Melee has always been an important item in the jewelry market. Whether used to set some sparkling pave or in a halo setting for an engagement ring, a jewel is rarely manufactured without melee diamonds.
Melee allows for creating exciting designs in jewelry while keeping the cost affordable, as opposed to using larger diamonds.
India, known to be the world's largest producers of diamonds is also known to have a huge melee market, accounting for more than 90% of the world's production.
Often referred to as "diamond chips" by consumers, the word melee originates from the French, "Mêlée" which literally means "mixed". Melee can range in sizes from 0.001ct which is 1000th of a carat to 0.15ct measuring about 0.6mm to 3.5mm in diameter.
Melee is measured using diamonds sieves which are instruments consisting of round metal plates with holes. Sieve sizes can vary and are used to separate the melees and sort them according to precise sizes.
Melee diamonds are not certified with grading labs, unlike larger diamonds as they are too small. It therefore requires great skill and proficiency to sort and grade the small diamonds.
Sorting and grading melee diamonds can thus be grueling. Only a trained gemologist can sort them precisely by clarity, cut and color. It requires skill, a steady hand and a tremendous amount of patience to sort just through 25 carats of melees sized 0.01carats.
Setting the melee in jewelry requires even greater skill. Every diamond set in a piece of jewelry is put through pressure to insure that it doesn’t pop out. Every setter needs a reserve of melee on hand in case the diamonds break due to their size and the pressure applied. Technology has come a long way in helping to set melee perfectly, however nothing beats the experienced hand of a master jeweler.
It is of great importance to find a reliable source for your diamond melee as many jewelers rely on accurate sizes and correct clarities to create their high quality jewelry.
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