Melee Diamonds

Melee Diamonds

When shopping for a beautiful engagement ring you will likely come across small diamonds that make up the ring, these are called melee diamonds.  This is pronounced like meh-lee, these melee diamonds accent the center diamond and enhance its beauty.  To make an informed purchase one needs to learn about the different qualities and sizes melee diamonds come in.

What Are Melee Diamonds?

By GIA standards these tiny diamonds can be as small as the carat weight of 0.001, or 1/1000th of a carat.   However, precise millimeters ranges can vary from country to country for them. Coming in either full or single cut, melee diamonds are an integral part of the diamond business.  The majority of diamonds mined usually weigh under 0.10 carats, therefore the supply of melee diamonds are abundant with respect to rarity of larger diamonds.  Cut into tiny round diamonds and set around a center stone, these tiny stones are important to the overall look of the engagement ring or jewelry.  

Cutting Melee Diamonds 

Today, production and cutting small diamonds is done in large quantities.  For example, using the latest high tech machinery, cutters have been able to circumvent the amount of labor needed to produce melee diamonds thanks to these machines.  These machines have also helped reduce diamond weight lose and maximize the brilliance of small diamonds used in fine jewelry.  The majority of melee diamond production can be found in Surat, India.  The country of India is a major diamond hub and Surat is the center where melee diamonds are weighed, sorted, cut, polished, finished and ultimately sold on the open market.

Single Cut Vs Full Cut Diamonds

There are two standard faceting types for melee diamonds.  For example, they include single cut diamonds which have approximately 17-18 facets.  The determining factor of polish is the presence of the culet. Whereas, a cutting a full cut round brilliant diamond has either 57 or 58 facets, depending on the cutlet polish.  These include 32 crown facets, 24 pavilion facets a table and usually with a culet.  

Setting Styles

In engagement rings, trinkets and other fine jewelry one can expect to see melee diamonds used.  For example, diamond material is one of the most expensive materials in the world.  However, when compared to larger diamonds, melee diamonds are inexpensive.  Moreover, in fine jewelry goods, one can oftentimes find melee diamonds in watches, pendants, bracelets and especially diamond engagement rings.

Popular Style's using Melee Diamond

The most popular ring sold today is the diamond halo engagement ring.  Using small diamonds, setters meticulously place these tiny stones around a center stone, giving the industry the look known as the halo design.  The purpose of the halo is to enhance the center stone, whether it be a gem, synthetic or a diamond.  Another popular style is the pavé setting. Evolving from the French word "pah-vey" this style translates to English as "to pave."  For instance, when using a honeycomb pattern, the technique requires the craftsman to set diamonds very close together.  Giving a beautiful meticulously set, organized ring, thereby making a bold display.  Often times you will see both pave and halo styles used together.  Another benefit of using the pavé technique is the affordability of the style.  Engagement rings can be very expensive investments and using melee diamonds helps keep costs affordable.

Engagement Rings 

When shopping for an engagement ring you will come across a variety of prices that can be confusing.  One should consider an overall budget when purchasing a ring.  Depending on your jeweler, you should be able to choose the quality used in your ring, therefore knowing the quality of your small diamonds are paramount when making this decision.  Consider these important factors when purchasing a diamond.  For instance, they are the color, clarity, cut, and carat weight of the center stone.  Also known as the four C's.  Melee diamonds do not come with this documentation.  Independent reports for center stones are paramount when determining value. For example, the most accurately graded diamonds are GIA certified diamonds.  A grading report is essential in determining the value of a diamond, and thereby your engagement ring.  Sorted and separated in large quantities, melee stones go through a different process than larger diamonds.  Therefore, to grade melee diamonds is not practical considering the determined value and less rigid factors used in grading criteria.  This is unlike that of GIA certified diamonds.  Additionally, it is important to factor in the color and clarity of the center diamond when making a ring using melee diamond.  The idea is should be to create a unified, correct and seamless finish.  

Carat Weight 

When purchasing a diamond engagement ring it is imperative to know the difference between “carat weight” and “total carat weight.”  The carat weight of a diamond is a determining factor when considered value.  For instance, one may notice the abbreviation “tcw” in the jewelry industry.  This is used to describe the combined weight of all the diamonds.  Carat weight, abbreviated “ct,” applies to an individual stone.  For example, a ring may say 3.00 carats total weight, and center stone 2.00.  That means the total carat weight is 3.00 carats, with 1.00 being that of small diamonds.

Melee Diamonds at 1800LooseDiamonds.com

A customer or consumer can easily find melee diamonds in the Los Angeles Jewelry District at 1800LooseDiamonds.com.  One should know that melee diamonds come in a variety of sizes so it is imperative to know millimeter is required for your fine jewelry products. http://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-carat-weight/ GIA Certified Diamonds Engagement Rings Los Angeles Engagement Rings Grading Diamonds Round Diamonds Buying Diamond Engagement Rings Emerald Cut Diamonds Princess Cut Diamonds Contact Us Diamonds Suffer Split Shank Diamond Halo Engagement Ring GIA Certified Understanding Diamond Appraisals Jewelry Industry Technology Rose Gold Diamond Halo Engagement Rings Diamond Industry Diamond Price List Fine Jewelry Diamond Jewelry Business Beverly Hills Diamonds Diamond Prices Diamond Carat Weight Jewelry Stores Los Angeles Solitaire Engagement Ring Understanding Diamond Value Vintage Style Diamond Engagement Rings Four Diamond C's Diamond Demand Jewelry Sales Decline (Opens in a new browser tab) Diamond Complaints(Opens in a new browser tab) Pink Diamond Ring(Opens in a new browser tab) Diamond Studs in Los Angeles(Opens in a new browser tab) Cuban Link Chains(Opens in a new browser tab) Best Jewelry Website(Opens in a new browser tab) Diamonds Help(Opens in a new browser tab) Engagement Rings in Los Angeles(Opens in a new browser tab)