4 TIPS TO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR YOUR MELEE DIAMONDS
Bill Norton, our Vice President of Diamond Operations, brings over 25 years of experience in the recycled diamond industry. We asked him to share his practical tips for maximizing the value of your melee diamonds before you sell all or part of your inventory. Small preparation steps can make a meaningful difference in what you're offered.
BILL NORTON'S 4 TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR MELEE VALUE
1. CLEAN YOUR DIAMONDS
Cleaning makes it significantly easier for a buyer to accurately assess the color and clarity of your stock — which directly impacts the offer you receive. Boiling diamonds in acid is the most effective method. If that's not available, soak the stones in warm water with household detergent and scrub away any accumulated dirt or buildup. A clean stone shows its true quality.
2. SEPARATE OUT FANCY SHAPES
Round and fancy-shaped diamonds have different price points and trade in different markets. Separating them and bagging similar shapes together allows buyers to make a specific, accurate offer rather than a blended price on a mixed assortment. As a general rule, rounds will command a higher price per carat than fancy shapes of equivalent size and quality — so keeping them separate protects the value of your round inventory.
3. REMOVE CZ (CUBIC ZIRCONIA)
CZ is easy to identify and has no value in a diamond sale. A simple method: submerge your stones in water — CZ will typically float to the surface and can be skimmed off before you prepare your parcel. If you're boiling in acid, CZ will frost over, making it even easier to sort out. Buyers will offer a meaningfully higher price per carat for a parcel that is confirmed to be CZ-free.
4. SEPARATE OUT ALL STONES ABOVE 0.20CT
There is a significant price jump at the 0.20ct threshold. By separating larger stones from your melee parcel, you avoid having them priced at mixed-lot rates — and instead receive an enhanced offer based on a higher per-carat calculation for the larger stones. This one step alone can noticeably improve your total return, particularly if your inventory contains a meaningful number of stones in the 0.20ct+ range.
READY TO SELL YOUR MELEE DIAMONDS?
White Pine can answer any questions you have and make you a competitive offer for your melee inventory — whether you're selling a small parcel or a large lot. Reach out by email at buying@whitepinediamonds.com or call us at 646 569 3675. You can also get a quote online below.
