Gemological grading for the lab-grown era Mon–Fri 9:00–5:00 ET New York Metropolitan Area Client Intake
Reports & Services

Melee Screening.

Every small stone in the piece, tested individually, under the same chain of custody as a single important diamond.

A parcel of melee diamonds in a folded diamond paper beside a scoop
Melee: the small stones that carry most of the risk in finished goods.

What melee is, and why it matters

Melee are the small diamonds, generally under a fifth of a carat, that surround center stones, line tennis bracelets, and pavé the shoulders of rings. A single finished piece can carry fifty of them, and no one examines each one at the counter.

That is exactly why melee is where substitution happens. Simulants such as moissanite and cubic zirconia enter parcels far upstream, at cutting houses and setting factories, and travel through honest hands the whole way down. The retailer who sells the piece is the one who answers for it.

Screening replaces trust with testing: every small stone in the piece, tested individually, with the result recorded.

How lots are handled

The same chain of custody as single stones, adapted for volume.

  1. Sealed intake

    Each lot is opened under dual control, counted, photographed, and assigned a lot number. Goods are stored in tamper-evident bags between stations and in rated safes overnight.

  2. Piece mapping

    For finished jewelry, every piece is logged with its stone count before testing begins, so nothing can be added or removed without the record showing it.

  3. Per-stone testing

    Each stone is tested by electrical and thermal probe, the combination that separates diamond from moissanite and other simulants. Results are recorded per stone, per piece.

  4. Segregation

    Any stone whose result is inconsistent with diamond is flagged and its position documented. Nothing is removed from a mounting; findings are reported for your decision.

  5. Resealing & report

    The lot is recounted against intake, resealed, and returned with a per-piece summary. Results enter the registry under the lot number the same day.

Service parameters

ParameterStandard service
Accepted goodsLoose melee parcels and finished jewelry; mounted stones tested in the mounting
Stone sizesApproximately 0.9 mm and above; smaller sizes reviewed at intake
What is confirmedDiamond identity per stone; simulants such as moissanite and CZ flagged with position noted
What is reportedPer-piece summary with counts, results, and flagged positions; registry entry under the lot number
Turnaround2 – 4 business days by lot size; expedited by arrangement
PricingPer lot, quoted from piece and stone count at intake
Common questions
Do you remove stones from mountings?
No. Mounted melee is tested in place. If a flagged stone needs replacement, the finding and its position are documented so your jeweler can address it.
Can screening tell lab-grown from natural melee?
This service confirms that each stone is diamond and flags simulants. Origin screening of melee is a separate examination; ask client services about availability for your goods.
What do we receive at the end?
Your goods, resealed and recounted against intake, with a per-piece summary of results. The lot result is retrievable in the registry under its lot number.
How should lots be shipped?
In sealed parcels by insured carrier, following the packing guidelines provided at account opening. Goods received before 11:00 AM enter intake the same business day.

Speak with the laboratory

Tell us about your goods and what you need documented. We respond within one business day.

Contact the Laboratory