Guides
Evaluating Diamond Quality
Clarity, size, separation and testing: how to judge THCa diamonds.
Educational overview only. This guide is not operating instructions and gives no solvent quantities, pressures or procedures. Solvent-based extraction belongs only in licensed, engineered, code-compliant facilities with trained staff.
Diamonds are judged on how they look, how they smell, and above all on their lab results.
Visual cues
- Clarity: clean diamonds look clear to white. Cloudiness can point to trapped solvent, moisture or impurities (see the moisture guide).
- Size and structure: large, well-formed crystals show slow, controlled growth. A lot of fine "sugar" suggests nucleation was rushed or uncontrolled.
- Color: a faint tint from the surrounding terps is normal. Dark or uneven color can mean the input was poor or the product oxidized.
- Separation: crystals and terpene fraction should separate cleanly, without a muddy or emulsified layer.
Aroma (for sauce & diamonds)
The terpene fraction should smell true to the strain. Flat, solvent-like or musty smells are warning signs.
Testing
An accredited lab's certificate of analysis (COA) settles the question: potency, residual solvents, and contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals and microbials. Always check the COA for the specific batch.
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