OSRS Crafting Guide 2026: Master Gems, Jewellery & Leather

Hey there, adventurer! If you’ve been grinding through old-school-runescape and wondering how to turn raw materials into shiny gear, profit, or just a sweet collection of completed items, you’re in the right place. This OSRS Crafting Guide is your ultimate roadmap to mastering one of the most versatile and rewarding skills in the game. Whether you’re looking to make coins, complete quests, or just flex with some beautifully crafted jewellery and clothing, crafting has got you covered.

Crafting is huge in OSRS — it touches almost every other skill, from jewellery-making to armour upgrades. With crafting touching almost every other skill, from jewellery-making to armour upgrades, now’s a perfect time to get your crafting skills sharp. Leagues worlds often throw bonus XP events or special challenges around crafting, so stocking up on levels before a season starts is always smart.

Let’s get you crafting like a pro.

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Core Mechanics

Before you start smacking gems and leather together, let’s break down what makes crafting tick in OSRS. Understanding the core systems will save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

Mechanic	Description	Details
Crafting Levels	Your overall Crafting proficiency	Ranges from 1–99 (plus temporary boosts). Higher levels unlock more options.
Making / Cutting	The action of shaping raw materials into usable products	Includes cutting gems, making rings/necklaces, tanning leather, and pot-crafting.
Fletching (Separate Skill)	Often confused with Crafting, but it’s its own skill	Making bows, arrows, and darts. Worth mentioning since it overlaps thematically.
Tanning	Turning hides into leather	Requires a Tanning Dungeon or specific NPCs. Different hides = different leather types.
Gem Cutting	Turning raw gems into cut gems	Raw gems found via mining, fishing, or monster drops. Each has a level requirement.
Jewellery Making	Combining cut gems with bars or strings	Produces rings, amulets, and bracelets — some with powerful magic bonuses.
Pottery / Pot-Crafting	Shaping clay into pots and vases	Done at the potter’s wheel near Ardougne or Lumbridge.
Legerdem / Pouches	Leather pouch creation for herb running	A high-level niche but super profitable activity.
Crafting XP Rates	Varies wildly by activity	Ranges from ~50 XP per item (level 1) to ~800+ XP per item (high-level jewellery).
Banking / Supplies	Stocking materials is critical	Always carry raw hides, bars, gems, and water containers when crafting.
Double XP Events	Jagex runs periodic Crafting XP weekends	Stack with a Superiors’ Bonuse or other boosts for serious gains.

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Step-by-Step

Step 1: Start Early — Level 1–15 Gem Cutting

New players should kick things off at a stone furnace or general store by cutting raw gems. It’s low-level, consistent, and teaches you the rhythm of crafting without needing much in the way of expensive materials.

What you need:

• Raw gems (ruby, diamond, emerald, sapphire — cheapest first)
• A chisel (free at any jeweller’s shop or general store)

How to do it:

1. Talk to a Jeweller (found in Varrock, Al Kharid, and other major cities).
2. Select the gem you want to cut and confirm.
3. Wait for the progress bar and collect your cut gem.
4. Repeat until your level rises or you run out of raw stock.

XP per cut (approximate):

• Sapphire: 45 XP
• Emerald: 75 XP
• Ruby: 110 XP
• Diamond: 180 XP

At this early stage, you won’t be making jewellery yet — that unlocks at level 20 — so focus on building your base and earning some quick coins by selling cut gems on the Grand Exchange.

Step 2: Unlock Jewellery Making at Level 20

Once you hit level 20 Crafting, the doors swing open to ring and amulet creation. This is where things start getting exciting, and your coin income can jump significantly.

Materials you’ll need:

• Gold bars (Smithing skill required — trade if you don’t have it)
• Cut gems (sapphire, emerald, ruby, diamond)
• String (from fletching or purchased)

Common ring recipes:

• Ring of Crafting (1 sapphire + gold bar)
• Ring of foraging (1 emerald + gold bar)
• Ring of wealth (1 diamond + gold bar)

How to do it:

1. Visit any Jeweller NPC.
2. Choose the ring or amulet recipe.
3. Provide the required gold bar and cut gem.
4. Collect your finished jewellery.

Tip: Rings of Wealth are a must-craft for any player. They boost loot tables across the board and pay for themselves fast. Always stack these in your bank.

Step 3: Tanning and Leather Crafting

Leather work is a parallel branch of crafting that uses hides instead of gems. It’s essential for producing armour (like body armour and chitin pieces) and iconic accessories like the Archers’ ring.

