What term is used to refer to very small diamonds?

The term "melee" is used to describe very small diamonds, typically those weighing less than 0.18 carats. In the jewelry trade, melee diamonds are often used as accents in larger pieces or as a way to add sparkle and brilliance without the significant weight of larger stones. Their small size makes them effective for enhancing the overall design and adding complexity to the visual appeal of a piece of jewelry.

"Brilliant" refers to a specific cut of diamond that maximizes its sparkle and brilliance through the strategic arrangement of facets, not to the size of the diamond itself. "Carat" is a unit of measurement for the weight of a gemstone and does not describe the size category specifically. "Fancy" generally refers to diamonds that have a color grade, specifically those colored diamonds that deviate from the traditional white or colorless variety, rather than indicating size. Thus, melee is the precise term for small diamonds often used in various types of jewelry designs.