Jewelcrafters (skill levels 300-325) can craft most uncommon gems. Those with skill level 350+ can also craft many rare gems. Finally, jewelcrafters with skill level 365+ can craft meta gems.
Vendors (V)
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Common gems can be purchased from the following vendors for 2
Patch 2.1.0 (22-May-2007): A new set of more powerful gems can be crafted from raw gems found by raiding Hyjal Summit and Black Temple. Their stats exceed those of previous gems that could be found.
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Patch 2.4 - The Shattered Sun Gem merchant Shaani sells raw epic gems for 15 each. She also sells the designs for cutting these epic gems.
Northrend prismatic gems are specific to . This article is a listing of all prismatic Northrend gems.
Note that even though prismatic gems have flavor text specifically saying red, yellow, or blue, and prismatic gems say "any socket" this still does not include meta sockets. It is still true that "Meta sockets will only accept meta gems, and meta gems can only be used in meta sockets."
"Matches any Socket. Maximum of one Prismatic gem socketed in your equipment."
Meta gems match meta sockets. These gems have special requirements that must be met for the gem's bonus to activate. For example, in order to gain the benefits of a [Destructive Skyfire Diamond] there must be a minimum of 2 gems of the listed colors (Red, Blue & Yellow in this example) between all the items currently equipped on the character.
It should be noted that gems which match multiple socket colors can fulfill meta gem requirements for any color they match (a Green gem counts as a blue gem and a yellow gem, Orange = yellow + red, and Purple counts as red + blue). For example, if a meta gem needs 3 red and 2 yellow to activate, 3 orange (red/yellow) gems can activate this gem. Also, a gem does not have to match its socket to contribute to a meta gem; therefore, the player may choose to lose an item's gem bonus in order to activate the meta gem's bonus. As mentioned at the top of this article, so far, only high-end helms have meta sockets.