Antique jewelry glossary

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Mêlée

In the classification of diamonds according to size, a small stone wheighing, if rough, between 0,2 and 1,4 carats (called a 'sawable') and, if cut and polished, between 0,2 and 0,5 carats. Smaller stones are sometimes classified as 'sand'. A group of small diamonds set close together but not as compact as in a pavé setting.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson