Diamonds are white or transparent gems, a subtype of socketable items. Like other gems, they come in varying quality levels and grant bonuses to specific stats. Gems including Diamonds were introduced in Diablo II and appear in subsequent games with the exception of Diablo Immortal.
Diablo II
Like other Diablo II gems, several Diamond bonuses are related to their color, white, which signifies Purity and the Power of the Light, as well as the chromatic nature of white light. In Weapons, it adds a bonus to damage against Undead enemies, an indication of its relation to the Light. In Shields, it adds bonuses to all Resistances, as white is composed of all colors and by extension all elements. In Armor and Helms, it adds an increase in Attack Rating.
Placing diamonds in socketed shields are a very easy, yet very powerful way of adding resistances. While other gems give higher resistances to individual source of damage, diamonds give easily the most total resistance. A perfect diamond gives +19% to all resistances, something that is only beaten by an Um Rune, which is considerably more difficult to obtain and only gives 3% more resistance in a shield.
The Diamond graphic has a different orientation for the 'normal' tier compared to the other 5 gemstones. It is angled to be "diamond shaped" instead of the horizontal/vertical angle of the others.
Weapons: Adds to Damage vs. Undead
Shields: Adds to all Resistances
Helms and Body Armor: Adds to Attack Rating
| Gem | Level | Weapons | Shield | Helms/Body Armor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chipped
|
1 | +28% Damage vs. Undead | All Resistances +6 | +20 to Attack Rating |
Flawed
|
5 | +34% Damage vs. Undead | All Resistances +8 | +40 to Attack Rating |
Normal
|
12 | +44% Damage vs. Undead | All Resistances +11 | +60 to Attack Rating |
Flawless
|
15 | +54% Damage vs. Undead | All Resistances +14 | +80 to Attack Rating |
Perfect
|
18 | +68% Damage vs. Undead | All Resistances +19 | +100 to Attack Rating |
Diablo III
Diamonds were not included among the four gem types in the release version of Diablo III. Sapphires and Skulls also did not return from the previous game. Diamonds were the only standard gem type to be added after release, implemented with expansion Patch 2.0.1, and the only one not to correspond to a core stat. The game brought back Diamonds' "Resistance to all" concept from Diablo II, but they otherwise provide different benefits than before, although their percentage damage increase to a specific subtype of enemy could be seen as similar to the previous Undead bonus.
| Gem | Helm | Weapon | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
(regular)
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 3.5% | Increases damage against elites by 3.0% | +10 Resistance to All Elements |
Flawless
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5.0% | Increases damage against elites by 6.0% | +20 Resistance to All Elements |
Square
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 6.5% | Increases damage against elites by 9.0% | +30 Resistance to All Elements |
Flawless Square
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 8.0% | Increases damage against elites by 12.0% | +40 Resistance to All Elements |
Star
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 10.0% | Increases damage against elites by 15.0% | +58 Resistance to All Elements |
Marquise
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 10.5% | Increases damage against elites by 16% | +62 Resistance to All Elements |
Imperial
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 11.0% | Increases damage against elites by 17% | +66 Resistance to All Elements |
Flawless Imperial
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 11.5% | Increases damage against elites by 18% | +70 Resistance to All Elements |
Royal
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 12.0% | Increases damage against elites by 19% | +74 Resistance to All Elements |
Flawless Royal
|
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 12.5% | Increases damage against elites by 20% | +78 Resistance to All Elements |
Development
|
This section contains obsolete content This section contains information that is no longer relevant to gameplay. |
Prior to Patch 2.3.0, gems in Diablo III had nineteen tiers. The patch condensed the fourteen tiers below Marquise quality down to five for easier crafting. Graphics for each tier remained the same except that the Perfect Square graphic replaced the one for Flawless Squares (*). Below are those tiers as they existed before the patch, with the removed tiers italicized:
Trivia
- Many traditions in the world reference the Diamond's affinity for light, and Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder referred to its "divine brilliance on earth." The brilliance of a diamond due to its high refractive index is symbolized in game, as their Prismatic nature banishes evil (in this case, undead, which are described in many stories as being harmed by light, especially sunlight and light-based magic) and protects against all elements.
