19%
Other Slots: Attack +90
Radiant Star
Head Slot: Experience from kills +20%
Other Slots: Attack +100
Emerald
Chipped
Head Slot: Magic Find +7%
Other Slots: Precision +8
Flawed
Head Slot: Magic Find +8%
Other Slots: Precision +14
Normal
Head Slot: Magic Find +9%
Other Slots: Precision +20
Flawless
Head Slot: Magic Find +10%
Other Slots: Precision +26
Perfect
Head Slot: Magic Find +11%
Other Slots: Precision +32
Radiant
Head Slot: Magic Find +12%
Other Slots: Precision +38
Square
Head Slot: Magic Find +13%
Other Slots: Precision +44
Flawless Square
Head Slot: Magic Find +14%
Other Slots: Precision +50
Perfect Square
Head Slot: Magic Find +15%
Other Slots: Precision +56
Radiant Square
Head Slot: Magic Find +16%
Other Slots: Precision +62
Star
Head Slot: Magic Find +17%
Other Slots: Precision +70
Flawless Star
Head Slot: Magic Find +18%
Other Slots: Precision +80
Perfect Star
Head Slot: Magic Find +19%
Other Slots: Precision +90
Radiant Star
Head Slot: Magic Find +20%
Other Slots: Precision +100
Amethyst
Chipped
Head Slot: Movement Speed +2%
Other Slots: Vitality +8
Flawed
Head Slot: Movement Speed +3%
Other Slots: Vitality +14
Normal
Head Slot: Movement Speed +4%
Other Slots: Vitality +20
Flawless
Head Slot: Movement Speed +5%
Other Slots: Vitality +26
Perfect
Head Slot: Movement Speed +6%
Other Slots: Vitality +32
Radiant
Head Slot: Movement Speed +7%
Other Slots: Vitality +38
Square
Head Slot: Movement Speed +8%
Other Slots: Vitality +44
Flawless Square
20110926113854205.jpg)
Head Slot: Movement Speed +9%
Other Slots: Vitality +50
Perfect Square
Head Slot: Movement Speed +10%
Other Slots: Vitality +56
Radiant Square
Head Slot: Movement Speed +11%
Other Slots: Vitality +62
Star
Head Slot: Movement Speed +12%
Other Slots: Vitality +70
Flawless Star
Head Slot: Movement Speed +13%
Other Slots: Vitality +80
Perfect Star
Head Slot: Movement Speed +14%
Other Slots: Vitality +90
Radiant Star
Head Slot: Movement Speed +15%
Other Slots: Vitality +100
Topaz
Chipped
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +7%
Other Slots: Defence +8
Flawed
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +8%
Other Slots: Defence +14
Normal
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +9%
Other Slots: Defence +20
Flawless
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +10%
Other Slots: Defence +26
Perfect
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +11%
Other Slots: Defence +32
Radiant
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +12%
Other Slots: Defence +38
Square
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +13%
Other Slots: Defence +44
Flawless Square
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +14%
Other Slots: Defence +50
Perfect Square
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +15%
Other Slots: Defence +56
Radiant Square
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +16%
Other Slots: Defence +62
Star
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +17%
Other Slots: Defence +70
Flawless Star
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +18%
Other Slots: Defence +80
Perfect Star
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +19%
Other Slots: Defence +90
Radiant Star
Head Slot: Gold Find from Monsters +20%
20110926113854205.jpg)
Other Slots: Defence +100