Unusual Gem Locations: How To Complete Skyrim’s No Stone Unturned

Complete the No Stone Unturned quest in Skyrim by finding every Unusual Gem. Unusual Gems are the magenta stones inside of an opened gold box, and there are 24 of them scattered throughout the province of Skyrim. The Unusual Gems are tied to a Skyrim Thieves Guild quest that varies depending on the player’s story progression.

If someone is not part of the Thieves Guild, the gems will remain named Unusual Gems until the Thieves Guild is found. The quest will read “Bring the Unusual Gem to an appraiser,” and the appraiser can be found in the Thieves Guild at the Ragged Flagon. No quest markers are given for the stones.

Begin the No Stone Unturned through a miscellaneous quest by picking up any Unusual Gem from any location. Next, head to Riften and speak with Brynjolf in the Riften marketplace. After completing his task, he will ask the Dragonborn to meet him at the Thieves Guild – gaining access to the Ragged Flagon. If it’s nighttime, Brynjolf can be found at the Bee and Bard and he will still give the same quest. Speak with Vex in the Ragged Flagon to start the No Stone Unturned quest.

Skyrim: How to Complete No Stone Unturned

If the Dragonborn is already part of the Thieves Guild, the quest starts with the objective “Bring the Unusual Gem to Vex in the Thieves Guild.” The Unusual Gems will be renamed to Stones of Barenziah. The stones are worthless on their own, but after finding all 24 Vex will send the Dragonborn on another quest to recover the crown of Queen Barenziah. Completing this next task will activate the effect “Prowler’s Profit,” significantly increasing the chances of finding gems in random containers throughout Skyrim. These are all of the locations for the Unusual Gems in Skyrim:

• Hall of the Dead – Head inside the Catacombs of Whiterun, go down the stairs to the left and the Unusual Gem will be next to a skeleton.
• Dragonsreach – Head to right Whiterun Jarl’s bedroom, and grab the Unusual Gem from the right side table.
• Jorrvaskr’s home – Head to Kodlak’s room in Whiterun, and grab the Unusual Gem from the bookshelf.
• Blue Palace – Head to the Jarl’s Bedroom in Solitude, and grab the Unusual Gem from on top of the wardrobe.
• Mistveil Keep – Head to the Jarl’s Bedroom in Riften, go through the locked door and grab the Unusual Gem from on top of the left end table.
• Proudspire Manor – Purchase Proudspire Manor in Solitude for 25,000 Gold, then find the Unusual Gem in the master bedroom on top of the wardrobe.
• Palace of the Kings (Upstairs) – Take a left once inside the Windhelm palace, then head to Wuunferth’s room at the end of the hall. Grab the Unusual Gem from the table on the right.
• House of Clan Shatter-Shield – Head to the House of Clan Shatter-Shield, go upstairs and grab the Unusual Gem from the bookshelf in the room on the left.
• Treasury House – Travel to the Treasury House in Markarth, then head to Thonar’s bedroom down the hall on the left. Grab the Unusual Gem from the bedside table.
• Understone Keep – Head to the Dwemer Museum in Markarth, and grab the Unusual Gem from the table in the first room to the left.
• Arch-Mage’s Quarters – Complete the Under Saarthal quest to gain access to the Arch-Mage’s Quarters.
• Dead Crone Rock – The Unusual Gem is located on the altar that is opposite the Dragon-Word wall.
• Black-Briar Lodge – Grab the Unusual Gem from the bedroom on the top floor next to the bed.
• Ansilvund Burial Chambers – Head through the Ansilvund Burial Chambers and grab the Unusual Gem from the table at the end.
• Stony Creek Cave – Grab the Unusual Gem from the table next to the alchemy lab in the room on the left.
• Rannveig’s Fast – Fall down the trapdoor, then grab the Unusual Gem next to the alchemy lab and chest on the right side of the room.
• Sunderstone Gorge – Grab the Unusual Gem from the table with two bodies on it in front of the Dragon-Word wall.
• Fellglow Keep – Head up the stairs and grab the Unusual Gem from the stairs on the right.
• Dainty Sload – Head down the waterlogged bowels, then up the stairs on the opposite side. Grab the Unusual Gem from the last room on the table.
• Yngvild – Grab the Unusual Gem from the bedroom behind the Yngvild Throne Room.
• Hob’s Fall Cave – Grab the Unusual Gem on the shelf under the bridge, in the northwestern part of the cave system.
• Reeking Cave – The Unusual Gem is inside the Reeking Cave near the corpse in the back. This is the cave used to escape during the Diplomatic Immunity quest.
• Pinewatch Bandit’s Sanctuary – The Unusual Gem is in a locked room in the Pinewatch Bandit’s Sanctuary. Head to the basement, and press the hidden button near the bookcase to gain access to the bandit’s hideout
• Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary – Grab the Unusual Gem from inside Astrid’s room on the dresser.

Excluding the Proudspire Manor and the Black-Briar Lodge in Skyrim, the Unusual Gems located in Whiterun, Solitude, Riften, Windhelm, Markarth, and College of Winterhold will be considered stolen unless the Dragonborn has been made the Thane or Arch-Mage in those locations. Speak with each of the Jarls to start the process of becoming Thane, and visit the College of Winterhold to begin the Arch-Mage quests. If caught stealing, a bounty will be put on out for the Dragonborn’s arrest. Additionally, the Unusual Gem in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary is not accessible until access to the sanctuary is given.

After returning with all 24 gems, the next step Vex gives to receive the crown takes the Dragonborn to Torvald’s Cave. It is a cave that can be accessed before all of the Unusual Gems are found, or even before Vex issues the next step after all the stones are found, but fallen debris will block the cave at a certain point. Inside of the cave are the Falmer and Dunmer Ghosts, so be sure to come prepared with enough Health Potions and high damaging weapons.

Skyrim is available on Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and will release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 11, 2021.

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