Harry Winston
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
New York fine jeweller known for diamonds and luxury watches.
There's no proof Harry Winston pays more than the legal minimum, which in the United States is below a living wage.
Better-graded fine jewellery
Graded higher than Harry Winston, selling the same kinds of things.
No fine jewellery brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Harry Winston? Send a right of reply.
Compare Harry Winston with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in the United States.
- 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
Where it's made
The United States has the largest share, 67%. Switzerland is next, at 33%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 67% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Switzerland | 33% | 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.
- 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 Harry Winston jewels are made by its own staff in two workshops in New York, and its watches in its own Geneva (Plan-les-Ouates) manufacture; shares count these three named sites. It is RJC certified, follows the Kimberley Process and buys Burmese rubies and jadeite only with written assurance they left Myanmar before sanctions, but does not trace diamonds or gems to the mine. Swatch Group says its primary gold comes only from certified industrial mines (all from Australia in 2023 to 2025). No supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment are published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | RJC Code of Practices certified (certificate valid 1 December 2023 to 1 December 2026); no Chain of Custody certification listed. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Rated 'weak' on responsible sourcing in Human Rights Watch's 2018 jewellery report (no later edition covers it); it declined to comment to BHRRC. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Covered by the UK Modern Slavery Act statement of its parent, The Swatch Group. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Not listed | Not among the 21 watch and jewellery brands rated in WWF's 2023 Watch and Jewellery Report, the latest edition. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- RJC member page - Harry Winston Inc · search the archive · Member since 2008; COP certificate valid 1 Dec 2023 to 1 Dec 2026; no Chain of Custody certificate listed.
- Human Rights Watch - Valentine's Day and tainted jewelry supply chains (2018) · search the archive · Harry Winston ranked 'weak' for taking few steps toward responsible sourcing.
- Harry Winston - A Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates (FH) · search the archive · Geneva watch manufacture with about 100 staff: case making, assembly, gem setting and quality control.
- Swatch Group - Sourcing of materials · search the archive · Primary gold only from certified industrial mines (all Australian in 2023-2025); supplier audits every two years; no diamond detail.
- Buccellati vs Graff vs Harry Winston (ShopBack Australia, 2026) · search the archive · Harry Winston has no boutique in Australia; Sydney jewellers do not stock it.
Published by Harry Winston or its owner
- Harry Winston - Our Craftsmanship · search the archive · Every jewel crafted by in-house jewellers in two New York City workshops (flagship and Diamond District).
- Harry Winston Supply Chain (California Transparency statement) · search the archive · RJC certified; Kimberley Process; Burmese gems only with pre-sanction assurance; supplier code; links Swatch Group's 2024 UK MSA statement.
Company details
- Owned by
- The Swatch Group
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Harry Winston ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/harry-winston, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency 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 Harry Winston.