In Disney Dreamlight Valley, gems are a great source of money and resources. Not only can you sell gems for a hefty amount of star coins, but you can use them in crafting recipes. For example, the only way to make a colorful lamp post is to use a specific gemstone of that color.
Gems come from mining rocks in the game; each biome will have its own set of stones and gems to find. This list details where to find every single gem in the game and what to do with them, whether you should sell them or use them as materials and what for.
As Disney Dreamlight Valley is in early access at the time of writing, information is subject to change.
Even if the rock doesn’t show any visible gems, some may still fall out if you break it.
14 Amethyst
Amethyst is a purple gem found in the Forgotten Lands and Frosted Heights, and are the more expensive biomes to unlock. A regular amethyst sells for 500 star coins.
The only recipe available for Amethyst is the Purple Wrought Iron Street Lamp. Unless you plan on turning the entire valley purple, it’s probably best to sell this gem.
13 Aquamarine
Aquamarine can be found in Dazzle Beach or Forest of Valor. The gem sells for 250 Star Coins and has many crafting options. You can create Ariel’s Creative Table, Blue Lamp Posts, DJ Booth Rig and Gem & Opal Road among others.
Most importantly, you need this gem to craft a mining training manual, which allows you to turn your assigned villager role into mining. This gem does not sell for that many Star Coins. Since it has more options if you use it for crafting, it is better to save these gems for decoration and future tasks.
12 Citrine
Citrine can be found in the Sun Plateau and Glade of Trust. These are the biomes you need to unlock with Dreamlight first. Citrine will appear orange-red and will sell for 350 Star Coins.
You can only craft two items with Citrine. There are two versions of the orange street lamp, one with one light and the other with three. Again, unless you want to light up your valley in more orange lamps, you’re better off selling this gem or saving it for quests.
11 Sapphire
The sapphire is special because you can only get it from the Vitalys Mine on the Sunny Plateau. Mines become available after completing Scar’s Nature and Nurture quest. Once you unlock the Solar Plateau, the mines will be accessible.
Sapphire sells for 350 Star Coins. You can use it to craft about four items on the crafting table. These items include four versions of the street lamp with blue lighting. Better to sell this gem or save it.
10 Diamond
The diamond can only be found in the Forgotten Lands, a biome that can be unlocked above the Sunlit Plateau. A single Diamond Gem will sell for 600 Star Coins. As usual, you can make street lamps with this gemstone that emits white light.
The best thing you can do with a diamond, however, is to craft an Elegant Pavilion. It’s a large building that adds a lot of character to your valley, and you’ll need ten diamonds to create it. If you are not interested in the pavilion, it is best to sell this gem.
9 Emerald
Emerald can be obtained in Forest of Valor and Glade of Trust. The Emerald Gem can be sold for 325 Star Coins. You get significantly less Star Coins for this than most gems.
As usual, the only thing you can make with Emerald is three variations of a street lamp that would emit green light. Better to save your Emerald for future quests or favorite gifts.
8 grenade
Garnet is the most basic, common gem you can get because it spawns in the starting area, the Plaza. Garnet can also be found in Peaceful Meadow. This makes garnet the cheapest gemstone.
You can sell just one grenade for 160 star coins. There is only one way to craft this gem, a single red street lamp. Garnet is basically pointless, especially if you can get the money elsewhere.
7 Onyx
Onyx is a special and useful gem. Onyx can be obtained from practically any stone throughout the game. It’s a casual drop regardless of what you’re mining.
The gem sells for 300 Star Coins and has some very useful crafting recipes. With one onyx, you can craft three night shards and two different pick polishes that, when consumed, cause the stones to drop their gems no matter what.
6 Peridot
Peridot is another common gem because it spawns in one of the valley’s starting areas, Peaceful Meadow. Peridot can also be found at Dazzle Beach. This gem sells for 200 Star Coins, which is a pittance compared to the others.
With Peridot, you can craft two different lamps that will emit green light. Most importantly, you need Peridot to craft the Mining Training Manual, which changes the role of a villager to mining.
5 Ruby
Rubies are unique because, like sapphires, they can only be found in the Vitalys mine on the sunlit plateau. Your Ruby will be sold for 350 Star Coins. It will appear red, just like garnet. The only reason it doesn’t have grenades is because it’s in the mines.
With Ruby, you can make two lanterns that emit red light. The best thing you can use rubies for is making a snobby snowman. Otherwise, it is better to save it or sell it.
4 Topaz
Topaz can only be found in the beginner area, the Plaza. You can sell this gem for 240 Star Coins. While this isn’t much for the money, there are a ton of different crafting recipes that require Topaz.
In addition to the lamps, you can make crafting stations, a holiday cheer tree, and a mining training manual. The best item you can craft with Topaz is the Cozy Companion Home, which allows you to place your pets inside so they roam around the general area.
3 Tourmaline
Tourmaline sells for 420 Star Coins and can be found within Frosted Heights and Sunlit Plateau. It is one of the gemstones that is easier to identify as it is light pink and does not share the same color family as any other gemstone.
In addition to pink lamps, tourmaline can be used to create a DJ Booth Rig and a Gem & Opal Road. This is a useful decorating gem if these two items are your cup of tea.
2 Shiny jewels
Sparkling gems are where all the money is. You want to get these compared to regular specimens. When mining, you have a chance to get the shiny version of this gem. Shiny Gems will be sold for 1,000 Star Coins or more.
For example, a regular diamond will sell for 600 Star Coins and a Shiny Diamond will sell for 2400 Star Coins. If you’re using mining as a way to make money, you might want to keep the regular ones in a chest and sell the Shiny versions.
1 Vitalis Crystal
Vitalys Crystal is an uncommon gem that you will get tons of when mining Vitalys Mine. It sells for the absolutely low price of 12 Star Coins. This gem is for crafting purposes only. These crystals can be used to craft many different potions that increase the rate at which resources are consumed.
You can make a miracle growth elixir that will make the next few irrigated crops grow immediately for harvest. You can also craft a miracle fishing lure that allows you to easily catch rare fish for a few catches. Each potion has a limited number of uses.