Kimberley Process
Definition
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (2003), an international mechanism requiring rough diamonds to be accompanied by a certificate confirming they are not from conflict zones; covers approximately 99.8% of global rough diamond production but has documented weaknesses in verification.
- Established
- 2003
- Mechanism
- Certification scheme for rough diamonds
- Coverage
- About 99.8% of global rough diamond production
- Known weakness
- Documented gaps in on-the-ground verification
Common questions
What counts as a conflict diamond under the Kimberley Process definition?+
The scheme's original definition covers rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance armed conflict against legitimate governments, which critics note is narrower than diamonds linked to state violence or human rights abuse outside that specific rebel-conflict scenario.
Why do forensic and geoscience labs still get involved if certification already exists?+
Paper certificates can be forged, smuggled stones can be laundered through a certified batch, or origin claims can simply be wrong, so isotope and trace-element geochemical analysis provides an independent physical check on the documentary chain of custody.
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