Labour Lens

Bell & Ross

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Jewellery & watches

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources

Paris watch brand known for square, aviation-inspired watches.

Until Bell & Ross 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 3 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 3 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
  • Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
  • 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 2

  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain: no certification, independent audits or supplier list
  • 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

Bell & Ross says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
SwitzerlandRegular violationsAbout a living wageLow

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.
  • "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.
  • 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 Bell & Ross designs its watches in Paris and has them made alongside Chanel's watches at Chanel's facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, using Swiss movements; it does not name its other suppliers. It publishes no supplier code of conduct, supplier list, audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment, and Chanel's sustainability and modern slavery reporting does not cover it.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterUnclearChanel's Australian modern slavery statement covers its own watches and jewellery but does not mention Bell & Ross. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreUnclearNo labour abuse allegations involving Bell & Ross or its suppliers were identified. View

Sources and actions

Sources 4

Show all 4 sources
  1. Bell & Ross boutique - What's On Melbourne · search the archive · Bell & Ross boutique at the Block Arcade, Melbourne.
  2. It's Time To Stop Sleeping On Chanel Watchmaking (Phillips) · search the archive · Chanel became a major investor in Bell & Ross in 1998; its watches are made alongside Chanel's at Chanel's La Chaux-de-Fonds facility.

Published by Bell & Ross or its owner

  1. Chanel (Australia) Modern Slavery Statement 2021 · search the archive · Covers Chanel's watches and fine jewellery (RJC certified); Bell & Ross not mentioned.
  2. Bell & Ross boutique, 282 Collins Street, Melbourne · search the archive · Bell & Ross store locator lists its Melbourne boutique.

Company details

Headquarters
France
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Bell & Ross ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/bell-and-ross, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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