text: IN THE HOOD BUT SELL IT FOR CHEAP.Your question about what happens to stolen diamonds is very good.\n\nThe answer is that it is very varied. I would think that what happens to them depends on the knwoledge of the thief.\n\nAn inscription on a diamond is sort of a redlight to the knowledgeable theif. It tells them that this diamond needs to have it's inscription polished off. It also is a notification to a very experienced thief that in order to avoid detection by "cert matching"the diamond may require re-cutting. \n\nIn thefts where a lot of diamonds are stolen, such as a Fedex type robbery or a large robbery, where they are inscribed, chances are that the thieves are well versed in how to avoid detection of the stones stolen, and have connections to get the diamonds altered enough to avoid that.\n\nFor diamonds that are not inscribed, but do have GIA lab reports, there is in their computer database a way to match a diamond. This was done many years ago, so they could tell if they graded the same diamond previously. Unfortunately, the primary use of this is for their information only, and it isn't set up to be a way to identify stolen diamonds. From what I've been told about the system, it bascially works using a 3 D plot of the inclusions, although there could be other methodology used. They do keep this information very confidentia, and firther I do not know how effective it is in matching stones that are recutl. \n\nGemprint on the other hand is very active and cooperative with law enforcement agencies both local, national and internation in helping to recover and match any diamond they feel is likely to have been stolen that is recovered from pawn shops, jewelry buyers, smugglers etc. And of course most recently terrorists, as stolen diamond trafficing provides them with funding, and of course "blood/conflict diamonds.\n\nThere is also the Jewelers Security Alliance group that is very experienced in assisting recovery and providing law enforcement with various types of information not only about the stones stolen, but they also provide personal files for those that do participate in stolen trafficing of diamonds, and Gemprint does have a very active part in assisting them. The scope of illegal activity also addresses smuggling of stones as well.\n\nBut very few diamond theives are really educated and have the connections to have diamonds recut. Many don't even have the ability to spot small inscriptions of inscriptions under the table. But if the stolen diamonds have reports noting this on them, yes they know they have to either recut these stones or sell them to people that have that capability.\n\nFor consumer thefts, where one or just a few pieces are stolen, recovery is a lot easier, particularly if the gem was gemprinted previously and there isn't a telltale inscription of evidence of it on a grading report.\n\nI really don't understand why the industry is so negligent about gemprinting their inventories. Gemprint as well as brilliance scope / Gemex has ways of identifying diamonds previously imaged.\n\nBut if theives knew all diamonds were previously imaged for identification and matching purposes, then just about every stolen diamond would be recut except the ones stolen by those would not be knowledgeable as to how to "cover up" the matching.\n\nThere is also the factor of the law enforcement agency's level of work and attention in recovering such items. Unfortunately, not every police department has the same level of "due diligence" in recovering these items. In areas where there are Gemprint centers, we all cooperate and assist police departments and state attorney with diligent assistance by imaging at no charge,any stones brought in by re-imaging any stone they find or are suspicious of.\n\nGemprint will also provide expert witness testimony at trials where there is a recovery, at no charge as well. They will fly in anywhere to assist in helping to 