Gemstones in Breath of the Wild that are different in real life

There’s no denying that the mystical land of Hyrule is rich in geological activity. Vast mountain ranges, steep cliffs, mysterious deserts, and an enormous volcano are all teeming with rare treasures that are often mined and bartered between Link and the various races who live there. Curiously, most of these minerals bear the same names and resemblances as those found in the real world, a choice made by the developers likely for familiarity. But to spice things up, these gemstones can behave very differently in Hyrule’s magical environment. Let’s explore the differences between gems from Hyrule and the blue planet we fondly call home.

Opal: an aquatic treasure for marine lovers

Opals are semi-precious stones that boast a fascinating complex. Their rainbow-like shimmering seashell look is a phenomenon called iridescence. In the real world, the opal is a sedimentary stone that contains a fair amount of water. But in Hyrule, the opal is taken one step further. It actually contains the power of water itself. As such, opals are a natural choice for the crafting of Zora Armor, which allows one’s swimming ability to improve by leaps and bounds. This gemstone is particularly prized by the Zora race, who gift Zora Armor to their lovers instead of a ring as a sign of betrothal. 

Opal-crafted armor might not be the typical gift we would give to a fiance in real life, but opal is a great gift idea for people with October birthdays, as opal is the birthstone for October. 

Amber: the not-so-different gemstone

If you’ve ever been to a rock souvenir shop, you might have discovered an ancient critter staring back at you in a solidified syrupy substance. That substance is called amber. It’s tree sap that trapped an animal to its syrupy end thousands of years ago. (As Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door puts it, it was a “yummy sticky end.”) Not a great thought to dwell on, but the amber actually preserves the animal as a fine ancient specimen. Amber is one of the few materials classified as a fossil and a gemstone.

In our world, amber has long been the item of choice for collecting and crafting jewelry and novelty gifts. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about amber is it shares the closest resemblance in both its Hyrulean and real counterparts out of all the gemstones. Aside from its use in some armor upgrades and providing modest environmental heat resistance for the wearer, amber in Hyrule is not much different than real-world amber. 

Ruby: a stunning and fiery specimen

Red rubies have been a familiar admiration in Hyrulean and real civilizations since ancient times. Some real-life ancient texts describe having a good wife as “more precious than rubies.” Belonging to the corundum gem family, rubies can appear to have an orange or purple undertone underlined with their reds. The best specimens appear pure blood red with remarkable “fire,” or the ability to split into spectral colors from the inside. These stones obviously command a very high price on the market.

Not only do fine ruby specimens look fiery in Hyrule, they literally harness the power of fire. In Ocarina of Time, the Goron’s Ruby was a special Hyrulean ruby that could open the Door of Time. In Breath of the Wild, explorers can fashion a ruby into their armor to take advantage of its warming effect. This ability is incredibly useful since there are plenty of cold mountains in Hyrule’s landscape. The next time you go Hyrulean mountain hiking, don’t forget to bundle up and take your ruby with you! 

Sapphire: boasting frigidly durable beauty

Sapphires are precious gemstones found in natural ore deposits. They’re incredibly valuable assets both in real life and in Hyrule, and they can be sold for a high price. In Hyrule, they have the ability to contain the essence of ice itself, making it useful for cooling purposes. Fashion it into jewelry, and you’ve got yourself a portable air conditioner. A Sapphire Circlet can help cool you down in even the hottest deserts. 

In Ocarina of Time, the Zora’s Sapphire is a unique specimen that could open the Door of Time. It was carefully guarded by the Zora royal family. Back then, it was customary for Zora royalty to gift it to their betrothed. Gifting Zora armor might have replaced this old custom with the passage of time.

While sapphires do not have these abilities in the real world, they are incredibly durable and can take on a sunny day with no problem. In fact, a sapphire might scratch the other gemstones in your collection if they aren’t stored carefully. If this is a problem, try storing them in little envelopes or pouches to cushion the impact. Check their fastenings from time to time too, since sapphires are often harder than the metals they are fashioned to.

Topaz: a gem fit for royalty 

In Hyrule, topaz is rare and contains the power of electricity. If you find topaz in Breath of the Wild, there’s good reason to get excited. You can collect it from Stone Taluses and ore deposits in remote places. When fashioned into armor, topaz protects you from brutal electrical shocks which happen more often in Western Hyrule and the Gerudo Desert. Did you know that the topaz is Ganondorf’s favorite gemstone? It’s actually confirmed in The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia. It’s easy to surmise, then, that the gemstone over his forehead is probably topaz. It’s no wonder, given that the Gerudo King himself is very familiar with electricity.

In real life, topaz gemstones are classified as semi-precious and are a little more common. Several colors are available, including white and London blue. A yellow topaz, however, is still tricky to find. Also known as imperial topaz, this natural stone is much closer in appearance to its Hyrulean counterpart. Depending on the grade, it can have a mesmerizing yellowish-orange and even pinkish-red hue. Also like its Hyrulean version, imperial topaz was a favorite of the once-powerful Russian czars, hence the name. But unlike Hyrule, you wouldn’t want to expose your topaz to the desert sun. The color will fade! A real topaz might not protect you from electricity either, but its stunning looks are certainly fit for royalty.

Diamond: the toughest and rarest gem of all

Ah yes, the ever-valuable diamond. In our world, diamonds naturally form 100 miles beneath the Earth’s crust with intense heat and pressure. They are the hardest gemstones ever known. Only a diamond has the ability to cut through another diamond. It makes sense, then, for diamonds to take on one of the toughest tasks in Hyrule. Fashioned into armor, they can save your life from a lethal Guardian attack. 

Like our world, diamonds have been highly valued by Hyruleans since ancient times and can fetch a very high price if sold. If you have a stash of these beauties around, you would be incredibly rich. According to Breath of the Wild, they are the single most valuable gemstone in the land of Hyrule. Diamonds, too, are among the most valuable gemstones on our planet Earth. But unlike Hyrule, it’s the rare-colored diamonds that attract the most attention on the market, not white. Blue diamonds and pink diamonds are especially sought after by collectors. Are there colored variations in Hyrule, too? Who knows, but I would not doubt it.