Complete the "No Stone Unturned" quest in Skyrim by finding every Unusual Gem. Unusual Gems are the magenta stones inside an opened gold box, and there are 24 of them scattered throughout the province of Skyrim. If someone is not part of the Thieves Guild, the gems will remain named Unusual Gems once discovered until the Thieves Guild is found. Picking the first one up will trigger a "Bring the Unusual Gem to an appraiser" message, and the appraiser can be found in the Thieves Guild at the Ragged Flagon. No quest markers are given for the stones.
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 in Skyrim will then 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.
Looking for a video walkthrough of all Skyrim's Unusual Gem locations? Check out the video from Nate Gaming on YouTube below to see every Unusual Gem location in the game!
Completing this next task will activate the effect "Prowler's Profit," significantly increasing the chances of finding gems in random containers.
Skyrim: How to Complete No Stone Unturned
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. Speak with Vex in the Ragged Flagon to start the No Stone Unturned quest.
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 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 the cave are Falmer and Dunmer Ghosts, so be sure to come prepared with enough Health Potions and high damaging weapons. Follow the quest marker through the dungeon to find the Crown of Barenziah as shown in the video from ClaytonKills on YouTube below:
Once this dungeon has been completed, return to Vex and deliver the Crown of Barenziah to receive the "Prowler's Profit" reward.
All Unusual Gem Locations in Skyrim
These are all the locations of Unusual Gems in Skyrim:
|
General Area |
Specific Location |
Unusual Gem Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Hall of the Dead |
Catacombs of Whiterun |
Go down the stairs to the left and the Unusual Gem will be next to a skeleton. |
|
Dragonsreach |
Whiterun Jarl's bedroom |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the right side table. |
|
Jorrvaskr's home |
Kodlak's room in Whiterun |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the bookshelf. |
|
Blue Palace |
Jarl's Bedroom in Solitude |
Grab the Unusual Gem from on top of the wardrobe |
|
Mistveil Keep |
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 in Solitude for 25,000 gold |
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 |
Upstairs |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the bookshelf in the room on the left. |
|
Markarth |
Treasury House |
Head to Thonar's bedroom down the hall on the left. Grab the Unusual Gem from the bedside table. |
|
Understone Keep |
Dwemer Museum in Markarth |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the table in the first room to the left. |
|
Winterhold |
Arch-Mage's Quarters |
Complete the Under Saarthal quest to gain access to the Arch-Mage's Quarters and get the Unusual Gem inside. |
|
Dead Crone Rock |
Near the Dragon Word Wall |
On the altar that is opposite the Dragon Word Wall. |
|
Black-Briar Lodge |
Upstairs |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the bedroom on the top floor next to the bed. |
|
Ansilvund Burial Chambers |
Near the back |
Head through the Ansilvund Burial Chambers and grab the Unusual Gem from the table at the end. |
|
Stony Creek Cave |
Left-most room |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the table next to the alchemy lab in the room on the left. |
|
Rannveig's Fast |
After falling through the trapdoor |
Grab the Unusual Gem next to the alchemy lab and chest on the right side of the room. |
|
Sunderstone Gorge |
Near the Dragon Word Wall |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the table with two bodies on it. |
|
Fellglow Keep |
Upstairs |
Head up the stairs and grab the Unusual Gem from the stairs on the right. |
|
Dainty Sload |
Down the waterlogged bowels, then up the stairs on the opposite side. |
Grab the Unusual Gem from the last room on the table. |
|
Yngvild |
Behind the Yngvild Throne Room |
The Unusual Gem is in plain sight in the bedroom. |
|
Hob's Fall Cave |
Northwestern part of the cave system |
Grab the Unusual Gem on the shelf under the bridge. |
|
Reeking Cave |
Near the corpse in the back of the cave. |
This is the cave used to escape during the Diplomatic Immunity quest. |
|
Pinewatch Bandit's Sanctuary |
Basement |
Press the hidden button near the bookcase to gain access to the bandit's hideout. |
|
Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary |
Astrid's Room |
The Unusual Gem is sitting on the dresser. |
Excluding Proudspire Manor and the Black-Briar Lodge, the Unusual Gems located in Whiterun, Solitude, Riften, Windhelm, Markarth, and College of Winterhold will be considered stolen items in Skyrim 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 one of the Unusual Gems in Skyrim, 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, so players will need to complete the introductory missions for the Dark Brotherhood if they hope to complete "No Stone Unturned."
-
Skyrim
- Publishers:
- Bethesda Softworks
- Platforms:
- Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date :
- November 11, 2011
- Mode:
- Single player
- Rating:
- 9/10 Steam; 4.3/5 Gog.com
