Baume & Mercier
On Track. Pays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Swiss watchmaker selling Riviera, Clifton and other watches.
Baume & Mercier makes its luxury wristwatches in its own factories in Switzerland, where legal wages are about a living wage.
Also worth knowing
It is certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.
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Why it's graded On Track
- Not met: Meets 4 of 7 Good requirements.
- Met: No red flags.
Good requirements 4 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Switzerland are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- 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 0
None found.
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Baume & Mercier's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Regular violations | 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.
- Responsible Jewellery Council certified: Industry code for jewellery businesses covering human rights and responsible sourcing. Its Chain of Custody standard traces materials; the basic certification does not. Source
- Owns or runs its own production
- Uses high-risk raw materials such as tanned leather, mica or artisanal gold.
- "Made in Switzerland" 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.
- It is Responsible Jewellery Council certified, but its stones and gold aren't traced to the mine. The Kimberley Process only covers diamonds that fund rebel wars, not abuses by governments or forced labour. Source
Research notes Baume & Mercier's production site is in Les Brenets, Switzerland. Its RJC Code of Practices certificate (April 2025 to April 2028) was issued while it was a Richemont branch; whether it carries over after the July 2026 sale to Damiani is not stated. It buys diamonds under the Kimberley Process and World Diamond Council warranties and relies on supplier attestations, but publishes no supplier list, audit results, mine-level tracing of gold or diamonds, or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Richemont Australia's FY25 modern slavery statement listed Baume & Mercier among the brands it sold; the brand left Richemont in July 2026 and no statement by its new owner was found. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour abuse allegations involving Baume & Mercier's workshops or suppliers were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- RJC certificate - Baume & Mercier (COP 2019) · search the archive · RJC COP certified 25 Apr 2025 to 25 Apr 2028; production work at Les Brenets, admin in Meyrin, Switzerland.
- RJC member page - Baume & Mercier · search the archive · RJC Code of Practices certificate 0000 6082 valid 25 Apr 2025 to 25 Apr 2028; no suspension listed; no Chain of Custody certificate
- Richemont and the Damiani Group announce completion of the acquisition of Baume & Mercier · search the archive · Damiani Group acquired 100% of Baume & Mercier, completed 1 July 2026; Richemont provides interim services.
- Watch Direct - Baume & Mercier · search the archive · Australian online retailer selling Baume & Mercier as an authorised retailer, priced in AUD with Australia-wide delivery.
Published by Baume & Mercier or its owner
- Baume & Mercier - Our commitments · search the archive · RJC member since 2011; Kimberley Process and WDC warranties for diamonds; CITES-compliant alligator straps; supplier attestations.
- Richemont Australia Pty Ltd - Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · FY25 statement lists Baume & Mercier among the Maisons sold in Australia and New Zealand.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Switzerland
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Baume & Mercier ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/baume-and-mercier, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What On Track means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Baume & Mercier.