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NAJ Codes of Practice

Trade>>About>>Codes of Practice

The NAJ Codes of Practice are a series of easy-to-understand and actionable documents that help ensure legal compliance on a range of jewellery-specific issues. From diamond terminology usage to pricing and returns policies, the Codes of Practice ensure the jewellery trade understands its legal obligations.

To improve standards across the trade, the NAJ has now made these codes available to everyone within the jewellery industry. View the documents below.

Learn more about how the NAJ helps the trade and the benefits and support available to members.

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BespokeandRemodelledJewelleryManagingExpectationsRiskandDesignChanges

Latest Guidance Document

Bespoke and Remodelled Jewellery – Managing Expectations, Risk and Design Changes Guidance Note

This Guidance Note has been developed to help jewellery businesses establish clear processes, improve customer communication, and reduce the risk of misunderstandings and disputes throughout the bespoke jewellery journey. Covering key stages from the initial consultation through to final collection, the guidance encourages businesses to adopt a clear, staged process that records approvals, design choices and limitations at every step. It also highlights the importance of honest conversations with customers about the realities of bespoke manufacture, including material limitations, design compromises, production variations, costs and timescales.

Codes of Practice

Want to ensure that your business and staff remain legally compliant? Download the latest NAJ Codes of Practice below. These documents have been developed in partnership with expert authorities to ensure they provide the most up-to-date and thorough information. Many of these codes carry Assured Advice status.

What is Assured Advice?

Assured Advice means that, for NAJ members only, provided that you abide by the advice you are given, you won’t need to follow conflicting advice from other sources. Your business should be protected against the risk of action from enforcing authorities that have different views on what you should be doing to achieve compliance. Primary Authority Advice (assured advice) is provided by our Primary Authority partner Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards.

Table of Contents

Here is a full list of available Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes from the NAJ. Please scroll down to view and download the following documents.

Anti-Money Laundering Guidance
Bespoke and Remodelled Jewellery – Managing Expectations, Risk and Design Changes Guidance Note
Design Replication & IP Guidance Note
Diamond Terminology Code of Practice
Environmental Claims Guidance Note
Gemstone Description Guidance Note
Gold Standard Guidance Note
Hallmarking Code of Practice
Managing Expectations Guidance Note
Precious Metal Pricing Guidance Note
Pricing 5.0 Code of Practice
Product Safety Code of Practice
Recycling Guidance Note
Returns, Refunds & Cancellations Code of Practice
Uncollected Items Code of Practice
Use of Class II Weighing Scales for Precious Metals Code of Practice
Valuation Guidance Note
Windsor Framework Guidance Note

Anti-Money Laundering Guidance (published 2023)

This Code of Practice outlines your business's legal obligation as a High-Value Dealer.

This guide contains:

Detailed procedural anti-money laundering requirements for High Value Dealers (HVD)
How to register as an HVD business
Reporting and monitoring suspicious behaviour

Bespoke and Remodelled Jewellery – Managing Expectations, Risk and Design Changes Guidance Note (published 2026)

This Guidance Note has been developed to help jewellery businesses establish clear processes, improve customer communication, and reduce the risk of misunderstandings and disputes throughout the bespoke jewellery journey. Covering key stages from the initial consultation through to final collection, the guidance encourages businesses to adopt a clear, staged process that records approvals, design choices and limitations at every step. It also highlights the importance of honest conversations with customers about the realities of bespoke manufacture, including material limitations, design compromises, production variations, costs and timescales.

Design Replication & IP Guidance Note (published 2026)

This Guidance Note explains how jewellery designs are protected by intellectual property law and emphasises the importance of originality, due diligence, and understanding that no simple rule guarantees a design avoids infringement. It was created to help jewellery businesses operate legally and ethically while reducing the risk of disputes, liability, and reputational harm. By following its practical steps, businesses can both avoid copying others and safeguard the value of their own work.

Diamond Terminology Code of Practice (updated 2023)

This Code of Practice provides clear guidelines on the use of acceptable guidelines for natural and laboratory-grown terminology.

Assured Advice ✔

Environmental Claims Guidance Note (updated 2025)

This guidance is here to help jewellers confidently navigate the world of environmental claims. Aligned with the Green Claims Code, it champions accuracy, honesty, and transparency to avoid "greenwashing." Jewellers are encouraged to support environmental claims with solid evidence, helping customers make informed choices. Supported by authorities like the CMA and ASA, it's about doing right by the planet and your customers.

Gemstone Description Guidance Note (updated 2026)

This Guidance Note is intended to assist all levels of the jewellery industry in understanding their obligations towards customers in describing diamonds and gemstones.

Gold Standard Guidance Note (published 2024)

The Gold Standard is a voluntary code designed for those buying second-hand precious metals and jewellery. It focuses on maintaining ethical practices, with guidelines on customer ID, data protection and transaction records. By following these steps, jewellers help prevent the trade of stolen items. With clear protocols, it's a practical way to protect your business and customers alike.

