Serious geekiness regarding Gems and Jewelry

[Kealios]

I am a huge fan of the Buying DC concept of Economy in the Western Magicial Medieval Society book by Expeditious Retreat Press (I hope I got that right--the book isnt in front of me).

I am also a fan of cataloguing items and being over-meticulous when researching areas for my game, and in this case, I am having a good look at gems and jewelry. This is mainly because I have been planning a new character for a campaign that is potentially beginning in my gaming group's future, and I hope to put heavy use the Craft and Profession skills (for fun and profit, but also to show the other powergamers that having ROLEPLAYING skills in a ROLEPLAYING game can actually get you ahead! heh).

Ive taken a good look at some gem books at the local store (SIMON & SCHUSTER'S GUIDE TO GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES is the one that seems the most useful), and combined with the Purchase DC's in the WMMS book mentioned above (of course, modified with the Supply and Demand centers across my world...urgh), Ive got a reasonable set of expectations about how hard it is to find most any given gem for jewelry making and spell components in my world.

My question to you, the reader, is: I need D&D 3.5-equivalent pricing for different size gems. IE: If a diamond costs 1,000 gp, what size is that? 1 carat? A quarter-carat? How big would a 3,000 gp diamond be, if the grade was equivalent to the first?

Yes, I know that excessive realism in a game can be silly, but hey, Im silly like that. I also know that more goes into a gem's worth than size--anyone knows that. But someone else out there might indeed have a similar interest, and you might know where I can find it.

SO...know of any books, links, webpages, or other persons that's done something suitably silly like this that I can get my hands on? Your assistance is most appreciated

Thanks,
Kealios

 

[Henrix]

Sounds like Gemerator from Tangent Games could be something for you.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, it depends...

A silver holy symbol is listed in the PHB as having a price of 25gp. Using that as a benchmark, I'd shop the various silversmiths out there to find something you'd consider equivalent.

This silver pendant with an engraved cross from James Avery is about $45.

James Avery Sample

Others may be found in the catalog: James Avery Religious Catalog

But let's just use that 1st pendant- that gives us a ratio of 1gp = $1.80...a factor I'd only use for jewelry.

So, a 1000 gp gem is about $1,800.

An investment grade 1ct diamond is as much as $12-16,000 these days, or roughly 6,666-8,888gp. However, it isn't unusual to be able to BUY such a stone for as little as $4500 from the right source.

A true exotic, like natural red diamonds, can be 1M/carat! That's 555,555gp!

So, a 1000gp diamond would be either a small stone or low to mid-grade, and a 3000gp one would be significantly better.

To see what other stuff might cost, check out my buddies at D&J Rare Gems and Bill Vance

 

[Argonel]

It may also be worth noting that in most cases the requiremtns are $X amount of gemstones not a single gem worth $X amount. Which of course means that in most cases for a spell that need 1000 GP in diamonds that the caster will probably not have that exact amount and will instead have several loose gems that total around 1050 to 1100 GP. it would be up to you as a DM to decide if they are all consumed by the magic or if there is a 50-100 gp fragment left over after casting the spell.

 

[Kealios]

Sounds like Gemerator from Tangent Games could be something for you.

BAM, Henrix, you read my mind. This was a PERFECT match. My great thanks.

I also picked up "Kaiser's Bazaar - The Jeweler's Exchange" at RPGNow.com. It willl be a nice companion to the first, methinks.

Now to start a threat about other craft skills as well The PHB just doesnt do the topic justice...