There’s something to celebrate about every diamond, no matter how small. And in the case of melee diamonds, that includes unique and interesting features that make them stand out for more than just their compact size. Here are some melee diamond facts you might not know, including why these small diamonds are a sparkling staple of the jewelry industry.
1. Small Diamonds are Called Melee Diamonds if They Weigh Less Than 1/5 of a Carat
Melee diamonds can come in all sorts of cuts and clarity, but one thing that stays constant is their size. In order to be classified as a melee, a diamond must weigh in at less than one-fifth of a carat, though they come in sizes as small as 1/1000 of a carat.
2. There’s a Ton of Versatility in Melee Diamond Sizes and Uses
Because of their small size, melee diamonds lend themselves extremely well to use in all sorts of pieces and are ideal for adding a little (or a lot) of extra sparkle to diamond jewelry. Many jewelers use them generously throughout a piece to fill in gaps between larger stones and enhance overall appearance, mixing and matching different sizes of melee diamonds to achieve a more brilliant effect.
3. These Small Diamonds Come in All Sorts of Cuts
Thanks to precision cutting techniques, you can find high-quality melee diamonds in all different shapes, including heart, oval, round, princess, and baguette. This is good news when you’re creating custom jewelry and need complementary stones that fit into the larger design of the piece.
4. How Are Melee Diamonds Cut? It’s More Complicated Than You Might Think
In order to achieve all of the various melee diamond sizes and uses, quality diamond manufacturers have become true pros at cutting these smaller diamonds with extra care. That means that there’s usually a lot more to the cut than initially meets the eye, with melee diamonds coming in at anywhere from 16 to 57 facets. The more facets there are, the more light is reflected, and the more these diamonds sparkle on a piece of jewelry.
5. In the Past, Melee Diamonds Could Only Come Single Cut
We have the development of diamond-cutting technology to thank for those 57-facet melee diamonds. For most of history, manufacturers could only produce minimally faceted single-cut diamonds, which, while beautiful in their own right, lacked the added brilliance of a full cut. Today, however, we have the means to create full-cut melee diamonds with dozens more facets, and the majority of melee diamonds today come in a full-cut style.
6. Are Small Diamonds Worth Anything? You Bet!
An individual melee diamond isn’t going to be as valuable as a larger stone since diamonds are priced by carat. However, melee diamonds are a fantastic way to bring visual interest and added value to a piece, and their worth multiplies quickly when these types of diamonds are used in clusters or other complementary roles.
Purchase the Highest Quality Melee Diamonds
At Grunberger Diamonds, we specialize in more than just fascinating diamond facts. We’ve spent decades establishing ourselves as the world’s largest producer of ideal cut diamonds, with a reputation for quality and integrity in all that we do. And as a fourth-generation, family-owned diamond supplier, we’re committed to keeping our legacy strong and continuing to supply jewelers around the globe with melee diamonds that stand out for all the right reasons.
Please contact us today to learn more about our passion for precision and to buy stunning diamonds with same-day shipping and no minimum order requirements.
