Melee Diamonds Explained

 When one hears the terms melee and diamonds used in the same sentence one might be tempted to think that this subject at hand involves something related to brute force and combat: given the immense durability of diamonds, and the idea of a ‘melee’: that of a hand-to-hand struggle. Well, since this is a jewellery and gemstone Education space, the melee in question revolves around gemstones. In this post, you will learn about the character of melee diamonds, their uses, and the factors you need to consider when going for them.

What are Melee Diamonds?

By ‘melee diamonds’ what we are talking about today is a certain type of diamond: a very small type of diamond that is used to accentuate the look and style of the larger diamonds that they tend to accompany. Melee diamonds in other words are stones which exist to strengthen the look of certain jewellery, like diamond engagement rings for example.

If you are in any way familiar with the gemstone and fine jewellery world the concept of melee diamonds might seem more familiar. Melee diamonds are the technical term for accent stones, as long as they are of the carbon variety. A key distinction of melee diamonds is that they are not valued individually, and hence are rarely sold as individual gemstones.

Now there is a reason why the term ‘melee’ is used to describe these extreme small diamonds: the term melee, apart from the more popular meaning of the term, has also another definition: which is meant to describe a combination of diverse elements. When it comes to melee diamonds what we are dealing with is an ensemble of small, carbon gemstones which do not command great value individually. And the main factor is size. Melee diamonds are tiny. If diamonds which are lower than 1 carat are smaller in size, then melee diamonds can be as small as 0.001 ct (That is 1 carat divided by 1000).

Melee diamonds thus do not fall under the same measurement criteria that are used for polished, cut diamond stones. And there are good reasons for this. This takes us to the next point: the varieties of melee diamonds that are found in the market.

Melee Diamond Types

Melee diamonds are differentiated according to their cuts, which come in two main types. Single cut vs Full cut. As the reader may have noticed these are not the type of conventional cuts that are used in traditional diamond or gem cutting. So let’s break each of these down.

Single Cut Melee Diamond

A single-cut melee diamond refers to a carbon-based gemstone that features a total of 17 – 18 facets, which are divided between the stone’s crown and the pavilion. This is considerably lower than the number one finds in larger (proper) diamonds. The single-cut version of melee diamonds is an older form. Back in the day, the idea of imparting cuts on an extremely small stone was technically challenging, thus single-carat melee diamonds became more prevalent.

On the downside, single-cut diamonds are poor in terms of brilliance and scintillation which are the features of traditional cut diamonds one finds in the fine jewellery world. Given its shortfalls, this type of melee cut was replaced the next.

Full Cut Melee Diamond

Full-cut melee diamonds are the newer and better version of melee diamonds. Featuring cuts that range in the 57 – 58 mark, melee diamonds are essentially smaller versions of actual diamonds that are used as centre or side stones. Owing to the higher number of facets, full-cut melee diamonds come with the bells and whistles that characterize proper-cut diamonds. The challenges of imparting a high number of cuts on melee diamonds are made possible due to advances in technology: that with the aid of programmable software microscopes, even extremely small diamonds can be cut into the desired shape.

Factors to Consider when Selecting Melee Diamonds

When going for melee diamonds, it is important to pay attention to the jewellery type and setting that you are going for. Since melee diamonds function as accent stones, their comparability with the main gemstone and ring style (in case the main jewellery happens to be a gemstone ring) need to be factored in.

Here it is important to pay attention to the specific shape (cut) of the melee diamond. Yes, melee diamonds, in addition to having two main different cuts, also vary in terms of their overall shape. This point is only applicable to full-cut melee diamonds which dominate the gemstone world.

Melee diamonds today, come in a variety of shapes, most of which correspond to diamond shapes in conventional stones. These range from the classical round shape melee diamond-one that mirrors the round brilliant cut diamond to the Princess melee cut diamond, which features the famous square shape.

To even the more uncanny trillion cut diamond: that features a distinct triangular design, with sides being equal in length, with a table that is flat. A melee cut trillion shape diamond is a remarkable addition, showcasing the precision cut of the particular gemstone.

Melee Diamonds vs Diamond Alternatives

When going for melee cut diamonds it is important not to confuse them with diamond alternatives: which can be the form of other gemstones or diamond stimulants. The key point when it comes to purchasing diamond alternatives is they are real diamonds: actual carbon-based stones that are made from rough natural diamonds that are mined from the Earth. Thus they carry a degree of value: with each melee cut stone, depending on the quality of the cut and carat, costing hundreds of dollars.

Thus it is important to not confuse these stones with diamond stimulants like moissanite, and cubic zirconia (artificially made). white zircon (naturally sourced), or even white sapphires in certain instances. As all of these are not real diamonds, are generally cheaper, and tend to not feature the glitter, and scintillation of real diamonds.

Melee Diamonds for Engagement Rings

As noted melee diamonds are invariably purchased as part of a fine jewellery item. The most notable is the engagement ring. When it comes to buying a fine jewel that features melee diamonds, it is important to pay attention to the specific style of the in question. Since melee diamonds function as accent stones that exist to augment the style of jewel, it is the specific design or ring setting that permits the addition of melee diamonds. These include:

Pave Engagement Rings

Which are rings of engagement that feature a set of tiny gemstones that run along the surface of the ring band. Thus extending the glitter of the centre stone to a greater portion of the ring. A great choice for those wishing to showcase a diamond ring with greater brilliance. Here melee diamonds are mounted on the surface area, providing this distinct look.

Halo Engagement Rings

Which features the characteristic ‘halo’, where a circle of tiny gemstones surround the main (centre) stone, providing that halo-like look, whilst augmenting the visual character of the centre stone. Melee diamonds are the top choice when it comes to Halo engagement rings, notably, those which score higher on the colour scale (closer to the D mark).

Multi Stone Engagement Rings

This is a trickier option. Since multi-stone rings, like three-stone engagement rings feature side stones in addition to the main centre stone. Which are more prominent in size and character than melee stones. However, they too could feature additional augmentation in the form of melee stones.

Buying Melee Diamonds

The first point to keep in mind when it comes to buying melee diamonds is their authenticity. As noted melee diamonds are real diamonds, hence the buyer must be aware of the gemstone's character. This can be done by ensuring the accent stones are GIA certified.

Next, when purchasing melee diamonds, which will come as part of a fine jewellery item, it is important to ensure that the primary jewellery is a high-quality one: in terms of design, craftsmanship and the quality of the materials. This question can be addressed by ensuring that the jewellery company that you purchase the rings from is genuine.

Reputable fine jewellery companies are known for their high-quality rings and a vast range of designs. In addition to maintaining a solid inventory of authentic gemstones: diamonds and other top precious stones. Also when opting for jewellery with melee diamonds it is important to inquire if the diamonds are real or lab-grown. Just another point to consider.