GOALS
The requirements for establishing responsible business practices throughout the jewellery and watch supply chain, for companies handling laboratory grown materials
The LGMS is comprised of 28 provisions specifically designed to help companies achieve five broad objectives:
- To improve legal and regulatory compliance, strengthen public reporting and secure a commitment to responsible business practices.
- To increase the use of due diligence in supply chains to uphold human rights, support community development, promote anti-corruption efforts and manage sourcing risks.
- To adequately control, and disclose information about products and so avoid misleading or deceptive marketing practices.
- To protect the health and safety of both people and environments and to use natural resources efficiently.
- To better comply with international labour conventions and ensure responsible working conditions.
how it works The LGMS can be applied to any size of business, and its scope includes all sectors of the laboratory grown material jewellery and watch supply chain
Achieving RJC Certified Member status is a key milestone, showcasing your commitment to responsible business and building trust in the industry. Once certified you may use the official RJC Certified Member logo.
New members have two years to become certified, with full support from the RJC. Members certified to COP 2019 before 1 Jan 2024 and dealing in lab-grown materials must complete a combined COP 2024/LGMS audit by 1 May 2026. Those certified as of 1 Jan 2024 must do so by 31 Dec 2026. For details, see the FAQ, the Member Certification Handbook, and the Certification Process Requirements for Certification Bodies and Auditors, available here.
Pre-certification activities
Use the RJC Self-Assessment to monitor your progress towards compliance and get ready for your audit.
The Self-Assessment will be released soon.
Evaluation
When you are ready, schedule your audit with an RJC approved audit firm and auditor and share your self-assessment with them at least 1 month before the audit.
The RJC approved audit firms will soon start adding the LGMS to their scope.
Report review & decision
Your auditor will share their findings with you. Any nonconformities (NC) will be discussed and you will be required to develop a Corrective Action Plan (CAP), make immediate corrections for all NCs and implement corrective actions, (for critical breaches and major NCs), before the certificate can be issued.
Certification
Once the audit firm has undertaken a technical review of the audit report, they will make a certification decision and notify you and the RJC of this. The audit firm will then issue your certificate.
Congratulations!
You are an RJC Certified Commercial Member. You can now use the official RJC Certified logo on all your communications.
Surveillance
A surveillance visit will be required 12-18 months after the certification start date. Your auditor will agree a provisional date for this with you during the closing meeting of your audit and provide more information about the scope of this audit and whether it can be conducted remotely or on-site.
Re-certification
Provisionally schedule your re-certification audit with an RJC approved audit firm and auditor at the closing meeting of your surveillance audit. Re-certification is required prior to the expiry of your current certification, no more than six months in advance. If you complete your re-certification audit early (before the six months) or late (after your current certificate expiry), your new certification will start on the day the certification decision is made by the audit firm. If the recertification audit is not conducted within six months of the expiry of your current certification, this may result in your temporary suspension as an RJC member.
Key dates for implementing the LGMS
2024 COP & COC Effective Date
On the 1st of January 2025, the fully revised 2024 Code of Practices and Chain of Custody became effective.
Optional 2024 COP & COC Certification
If members have found an auditor that has been fully trained and has availability, they can choose to be certified against the 2024 COP or COC from the 1st April 2025.
2025 LGMS Effective Date
On the 1st of May 2025, the new Laboratory Grown Materials Standard became effective.
New Certification Manuals Fully Implemented
From this date, the new Member Certification Handbook and the Certification Process Requirements for Certification Bodies and Auditors will be fully implemented. This means any certification audit (including those conducted against the 2019 COP & 2017 COC) will be audited in accordance with the new handbooks, except COP 2019 mid-term reviews, bolt on audits, scope change and COC 2017 surveillance audits under existing certificates, that will follow the Assessment Manual 2020.
In addition, from this date members can undergo an audit against the 2024 COP, COC and 2025 LGMS.
No Certification Audits Conducted against 2019 COP & 2017 COC
From the 1st of January 2026 certification audits against the 2019 COP and 2017 COC will no longer be conducted, except COP 2019 mid-term reviews, bolt on audits, scope changes and COC 2017 surveillance audits under existing certificates, that will follow the Assessment Manual 2020.
LGMS Audits Must be Completed
All existing members dealing with LGMS should have an audit completed to expand their scope by the 1st May 2026.
