Collecting (The Sims 3)
Collectibles from The Sims 3.
The lifetime reward Collection Helper can highlight the collectibles on the map.
Statistics
Gems Collected, Unique Gems Found, Metals Collected, Unique Metals Found, Rocks Found, Unique Rocks Analyzed, Butterflies Collected, Unique Butterflies Found, Beetles Collected, Unique Beetles Found, Insects Donated to Science
Challenges
- Gem Collector
- Collect all the types of gems, and the rarest gem cut shape will be bestowed upon your Sim! Watch out... it's valuable!
- Note: 10 types total, 10% per type
- Metal Collector
- Find every unique metal, and your Sim will routinely get additional Ingots returned in the mail.
- Note: 5 types total, 20% per type
- Amateur Rock Finder
- Once your Sim finds at least half of the varieties of space rocks, it will be easier to find ones you haven't yet stumbled across.
- Awesomest Rock Collector in the Universe
- Find all the space rocks, and your Sim will have more luck collecting ones of higher value.
- Note: 33 types total, 3% per type
- Butterfly Collector
- Catch one of each type of butterfly to become a Butterfly Collector. Sims with this title are learned in the ways of the insect and will have an easier time finding beetles and butterflies.
- Note: 10 types total, 10% per type
- Beetle Collector
- Catch one of each type of beetle, and your Sim will never fail at catching butterflies or beetles again.
- Note: 10 types total, 10% per type
Gems
Raw
Gemstones are found in the rough.
| Raw | Gem | Rarity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Diamond | Rare | |
 |
Emerald | Common | |
 |
Ruby | Common | |
 |
Tanzanite | Uncommon | |
| File:Blue Topaz.jpg | Blue Topaz | Common | |
| File:Smoky Quartz.jpg | Smoky Quartz | Common | |
 |
Pink Diamond | Extraordinarily Unusual | |
| File:Yellow Sapphire.jpg | Yellow Sapphire | Uncommon | |
 |
Rainbow Gem | Extraordinarily Unusual | |
| File:Luminorious Gem.jpg | Luminorious Gem | Rare |
Cuts
Gems may be sent to the gem-cutter and cut into the following cuts. You start with the Emerald cut, and gain cuts by cutting gems.
Sometimes the gemcutters will return an uncut gem, saying that it is actually a Mysterious Mr. Gnome in disguise.
The table lists both when you break even with a particular cut, and when a cut begins yielding better profit than the previous cut.
For example, if a gem is worth §47, an oval cut provides §70 while the Pear cut yields §82. Factoring in the cost of the gem and the cost of cutting the gem, the Oval cut provides a §3 profit while the Pear cut yields no profit. The Pear cut does not start providing more profit than the Oval cut until the original worth is §60, as listed below.
| Image | Cut | Cost | Worth Change | Break Even | Better Profit | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Emerald | §10 | 125% | §40 | - | None |
| File:Oval Cut Diamond.jpg | Oval | §20 | 150% | §40 | §40 | 4 cuts |
| File:Pear Cut Diamond.jpg | Pear | §35 | 175% | §47 | §60 | +4 (8 total) cuts |
| File:Plumbbob Cut Diamond.jpg | Plumbbob | §50 | 200% | §50 | §60 | +8 (16 total) cuts |
| File:Marquis Cut Diamond.jpg | Marquis | §75 | 230% | §58 | §84 | +14 (30 total) cuts |
| File:Crystal Ball Cut Diamond.jpg | Crystal ball | §100 | 260% | §63 | §85 | +15 (45 total) cuts |
| File:Brilliant Cut Diamond.jpg | Brilliant | §250 | 350% | §100 | §168 | +15 (60 total) cuts |
| File:Heart-Shaped Cut Diamond.jpg | Heart-Shaped | §1000 | 500% | §250 | §500 | Pass the Gem Collector challenge |
Metals
Metals are found in ore form, and can be smelted into ingots for §40.
Sometimes the foundry will return an ore, saying that it is actually a Mysterious Mr. Gnome in disguise.
