In recent builds, people have dug up new epic gems which are different gem names from the already previously data-mined superior quality gems. What is even more intriguing about these gems is the stats they give.
In Cataclysm, a primary stat gem would look like this:
Brilliant Inferno Ruby: +40 Intellect
A hybrid Purple, Green and Orange colored) stat gem would look like this:
Purified Demonseye: +20 Intellect +20 Spirit
However, in Mists of Pandaria the hybrid gems stat allotment seems to shift. This makes it so you actually get more bang for your buck (number wise, at any rate) from using a hybrid gem than you would from using a primary gem.
In Mists of Pandaria, a primary stat gem of Superior quality looks like this:
Brilliant Primordial Ruby: +160 Intellect
A hybrid gem of the same quality (superior) looks like this:
Purified Imperial Amethyst: +80 Intellect +160 Spirit
Effectively, you have the choice of having 160 of one primary stat, or having mix of two stats which equals 240. Obviously, in Cataclysm, primary stats reign supreme, but in MoP things might begin to change. Perhaps Blizzard is trying to push us in a direction where we actually match ALL of our gem sockets? Perhaps this is their solution to red gems being so high priced with almost all other gem colors being dirt cheap?
Now onto Yellow and Blue gems. These two colors are currently giving TWICE the stat allotment of the red gems. Meaning, while a Primordial Ruby would give +160 Intellect, a Sparkling River's Heart gives +320 Spirit and a Quick Sun's Radiance gives +320 Haste.
One final interesting fact is that Blizzard is also introducing EPIC gems from the get-go. However, you can ONLY get epic quality gems in the following colors: Purple, Green and Orange.
This means, during tier 14, you can have 1 superior quality gem red gem which gives you +160 in a primary stat, OR, if you can get an epic quality gem, you can have the following stats instead:
Purified Zyanite: +100 Intellect +200 Spirit
Thoughts? This could effectively keep people from stacking red gems. But on the reverse, it could also mean people will begin stacking the epic hybrid gems instead, effectively rendering the idea of gem balancing moot. What would you like to see with the gems in MoP?