UESP Forums

http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Cake_and_The_Diamond According to this diamonds have loads of magical properties and in the story is used to create an invisibility potion. I was wondering if this is true per the lore, that diamonds or other gems could be used in alchemy or just a neat story. That would have been neat to have in game, especially if you found all those unusual gems.

In the Dragonborn DLC, you can use different gems to so it seems there is some truth to it.

Yes, it's true. In Morrowind, Gems were alchemy ingredients. Diamonds were used for Invisibilty Potions.

Right he is. I think Morrowind was the last game that used gems and stones as alchemy ingredients...must be a special Dunmer art.

Of course! Who else knows how to work hard objects better then the people who can shape bone and mine barehanded!

Apparently all items in Nirn have some inherent magical qualities based on the nature of creation itself, but it's difficult to refine most gems and stones to the point they're usable in alchemy or enchanting.

Mammoth Tusk Powder, for instance, is nearly a lost art. Only the Giants remember how to grind the ivory into a powder, in which state it is useful for crafting. Perhaps the Dummer have similar arts for grinding diamonds into dust.

Though what they would use to grind into dust a material that can only be cut with another diamond......who knows?!

Why not just crush it into dust?

Same result.