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Why were shoppers unable to tell whether a cut and polished diamond was a conflict diamond?

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Diamonds-for-weapons trade in Africa — Blood diamond Map illustrating the diamonds-for-weapons trade that took place in Africa near the end of the 20th century.

Shoppers were unable to tell whether a cut and polished diamond was a conflict diamond because, once processed, these stones were virtually identical to legitimate gems. The origin of conflict diamonds could not be verified, leading to worldwide concern about their entry into consumer markets.1

The Kimberley Process, established in 2003, aims to prevent the trade of blood diamonds by certifying that rough diamonds are conflict-free. This certification requires official documentation specifying the origin and contents of each shipment of rough diamonds, and participating states agree to trade only with other compliant nations. Despite these measures, some activists argue that the definition of blood diamonds is too narrow and that even diamonds from certified conflict-free countries can be part of systems that deny human rights or enrich corrupt officials.21