A. Lange & Söhne
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 30 October 2026 · 6 sources
Richemont-owned German maker of luxury mechanical watches in Glashütte.
Until A.
Also worth knowing
Lange & Söhne traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 5 of 7 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually unprotected.
Good requirements 5 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Germany are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standardsPresumed from where it's made, not audited
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: watch movements, cases and dials, and cast or set parts
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Not met: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 1
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From A. Lange & Söhne's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: gold and gemstone mining are linked to child labour, forced labour and mercury poisoning.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Modern slavery statement
- "Made in Germany" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, watch movements, cases and dials, and cast or set parts can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good. Source
- Relies on gold and gemstones from artisanal mines where workers face mercury poisoning, silica dust and deadly collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes All Lange calibres are developed, made, finished and assembled in its own manufacture in Glashütte, Germany, and each watch is labelled Made in Germany. It names no maker or origin for its gold and platinum cases, dials, straps or precious metals, and it does not report using recycled gold. Its Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices certificate ran to 26 September 2026 and no renewal was found; it never held Chain of Custody. Supplier audits and grievance channels are described only at Richemont group level.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Richemont Australia's FY2025 modern slavery statement, which lists A. Lange & Söhne among the maisons it sells; no modern slavery cases reported. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- A. Lange & Sohne - Responsible Jewellery Council · search the archive · RJC Code of Practices certificate 26 Sept 2023 to 26 Sept 2026; no Chain of Custody certificate; member since 2012
- Richemont Canada FY26 supply chains report · search the archive · Group requires RJC Code of Practices and Chain of Custody certification across relevant supply chains; no forced or child labour identified
Published by A. Lange & Söhne or its owner
- Manufactory - A. Lange & Söhne · search the archive · All calibres developed, crafted, finished and assembled in its manufacture in Glashütte; watches Made in Germany
- Sustainability - A. Lange & Söhne · search the archive · Certified to the RJC Code of Practices; diamonds under the System of Warranties; no recycled gold or component origins stated
- Richemont Australia Pty Limited modern slavery statement FY2025 · search the archive · Lists A. Lange & Söhne among maisons sold in Australia; group requires RJC certification and runs risk-based SMETA audits; no modern slavery cases reported
- Boutique Sydney - A. Lange & Söhne · search the archive · A. Lange & Söhne boutique on King Street, Sydney
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Last researched
- 30 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is A. Lange & Söhne ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/a-lange-and-sohne, last researched 30 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded watches
No watches brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent A. Lange & Söhne.