View source for Guide:Faroda's Guide to an Early Gem Shield

You can get a [[File: Gem_shield.svg|frameless|20px]] [[Gem Shield]] before you ever leave [[Jarvonia]].  You will need the following by the end, but several of these will build up your skills as you go:
*200 [[File:Adventurers%27_guild_token.svg|frameless|20px]]Adventurer's Guild Tokens (bypassable but you will have to leave Jarvonia via [[Syrenthia]] or 4,500 [[coins]] to get to [[GDTE]] and [[Wallisia]]) to access an Advanced Forge
*[[Fishing]] Level 5 (bypassable by [[File:Trinketry_chest.svg|frameless|20px]]Trinketry Chests)
*[[Trinketry]] Level 34
*[[Agility]] Level 50 (bypassable by Trinketry Chests, but not worth it)
*[[Mining]] Level 50
*[[Smithing]] Level 59

200 Adventurer Tokens
*100 Tokens (for a [[File:Black_eye_peak_wilderness_permit.svg|frameless|20px]][[Black Eye Peak Wilderness Permit]]) (can be bypassed by getting Farganite Ore from Mining or Smithing Chests, but you will still need access to a Trinketry Bench and Winter’s End requires the Permit)
*100 Tokens (for a [[Mysterious Northern Map]]) (can by bypassed but you will have to travel to [[Wraithwater]] in Wallisia, and this will require a [[Jarvonian Letter of Passage]] which costs 4,500 coins)

Skills:
*Fishing Level 5 / Mining Level 15 (for Activity: [[Gold Panning]] to get Gold Nuggets (can be bypassed by drops from Trinketry Chests))
*Mining Level 30 (for Activity: Mine Coal) (can be bypassed by drops from Mining Chests and Smithing Chests))
*Mining Level 50 (for Activity: Mine Farganite Ore to get Farganite Ore (can be bypassed by drops from Mining and Smithing Chests))
*Mining Level 50 / Agility Level 50 (for Activity: [[Spelunking]] to get Gem Pouches (can be bypassed by drops from Trinketry Chests))
*Trinketry Level 34 (to Shape a Sun Stone; other gems are shaped at lower levels)
*Smithing Level 15 (to Smelt a Gold Bar from Gold Nuggets at any Smithing Forge (can be bypassed by drops from Trinketry Chests))
*Smithing Level 50 (to Smelt a Farganite Bar from two [[Coal]] and one Farganite Ore)
*Smithing Level 59 (to Smith a Gem Shield)

You will also need one of each of the following Gems, which can be acquired in Rough Gem form either by Gem Pouches (Activity: Spelunking) or Trinketry Chests.
*[[Wrentmarine]] (Shape a wrentmarine requires a Trinketry Bench and Trinketry Level 15)
*[[Topaz]] (Shape a topaz requires a Trinketry Bench and Trinketry Level 21)
*[[Jade]] (Shape a Jade requires a Trinketry Bench and Trinketry Level 26)
*[[Ruby]] (Shape a Ruby requires a Trinketry Bench and Trinketry Level 30)
*[[Sun Stone]] (Shape a Sun Stone requires a Trinketry Bench and Trinketry Level 34)

The benefit is that a Gem Shield counts as a Light Source and increases Work Efficiency while doing Agility activities; this will open up Tool, Ring, or Helmet slots when doing several activities in the future, particularly as some require multiple Light Sources.  Also, no other shield provides a bonus, so there is no competition for this gear slot.

This is NOT the most efficient method to craft a Gem Shield in the game, but it is a way you can do it very early, and often using resources you acquired by doing other activities while finishing up Jarvonia prior to moving on to GDTE or Syrenthia.