JC: Rare vs Epics

Jewelcrafting is all about volume like anything else. The AH for epic gems usually looks like this:

Uncut:
1 @ 180
1 @ 190
2 @ 200
10 @ >200


Cut:

1 @ 190
10 @ >190

So you can see there is exactly one gem you can cut and make 10g which probably does not even cover the AH fee. This is again a typical setup. Now, you may have every pattern known to man and be able to cut than one or two gems and sell for 250, but those gems move poorly. Since these gems sell for alot the AH cut is high, and margins are razor thin. I still move a few epics but generally they aren't worth your time.

The serious money is in rare gems. Shh. Don't tell anyone I said that.

Rare gems typically look like this.

Uncut: 40 @ 8g
Cut: lowest is 30g.

So post 5-10 at 29g, and reap that 20g profit (1g AH fee, approx). That's each. I typically move 50 gems every day, about 20g profit each, and buy full stacks when I see them cheap. Since I buy in volume I typically can wait until I get a good deal, unlike epics, whose volume is very low. I'm pretty small time, I only have maybe a dozen rare and epic cuts, the more common/popular ones. I would rather have stuff that sells well than stuff that never sells but may give a nice profit for that one that does sell.