--- title: "Good vs Bad Lab Diamonds" description: "See the difference between exceptional and subpar lab diamonds, side by side. Every Ada diamond is inspected in person before it enters our inventory." canonical: "https://www.adadiamonds.com/good-vs-bad-lab-diamonds" --- # Good vs Bad Lab Diamonds > See the difference between exceptional and subpar lab diamonds, side by side. Every Ada diamond is inspected in person before it enters our inventory. ## What Makes a Diamond an Ada Diamond Not all lab diamonds are created equal, we select only the ones worth becoming yours. [Explore Our Diamonds](https://www.adadiamonds.com/buy-lab-diamonds) Two Diamonds Can Look Completely Different Even with identical grades, lab diamonds can look completely different in real life. Light performance, crystal quality, and growth conditions are what ultimately determines how your diamond looks, and are not listed online or on your certificate. When grown and cut with care, lab diamonds are exceptional. The best are Type IIa: diamonds with a pure carbon structure that appear brighter, whiter, and more vibrant, often rivaling the finest natural diamonds. Those are the diamonds we search for. The ones that truly stand out, so the one you choose feels unmistakably beautiful in real life, not just on paper. ![Both GIA-certified G Color CVD Grown Round Diamonds. Left: Failed QC - Brown Color Tinge, Lifeless Right: Passed - True G Color](https://content.adadiamonds.com/video/upload/v1773849491/Both_G_Color_Grades_2_atdtci.mp4) [View More Examples](/good-vs-bad-lab-diamond-videos) ![Good vs. bad lab diamonds side by side comparison](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773930966/goods-vs-bad-lab-diamonds_zvzoox.jpg) Why Quality Varies While diamond growth technology has improved, many growers who are capable of producing nice diamonds actively choose to grow ugly ones because it is so much cheaper and faster to do so. Higher-quality stones take more time and precision to produce, trade at higher prices, and can rival some of the most exceptional natural diamonds. Every diamond is inspected in-house before it’s ever offered, with only the ones that meet our standards making it through. ![Ada Diamonds expert examining a lab diamond under magnification](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773931123/DSC_0301_1_a6hh0i.jpg) Knowing What to Look For What matters most is seeing how a diamond performs and understanding what makes it beautiful. Without that, a diamond can look perfect on paper and disappoint in real life. We guide you through what to look for, so you can see the difference for yourself and choose with confidence. **What to look for in CVD:** brown, gray, strain, and striations **What to look for in HPHT:** blue, gray, and phosphorescence [Talk to Our Team](https://www.adadiamonds.com/inquire) ![Ada Diamonds quality control team inspecting a lab diamond](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773175582/Diamond_QC_6_jhceyl.jpg) We’ve Done the Hard Part Our Diamond QC team is built on real, hands-on experience. With extensive time spent evaluating lab diamonds across the full spectrum of quality. They identify subtle issues others miss, from unnatural color and poor crystal material to undesirable inclusions and poor make, ensuring every diamond we offer meets our standards. Because every stone is in house, we capture our own photos and videos using consistent lighting. What you see is a true-to-life representation, so you can compare with clarity. [What We Look For](https://www.adadiamonds.com/good-vs-bad-lab-diamond-videos) ##### Six Step Quality Control ![Diagram of Step 1: Diamond sourcing and initial review process at Ada Diamonds](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1772717468/asset_2_fekyui.png) Step 1 ##### Diamond Sourcing Suppliers send inventory fresh from grading. We review reports and 360° videos, knowing neither alone is enough to judge diamond quality. ![Ada Diamonds team verifying laser inscription on a lab diamond during intake](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773159094/Diamond_QC_3_s3iuzv.jpg) Step 2 ##### Secure Intake & Verification Every stone is logged and its laser inscription confirmed against the grading report and our order. This step protects against misidentified or mislabeled stones before inspection even begins. ![Ada Diamonds procurement director conducting multi-stage expert review of a lab diamond](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773159511/Diamond_QC2_4_ur8mxr.jpg) Step 3 ##### Multi-Stage Expert Review Each diamond is inspected twice. Our Procurement Director conducts the first evaluation, followed by a second more detailed review by our Diamond QC Team. ![Ada Diamonds evaluating lab diamond light performance and cut quality](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773159723/Diamond_QC_5_obhzw4.jpg) Step 4 ##### Evaluation We evaluate each diamond beyond the traditional 4 C’s. We check light performance, grading accuracy, color integrity, crystal quality, and cut precision including issues like bow ties, and light leakage. ![HPHT lab diamonds showing color tinges that failed Ada Diamonds quality control](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773167677/HPHT_Color_Tinges_2_copy_n4kizd.jpg) Step 5 ##### Diamonds Are Rejected Most of the diamonds we receive fail our inspection. Only the diamonds we’d confidently wear ourselves are offered to our clients. ![Ada Diamonds concierge capturing consistent in-house photos and videos of approved lab diamonds](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1773169134/Concierge_Experience_Lindsay3_vtll2f.jpg) Step 6 ##### Real Diamonds, Real Media Diamonds that pass inspection are purchased and kept in-house, allowing us to capture consistent photos and videos for accurate side-by-side comparisons. ### See the difference and choose with confidence. Your diamond isn’t pulled from a virtual listing. It’s physically reviewed and approved so every option you see has already met a higher standard. [Find Your Perfect Diamond](/buy-lab-diamonds) ### Shop Jewelry ![custom oval eternity band and lab grown sapphire engagement rings on model ada diamonds](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1771520054/visit-end2_ha77an.png) ### Shop Bridal ![three stone engagement ring and bracelets on model ada diamonds](https://content.adadiamonds.com/image/upload/v1771520054/Visit-end1_f6dedw.png) --- Canonical URL: