GIA Taking Submissions for Melee Analysis Service

(IDEX Online) – Following a five-month pilot program, clients can now submit round D-to-Z melee-size diamonds for GIA’s Melee Analysis Service, the GIA said.

The fully automated system, which rapidly and accurately analyzes and sorts diamonds ranging from 0.90 to 4.00 mm in diameter (approximately 0.005 ct to about 0.25 ct.), addresses trade concerns about the possibility of synthetic or treated diamonds being mixed into parcels of melee, the GIA said in a statement.

The service is being offered at most GIA laboratories.

The GIA Melee Analysis Service separates natural, untreated diamonds from simulants and potentially synthetic or treated diamonds, and sorts the screened diamonds by color range. Clients can also specify a size range for their parcel.

The system processes 1,800 to 2,000 stones per hour around the clock.

There is a minimum of 500 pieces in each parcel. Once sorted, the melee is sealed in secure packaging for shipment directly to a third party – upon request and when permissible – or back to the submitting client, the GIA added.