How is diamond loot sold after a diamond theft? How are these diamonds traded?

The diamonds must be sold after the diamond theft if the thieves want to make a profit, right? Otherwise it wouldn't be worth all the trouble to pull a diamond heist at all. Well, one thing's for sure – it isn't easy to sell stolen diamonds, at least not in the legitimate diamond market. Now, with all the hyper-awareness around the issue of conflict diamonds, most professionals in the diamond industry are very careful about buying and selling diamonds with the appropriate documentation and certification. They're not willing to risk having diamonds from a diamond theft in their possession. Nonetheless, just as in any other industry, the diamond jewelry industry has its share of bad seeds too, mainly in the form of corrupt jewelers. Stolen diamonds are also sold to individuals that are not necessarily part of the diamond industry. In short, there will always be someone out there that would love to buy some stolen diamonds, but if the diamond thieves don't want to get caught after the actual diamond theft, they have to find their buyers before they commit the crime. Trying to sell stolen diamonds and diamond jewelry after the fact is a sure-fire way to get caught. Many major diamond thieves have connections in the black market that provide for a handsome profit on stolen diamonds. However, for the most part, diamond thieves are willing to settle for whatever a potential buyer is willing to give them because it's just too dangerous to keep the loot after the diamond theft. These thieves end up selling the stolen diamonds for way less than they are worth because they just want to get the loot off their hands. Aside from the risk of having the police on their tail, after the diamond theft, diamond thieves have to worry about the stolen diamonds being laser-inscribed, having GIA laboratory reports, the Jewelers Security Alliance Group, the list goes on and on… Not only is diamond theft difficult, it's so hard to sell the diamonds for a good price after the fact it's a wonder people haven't abandoned this type of crime altogether!

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