LMHC: The Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee
LMHC was originally formed in 2001, bringing together 7 major international gemmological laboratories based in America, Asia and Europe. The primary purpose of LMHC is to work towards the harmonisation of gemmological report language.
The LMHC is not formally connected to any trade organization.
The LMHC meets regularly to discuss and cooperate on various gemmological issues and to harmonise the language used in their gemmological reports. When findings are relevant to the trade, these are released in the form of Information Sheets. The opinions or findings in these documents are based on the state of knowledge at the time of the latest publication and may change as new information becomes available.
Goals of LMHC
Bringing together many of the world’s leading gemmological laboratories, the goals of LMHC include:
- Work towards the harmonisation of gemmological report language.
- Discuss and cooperate on various gemmological issues relevant to the gem trade.
- Produce Information Sheets (IS) to help users properly comprehend the language used in gemmological reports issued by LMHC members.
Information sheets
When LMHC (the Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee) was founded, the aim was to work towards a Manual. In order to make the information more accessible it was decided that the agreed practices and terminology would instead be compiled in the form of Information Sheets. The Information Sheets (IS) issued by the LMHC, and linked below, help users and the trade to properly comprehend the language used in gemmological reports issued by LMHC members. So far 13 Information Sheets (IS) have been issued by the LMHC regarding coloured stones, and one on pearls. Information Sheets may be updated as new findings and research becomes available.