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I'm working on a "fast secondary character level up" item set, and one thing I want is a low-level socketed helmet that I can stick a ruby in.
I don't remember seeing gems or socketed items until Act 2, however. Does anyone know the minimum "required character level" on an item that has sockets? Although I'm primarily concerned with helmets, having sockets in some of my other low-level power-leveling gear would be useful, so I'd like a general answer if possible.
After several days worth of research, using the items offered at the Auction House as a guideline, I was able to determine that socketed items are generally available as low as level 15. It does not seem to matter what item is in question (armor, rings, weapons, etc) - you must be level 15 to equip something that contains a socket.
While the answer that level 15 is the lowest level is generally correct, you can in fact find legendary items that are of lower level.
For instance, the legendary item "See No Evil" is a Monk head gear, with socket, and can be commonly found at level 10.
I found both my first socketed item and my first gem in Act II after I killed Magdha. However, both @Sterno and @OrigamiRobot found gems before the activity above - so far, it seems Act II is the only real concrete limitation so far. However, both OrigamiRobot and @Resorath confirm a similar experience (a gem dropping off the activity above). It seems that a gem will always drop from said mob. It does not seem a socketed item drop is guaranteed, though. It's a few more quests until you find the Jewelry Artisan, Covetous Shen, but it is shortly thereafter in the same Act. You can find gems before him, and before the activity above.
