Cartier
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources
Richemont-owned Paris jeweller and watchmaker.
There's no proof workers earn a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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 underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- 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: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Cartier's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
Rings, Engagement & wedding rings, Necklaces & pendants, Earrings, Bracelets, Watches: Lacks transparency, the same as Cartier overall, because nothing we know differs between them.
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where it's made
From Cartier'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 |
| France | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to 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
- Modern slavery statement
- 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 Cartier makes its jewellery in eight of its own workshops in France, Switzerland and Italy, including a Turin factory and Paris high-jewellery workshops, and its watches at six Swiss sites; it gives no split by country. It holds RJC Code of Practices certification and RJC Chain of Custody for its jewellery and watch branches; Richemont said in 2021 that over 90% of the gold it buys is Chain of Custody certified and recycled, but Cartier publishes no share of its own and does not trace its diamonds or coloured gemstones to the mine. Richemont runs risk-based SMETA audits of suppliers but publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Richemont Australia Pty Ltd, which sells Cartier in Australia, lodged a modern slavery statement for FY25 reporting no cases. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No labour abuse allegations involving Cartier's workshops or suppliers were identified; HRW rated it 'moderate' in 2018. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- RJC member page – Cartier · search the archive · RJC member since 2005; COP valid Nov 2025 to Nov 2028; Chain of Custody for Cartier Joaillerie (to Oct 2027) and M.Cartier Horlogerie (to Nov 2028).
- Human Rights Watch – Valentine's Day and the tainted jewelry supply chains (2018) · search the archive · Cartier rated 'moderate' for taking some important steps on responsible sourcing.
- Time+Tide – Insight: How Cartier watches are made · search the archive · Six Cartier watch production sites, all in Switzerland.
Published by Cartier or its owner
- Cartier – Creation and development (jewellery) · search the archive · Jewellery made at eight sites in France, Switzerland and Italy, incl. a Turin centre with up to 450 staff and Paris high-jewellery workshops.
- Cartier – Resources of excellence: Gold · search the archive · Gold suppliers have committed in writing to responsible sourcing; no recycled share, refiners or mines named.
- Richemont Sustainability Report 2021 · search the archive · Over 90% of the gold Richemont purchases is RJC Chain of Custody certified and comes from recycled origins; 100 to 200 supplier audits.
- Richemont Australia Pty Ltd – Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · Products mostly intra-group; RJC standards and Kimberley Process required by supplier type; risk-based SMETA audits; no cases in FY25.
Company details
- Owned by
- Richemont
- Headquarters
- Switzerland
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Cartier ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/cartier, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded fine jewellery
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Cartier.