What's the best way to use non native gems ?

[Yossar]

What kind of gem income are we talking about? I rarely get that many gems of a type I don't have mages for, but I also don't use my pretender to search much. If you don't have the mages to use the gems, you don't have the mages to use the gems, but there are a few items that can help you get there. Ring of sorcery/wizardry and staff of elemental mastery help you get points in magic types that you are weak in. Then it's easy to blow through those gems. At worst you can trade the gems with someone who needs them more than you do (unless we're talking about single player).