The AK-47 Case Hardened is one of the most iconic skins in CS2, but within this skin family there is a rare category called Blue Gems. These are patterns where the play side of the rifle is covered mostly in solid blue, with very little gold or purple. The exact look depends on the pattern seed, a number between 1 and 1,000 that defines how the hardened texture is placed on the weapon. Collectors value some seeds far more than others, and the difference in price between a regular Case Hardened and a true Blue Gem can be tens of thousands of dollars.
What is a Blue Gem?
Every Case Hardened skin in CS2 is generated using the same metal texture but positioned differently depending on the seed.
- Seeds range from 1 to 1,000.
- Only a handful produce near-full blue coverage on the important side of the AK-47.
- The most famous Blue Gem is the #661 seed, nicknamed the Scar Pattern.
A true Blue Gem usually has the play side (right side) fully or almost fully blue. The back side can be mixed, but what matters most for pricing is how the rifle looks when held in first person.
Blue Gem Seed Ranking
Players and traders generally classify seeds into tiers:
- Tier 1 (top tier) – Seeds with nearly full solid blue, like #661, #321, #387. These are the most expensive and rare.
- Tier 2 – Seeds with large blue coverage but with some gold or purple visible. Examples: #444, #555, #670.
- Tier 3 – Seeds with smaller blue patches that still look appealing, but far from full blue.
From the 1,000 possible seeds, only about 50–70 are considered Blue Gems, and within that group fewer than 10 reach the Tier 1 level.
Key Blue Gem Seeds
Some seeds stand out as legends in the CS2 trading scene.
- #661 (Scar Pattern) – Considered the best AK-47 Case Hardened seed. Full blue play side. Known sales have reached over $150,000–$200,000, depending on condition (Factory New or Minimal Wear).
- #321 – Another Tier 1 seed, with excellent blue coverage. Often valued in the tens of thousands of dollars.
- #387 – Close to #321 in quality, also heavily blue.
- #670 – Recognized as one of the better Tier 2 seeds, popular among collectors who can’t afford the very top.
- #555 and #444 – Both sought after for their balanced but still striking blue distribution.
Market Value and Rarity
- A regular AK-47 Case Hardened (not Blue Gem) costs only a fraction of a Blue Gem, usually between $70 and $200 depending on wear.
- Tier 3 Blue Gems can reach $1,000–$3,000.
- Tier 2 seeds often sell between $5,000–$20,000.
- Tier 1 seeds like #661, #321, #387 can exceed $50,000 and in rare trades surpass $150,000.
This massive difference comes purely from the seed number, not float value or StatTrak status. Of course, Factory New and StatTrak increase value even more, but even a Battle-Scarred #661 is worth far more than a Factory New non-Blue Gem.
Table of Important Seeds
| Tier | Seed Numbers (Examples) | Coverage | Typical Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #661, #321, #387 | Full blue play side | $50,000 – $200,000+ |
| 2 | #444, #555, #670, #910 | Large blue patches | $5,000 – $20,000 |
| 3 | #13, #905, #182, #504 | Partial blue highlights | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Normal | Most other seeds | Mixed gold/purple | $70 – $200 |
Blue Gem Statistics
- Out of 1,000 seeds, less than 7% are considered Blue Gems.
- Only about 0.5% (around 5–10 seeds) are true Tier 1 patterns.
- The #661 Scar Pattern is the most documented and highest priced Blue Gem in existence.
- Float value affects price, but even a Field-Tested Tier 1 Blue Gem can sell for more than a Factory New regular Case Hardened by a factor of 100 or more.
