# Diamonds

> Diamonds are large crystals of THCA, typically grown out of a solvent extract and sold alone or in terpene-rich sauce; they are nearly pure THCA.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/diamonds.html
- Also written: THCA diamonds, THC diamonds, THCA crystals, diamonds and sauce, crystalline THCA
- Glossary category: Processing · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Diamonds are crystalline [THCA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thca.md), grown in coarse [crystals](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/trichome.md) rather than powder. In typical production a [fresh-frozen](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fresh-frozen.md) or cured [solvent extract](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/solvent-based-extract.md) is left under controlled conditions so THCA crystallises out of solution, separating from a liquid fraction rich in [terpenes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md) (the "sauce"). The crystals can be cleaned and sold alone or recombined with sauce as "diamonds and sauce".

## In practice

Pure diamonds can test well above 90% THCA because they're essentially one compound. Like all THCA, they convert to [THC](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thc.md) with heat; a lab's [total THC calculation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/total-thc.md) applies the 0.877 factor, so 98% THCA corresponds to about 86% total THC. The crystals themselves have little smell; aroma comes from the sauce. Diamonds made from rosin also exist and are solventless. GenetixBay defines the product only; no crystallisation methods.

## Don't confuse with

- **Isolate**: also near-pure, but usually a fine powder and usually [CBD](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbd.md) or THCA refined to a standard grade.
- **Sugar**: small crystals in a wet matrix.
- **Gemstones**: obviously unrelated; "diamonds" is purely a product nickname.

## Related terms

[Sauce](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sauce.md), [Isolate](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/isolate.md), [THCA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thca.md), [Live resin](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/live-resin.md), [Solvent-based extract](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/solvent-based-extract.md)