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Laboratory-grown melee
Laboratory-grown melee is sold by parcel, priced per carat, and kept apart from natural melee in storage, listing and invoicing. It is graded in-house, sold without an individual lab report, and labelled laboratory-grown in the listing, on quotes, on the invoice and on the packing label.
Last reviewed: 18 October 2026
Reviewed by the Superior Gems team
What sizes is laboratory-grown melee sold in?
Melee is generally under 0.20 carat, which is under about 3.8 mm in a round. These are approximate, industry-standard figures for a well-cut round brilliant, from our size chart; cut proportions change them slightly. New to the term? Read what a melee diamond is.
| Carat | Diameter (mm) |
|---|---|
| 0.005 | 1.0 |
| 0.01 | 1.3 |
| 0.02 | 1.7 |
| 0.03 | 2.0 |
| 0.04 | 2.2 |
| 0.05 | 2.4 |
| 0.10 | 3.0 |
| 0.15 | 3.4 |
| 0.20 | 3.8 |
How is a parcel specified?
- Shape. Round, princess, baguette, marquise, pear, oval or other.
- Size. In millimetres or by sieve.
- Colour range. For example F–G.
- Clarity range. For example VS–SI.
- Total carats. The weight of the whole parcel.
- Origin. Laboratory-grown, stated on the quote, the invoice and the packing label.
At this size a tenth of a millimetre changes the weight a lot, so give the diameter and the total carat weight together.
Why does it never mix with natural melee?
Natural and laboratory-grown stones are stored, listed and invoiced separately, and every laboratory-grown parcel is labelled as laboratory-grown. You cannot tell the two apart by eye or with a loupe. Trade buyers use screening devices to separate laboratory-grown stones from natural ones in parcels, and a positive screen should go to a lab for confirmation.
How do I request a parcel quote?
Send the spec. We reply by email with price per carat and availability, with photos or video of the parcel on request.
Questions
Does laboratory-grown melee come with a certificate?
No. Laboratory-grown melee is graded in-house and sold by size, colour range and clarity range, not with an individual lab report.
How is laboratory-grown melee priced?
Per carat, by parcel. Approved trade buyers see the price per carat for each parcel in the trade portal.
Is laboratory-grown melee real diamond?
Yes. A laboratory-grown diamond has the same crystal structure and hardness as a natural diamond. The difference is where it formed.
Can one order include natural and laboratory-grown melee?
They are quoted, listed and invoiced as separate parcels, each labelled with its origin.
Not listed? Ask us
Call our Sydney office: +61 410 058 909