Hides and their leather outputs:

Hide Type	Level Required	Leather Produced
Normal hide	1	Normal leather
Red dye hide	28	Red leather
Green dye hide	33	Green leather
Blue dye hide	38	Blue leather
Dragonhide	45	Dragonhide (special)

Where to tan:

• Shilo Village Tanning Dungeon (best for mass tanning — use the oven)
• Aubury’s shop in Port Sarim (limited capacity)
• Lumbridge or Varrock general stores (one-at-a-time service)

Key leather products:

• Leather body (level 31) — great early-mid game armour
• Hard leather body (level 41) — tanky and stylish
• Archers’ ring (level 45, green leather + sapphire)
• Legerdem pouches (level 51) — herb satchel utility

Step 4: Advance to High-Level Crafting (Levels 50–80)

As you progress, you’ll unlock some of the most profitable and useful crafting options in the game. This is where you separate casual crafters from serious ones.

Dragonhide armour requires level 45 and access to the Shilo Village tanning dungeon. You’ll need a needle and thread (available at fletching shops) alongside green or blue dragonhide. Finished dragonhide bodies, chaps, and coifs are top-tier ranged and magic armour.

Amulet of magic (level 53) is another staple — combine a magic stone (cut from raw magic gems found in the Brimhaven Dungeon or purchased) with a gold bar at any jeweller. This amulet is a go-to for spellcasting setups.

Nature rune pouches (level 51+) tie into the Legerdem system and are incredibly valuable for players who run nature runes frequently. Each pouch slot upgrade costs leather, string, and a bit of time, but the long-term savings on rune purchases are massive.

Step 5: Endgame Crafting — The 99 Grind

Maxing Crafting is achievable but demands patience, resources, and smart XP prioritisation. Here’s the typical endgame path:

• Legerdem pouches (level 51–70): Reliable XP with moderate cost. Great for steady progression.
• Blessed chests / ornate chests (level 70+): These require hard leather, silver dust, and a significant gold investment. XP rates are excellent.
• Archers’ rings and precision rings (mid-to-high levels): Combine leather, gems, and gold for solid returns.
• Cutting top-tier gems (diamond, onyx): Onyx cutting at level 85 gives ~450 XP each and is one of the faster endgame methods if you can source rough onyx cheaply.
• Crafting full dragonhide sets: Good for XP but also practical — the resulting gear has real combat value.

Note on league seasons — many Leagues seasons feature bonus Crafting XP events or unique challenges that reward high Crafting levels. Getting your Crafting to at least 60 before a season starts ensures you can participate.

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Tips

• Bank ahead. Never start a crafting session without a full stash of raw materials. Run out of gold bars mid-session and you’ll lose momentum.
• Watch prices. Use the Grand Exchange to buy raw gems or hides when prices dip, then cut/tan and sell later for profit.
• Stack XP boosts. Double XP events, Superiors’ Bonuse, and Prayers like Piety (for dragonhide) can speed up your grind.
• Prioritise quality over quantity. Higher-level crafting (like legerdem) yields more XP per hour than constant gem cutting.
• Learn shortcuts. Some activities, like using the Shilo Village oven for tanning, are much faster than talking to NPCs one‑by‑one.

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FAQ

How do I start crafting in Old School Runescape?

Begin at level 1 by cutting raw gems (sapphire, emerald, ruby, diamond) at a jeweller’s shop. This provides steady XP and early coins.

What’s the best level to unlock jewellery making?

Level 20 unlocks ring and amulet creation. Rings of Wealth are especially valuable for boosting loot drops.

Where can I tan hides efficiently?

The Shilo Village Tanning Dungeon is fastest for bulk tanning. Alternatively, use Aubury’s shop in Port Sarim or the general stores in Lumbridge/Varrock.

How do I craft dragonhide armour?

Reach level 45 Crafting, obtain green/blue dragonhide, and use a needle and thread to craft bodies, chaps, and coifs. Tanning dungeons are required for processing raw hides.

What are the most profitable crafting methods?

High-level legerdem pouches, blessed chests, and cutting onyx gems offer the best XP rates. Selling crafted items on the Grand Exchange can also yield substantial profits.

Does crafting help with Leagues seasons?

Yes. Reaching level 60 Crafting allows you to participate in decoration mini‑games that often appear in Leagues seasons.