wow Patch 7.3 Jewelcrafting & Epic Gems

[Stan 5,020]

Unlocking epic gems is easier than you might think in Patch 7.3. Mac'Aree is now accessible and the new Jewelcrafting quest doesn't have any skill requirement.

In the first part of our series, we explore cutting new 7.3 gems, Empyrium prospecting and gold making.

Background

I was tired of Skinning and Fiendish Leather prices dropped significantly on my realm, that's why I decided to unlearn the profession and replace it with Jewelcrafting. I went to Dalaran and then back to the Vindicaar. Vorel offered "A Colorful Key" quest right away. Once the quest is finished, you can cut epic gems (Design List: Argus Gemcutting).

Requirements

You will need one of each epic gem to complete the quest.

• Argulite
• Chemirine
• Hesselian
• Florid Malachite
• Labradorite
• Lightsphene

If you don't have access to Mining, you can either get the uncut gems from the Auction House, or buy Empyrium and prospect it into gems. At Friendly with Army of the Light, you can purchase Design: Mass Prospect Empyrium to prospect 20 Empyrium at once.

Now that you've got the gems, go to Mac'Aree (62, 57). Inside the building is a wall with gems and a chest. Click them one by one, until you are able to open the chest. 

Now you can return back to the Vindicaar and start cutting the following epic gems:

• Deadly Deep Chemirine
• Masterful Argulite
• Quick Lightsphene
• Versatile Labradorite

Cutting a 7.3 epic gem adds 3 skill points. The amount of gold you're going to make depends on several variables.

The Supply of Empyrium

Maintaing a reasonable supply of Empyrium is of utmost importance. The best method is to buy Empyrium in bulk or have access to Mining. In the worst scenario, you're going to buy it from the Auction House. For pricing, I recommend checking out the Undermine Journal.

Mining

The most profitable and time-consuming option is to have Mining on one of your characters. It's something I don't have, because the only way I make gold is by walking from the mailbox to the Auction House, and let's not forget relogging. Mining on Argus is a pain and that time can be allocated elsewhere.

Bulk Buying

Go to the Auction House to find out the current prices of Empyrium. On my realm, they are selling each for 55 - 60 gold. Now, write in trade chat that you're interested in buying Empyrium in bulks at an obviously lower price. Prices will vary. If you manage to find a steady supplier and readjust the buy price accordingly, you're going to make the most profit out of the method in terms of invested time/gold.

Purchasing Empyrium From the Auction House

If you decide to purchase Empyrium from the Auction House to prospect it into gems, make sure you're not buying it overpriced. The problem with the Auction House method is that there will be a limited amount of Empyrium at a reasonable price.

Prospecting Data

How often will you get gems from prospecting Empyrium? I used data of various r/woweconomy contributors that posted their prospecting data.

Credits go to:

• maiazndrew - prospected 7,780 Empyrium (Source)
• Mister_jesus_swag - prospected 17,290 Empyrium (Source)
• bizgob - prospected 5,820 Empyrium (Source)
• Tr1pp1n8alls - prospected 5,000 Empyrium (Source)

So in total, the users prospected 35,890 Empyrium and collected 1,135 gems.

Gem Type	Quantity	%
Argulite	218	19.20
Chemirine	201	17.71
Hesselian	142	12.51
Florid Malachite	139	12.25
Labradorite	203	17.89
Lightsphene	232	20.44

As a by-product, you will also get a lot of Gem Chips used for the new 7.3 Jewelcrafting crowns and Nightborne Delicacy Platter.

Selling Gems (Cut vs. Uncut)

It all comes down to what's more profitable. To determine this, I highly recommend downloading the TradeSkillMaster addon. They even have a useful app that runs in the background and updates prices for you, effectively eliminating tireless Auction House scanning. It displays the most recent crafting costs & minimum buyouts in the Professions tab.

The golden rule is to double check everything, and you can do that manually or by using the Undermine Journal.

Hesselian & Florid Malachite cannot be cut into gems. The items are needed to make new 7.3 Jewelcrafting crowns, so sell them uncut straight away, if you don't plan to craft those.

• If prices of uncut gems are higher than cut, sell raw gems.
• If prices of cut gems are higher than uncut, sell cut gems.

From my personal experience, Masterful Argulite & Quick Lightsphene are bestsellers. Demand for Deadly Deep Chemirine is decent, but for Versatile Labradorite it's somewhat lackluster.

• Argulite can be cut into Masterful Argulite
• Chemirine can be cut into Deadly Deep Chemirine
• Labradorite can be cut into Versatile Labradorite
• Lightsphene can be cut into Quick Lightsphene

Examples

Situation A

• Uncut Argulite sells for 2,999 gold. Cut Masterful Argulite sells for 3,200 (+201) gold. It is an ideal state to sell gems cut.

Situation B

• Uncut Chemirine costs 1,380 gold. Cut Deadly Deep Chemirine costs 1,299 (-81) gold. Obviously, cut gems should sell better than raw, but when there is a surplus of cut gems on the market and people constantly undercut each other, prices may get messy. Wait until prices get back to normal (Situation A), but if you're in dire need of gold, just sell them uncut.

Hopefully, you enjoyed our first part of the 7.3 series revolving around Jewelcrafting and epic gems. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

[Dejo93 984]

Imagine how much the market would crash if empyrium was available to buy with BoS.

[AfflictionMurlock 16]

On 9/10/2017 at 2:29 AM, Dejo93 said:

Imagine how much the market would crash if empyrium was available to buy with BoS.

I'd rather they don't do the vendor thing with primal sargerite. It just made gathering professions ineffective - let those who work hard be rewarded.

[Valks 2,373]

5 hours ago, AfflictionMurlock said:

I'd rather they don't do the vendor thing with primal sargerite. It just made gathering professions ineffective - let those who work hard be rewarded.

Unfortunately, I feel like it will come eventually.

[PatrickHenry 293]

1 hour ago, Blainie said:

Unfortunately, I feel like it will come eventually.

"Catch-up Mechanic"

[Path989 0]

One big difference with the new gems vs the old world gems is they can be obliterated for ash.  That needs to be taken into account when considering if you are going to sell gems (cut or uncut), because if the price of obliterium on your server is above the price of gems (both raw and cut gems both oblit to around 130ish ash) then you can make money this way as well. 

Edited September 11, 2017 by Path989

[Syktris 36]

6 hours ago, AfflictionMurlock said:

I'd rather they don't do the vendor thing with primal sargerite. It just made gathering professions ineffective - let those who work hard be rewarded.

I dropped herb on my main because it was so much easier to get herbs from the vendor lol 

[Stan 5,020]

On 11. 9. 2017 at 4:48 PM, Path989 said:

One big difference with the new gems vs the old world gems is they can be obliterated for ash.  That needs to be taken into account when considering if you are going to sell gems (cut or uncut), because if the price of obliterium on your server is above the price of gems (both raw and cut gems both oblit to around 130ish ash) then you can make money this way as well. 

I get ~55-60 Obliterum Ash from destroying 1 Versatile Labradorite. Haven't tried other gems yet. It's definitely not worth it. The cut gem sells for 710 gold , whereas Obliterum sits at 1,200 gold and Primal Obliterum at 1,400.

[Valks 2,373]

On 9/11/2017 at 2:30 PM, PatrickHenry said:

"Catch-up Mechanic"

It's not here for you! It's here for others!