Smelted ingots are worth 175% of their original cost, and so the raw metal must be worth $54 to break even.
| Raw | Ingot | Metal | Rarity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Iron Raw.png | File:Iron Ignot.png | Iron | Common | Value: §22 |
| File:Silver Raw.png | File:Silver Ignot.png | Silver | Common | Value: §52 |
| File:Gold Raw.png | File:Gold Ignot.png | Gold | Uncommon | Value: §131 |
| File:Palladium Raw.png | File:Palladium Ignot.png | Palladium | Rare | Value: §631 |
| File:Plutonium Raw.png | File:Plutonium Ignot.png | Plutonium | Extraordinarily Unusual | Value: §2189 |
Rocks
These are meteorites, space rocks that have fallen from the heavens. They come in two varieties: Tiny and Large. Initial appraisal appears to be based on their weight, so naturally Large Space Rocks are worth more than Tiny Space Rocks. However, your sim may Analyze a space rock, which will result in it being one of the below types. Each type may be worth more or less than initial appraisal. Finding half the rocks makes it easier to find the other half, and finding all the rocks results in finding the more expensive ones more often.
Rocks can be found using the "Rocks and Gems" setting on the Collection Helper. Your sim may also spot a meteor falling while using the telescope, which will mark its position on the map. Sometimes when buying a house an event will pop up that the house you purchased was struck by a meteor, and ask if you want to accept the challenge. Doing so results in several Large Space Rocks and Tiny Space Rocks scattering the home (along with fire damage).
| Rock | Size | Worth Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulcoite | |||
| Angrite | |||
| Ataxite | |||
| Aubrite | |||
| Brachinite | |||
| Charbonaceous Chondrite | Large | 600% | |
| Chassignite | |||
| Diogenite | |||
| Enstatite Chondrite | Tiny | 600% | |
| Eucrite | |||
| Hexahedrite | Tiny | 160% | |
| Howardite | |||
| Kamasite | |||
| Lodranite | |||
| Lunar | |||
| Mesosiderite | |||
| Nakhlite | |||
| Nalchlite | |||
| Octahedrite | |||
| Ordinary Chondrite | |||
| Pallasite | |||
| Rumurutite | Tiny | 300% | |
| Ureilite | Large | 90% | |
| Winonaite | |||
| Unusual Bellacite | |||
| Unusual Custerous Gossticite | Tiny | 190% | |
| Unusual Dukeadite | Tiny | 220% | |
| Unusual Holmberic | |||
| Unusual Llamatite | Tiny | 200% | |
| Unusual Mazzadrayte | |||
| Unusual Pearsonite | Tiny | 210% | |
| Unusual Rodiekceous | Tiny | 200% | |
| Unusual Sporecite | Large & Tiny | 170% |
Butterflies
| Img | Butterfly | Rarity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Moth | Common | Value: §5 |
 |
Monarch Butterfly | Common | Value: §11 |
| File:Zephyr Metalmark Butterfly.jpg | Zephyr Metalmark Butterfly | Common | Value: §26 |
| File:Red Admiral Butterfly.jpg | Red Admiral Butterfly | Common | Value: §30 |
| File:Mission Blue Butterfly.jpg | Mission Blue Butterfly | Uncommon | Value: §53 |
| File:Green Swallowtail Butterfly.jpg | Green Swallowtail Butterfly | Uncommon | Value: §97 |
| File:Royal Purple Butterfly.jpg | Royal Purple Butterfly | Uncommon | Value: §151 |
| File:Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly.jpg | Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly | Rare | Value: §379 |
| File:Zebra Butterfly.jpg | Zebra Butterfly | Rare | Value: §750 |
| File:Rainbow Butterfly.jpg | Rainbow Butterfly | Extraordinarily Unusual | Value: §1133 |
Beetles
| Img | Beetle | Rarity | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Cockroach | Common | Value: §1 | |
 |
Ladybug | Common | Value: §11 | |
| File:Japanese Beetle.jpg | Japanese Beetle | Common | Value: §17 | |
| File:Water Beetle.jpg | Water Beetle | Common | Value: §28 | |
| File:Light Beetle.jpg | Light Beetle | Uncommon | Value: §47 | |
| File:Rhinocerous Beetle.jpg | Rhinocerous Beetle | Uncommon | Value: §97 | |
| File:Stag Beetle.jpg | Stag Beetle | Uncommon | Value: §207 | |
| File:Spotted Beetle.jpg | Spotted Beetle | Rare | Value: §483 | |
| File:Trilobite Beetle.jpg | Trilobite Beetle | Rare | Value: §595 | |
| File:Rainbow Beetle.jpg | Rainbow Beetle | Extraordinarily Unusual | Value: §1142 |
