UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 5, 2026

Charles & Colvard, Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Carolina

000-23329

56-1928817

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

(Commission File

Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

170 Southport Drive
Morrisville, North Carolina	27560
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(919) 468-0399

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b)

On January 5, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (the “Company”) approved, effective as of January 5, 2026, the termination of Don O’Connell as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, without “Cause” (as defined under Mr. O’Connell’s Employment Agreement).

(c)

On January 5, 2026, the Board appointed Michael Levin, age 63, the current Board Chair, to serve as Executive Chair in order to oversee the affairs of the Company, lead the executive team, and conduct a search for a Chief Executive Officer for an initial term of three months. The Board determined that Mr. Levin will receive $18,000 per month for his services as Executive Chair, in lieu of any other Board compensation applicable for the time period during which he is acting as Executive Chair. Mr. Levin has significant financial, accounting, investment, audit and marketing expertise derived from positions with private and public operating companies and investment companies. Mr. Levin has no family relationships with any executive officer or director of the Company, and he has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Further, there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Levin and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to become the Executive Chair of the Company.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Charles & Colvard, Ltd.

January 7, 2026	By	/s/ Clint J. Pete
		Clint J. Pete
		Chief Financial Officer

CHARLES & COLVARD LTD 8-K