Assured Advice ✔

Hallmarking Code of Practice (published 2025)

The NAJ Code of Practice on Hallmarking details UK legal requirements under the Hallmarking Act 1973. It mandates the use of Assay Office-certified hallmarks on precious metal items above specific weight thresholds. The guide explains hallmark components, display obligations, legal exemptions, and compliance measures, with enforcement by Trading Standards and potential fines for breaches.

Assured Advice ✔

Managing Expectations Guidance Note (updated 2026)

Managing customer expectations is all about honesty and transparency. This Guidance Note helps jewellers communicate product durability and care tips effectively. Covering the essentials under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, it encourages retailers to educate customers about jewellery care from the start. Building realistic expectations leads to happier customers, fewer disputes, and more trust in your service.

Precious Metal Pricing Guidance Note (published 2026)

This document serves as a supportive resource to help jewellers navigate uncertainty, protect margins, and operate confidently in rapidly changing market conditions due to volatile precious metal costs.

Pricing 5.0 Code of Practice (updated 2026)

This Code of Practice (CoP) outlines the criteria that all businesses selling jewellery, watches, silverware and associated products must abide by to demonstrate a professional business following pricing legislation.

This guide contains how to legally use...

Sale prices e.g. was/now
RRPs vs. Retail Prices
ERPs - comparing your prices to others

Requirements for...

Selling Second-Hand Goods
Valuations

Assured Advice ✔

Product Safety Code of Practice (updated 2026)

The NAJ Code of Practice on Product Safety for Jewellery and Watches sets out legal obligations under GB and EU General Product Safety Regulations and REACH, focusing on hazardous substances such as nickel, lead, cadmium, and phthalates. It outlines safety, labelling, testing, and traceability duties for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, including online sellers. Businesses must ensure products are safe for prolonged skin contact, maintain safety records, and comply with different UK and EU standards—particularly when selling in or to Northern Ireland and the EU. Non-compliance may lead to enforcement action or product withdrawal.

Assured Advice ✔

Product Safety Cheat Sheet

Template letter to ask Suppliers

Supplier confirmation of compliance statement

EU GPSR Webinar

Recycling Guidance Note (published 2025)

The NAJ Guidance Note on Simpler Recycling Regulations outlines new waste separation requirements for jewellery businesses in England from 31 March 2025. Businesses with over 10 employees must separate waste into four streams: dry recycling, paper & card, food waste, and general waste, with smaller businesses complying by 2027. Compliance involves correct bin usage, staff training, and waste collector coordination, with penalties for non-compliance.

Returns, Refunds & Cancellations Code of Practice (published 2023)

The following pieces of legislation deal with consumer rights when it comes to returns, refunds and cancellations, whether in-store or online.

Assured Advice ✔

Uncollected Items Code of Practice (published 2022)

This Code of Practice outlines the legal requirements that all businesses that repair jewellery, watches, silverware and associated products must abide by to demonstrate a professional business.

This guide contains the correct procedures to...

Deal with uncollected repairs
Length of the notice period
Notice best practice

Assured Advice ✔

Uncollected Items - Notice Templates

Use of Class II Weighing Scales for Precious Metals Code of Practice (published 2025)

This Code of Practice sets out the legal requirements for using Class II weighing scales when trading in precious metals, gemstones, and pearls, explaining the accuracy standards, calibration rules, and approval markings that jewellers must follow to remain compliant with the Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016. It highlights common pitfalls—such as using non-approved scales, moving instruments without re-verification, or relying on inaccurate equipment—and provides best-practice guidance to help jewellers avoid regulatory breaches and maintain customer trust. The trade should be aware of this content because adherence is mandatory for lawful transactions involving weight-based pricing, and non-compliance risks financial penalty, reputational damage, and invalidated measurements.

Assured Advice ✔

Valuation Guidance Note (published 2024)

This Guidance Note is intended to assist all businesses who conduct jewellery valuations to understand their legal obligations when providing a valuation to a customer.

Explanatory Notes for Valuations

Taking-In Procedure Forms (with Questions)

Windsor Framework Guidance Note (published 2025)

The NAJ Guidance Note on the Windsor Framework outlines new trade rules effective 31 March 2025, simplifying the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It introduces Green and Red Lanes for customs clearance, extends UK VAT rules to Northern Ireland, and maintains EU product standards for certain goods. Businesses can use the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) for reduced customs checks, while parcel shipments follow new exemptions. Compliance with hallmarking laws and consumer safety regulations remains essential.

Are you an NAJ member?

Code of Conduct

A guide to what is expected of a member of the National Association of Jewellers

Disciplinary Procedure

A guide to the procedures followed when a member is alleged to be in breach of the NAJ Code of Conduct