Meadowlark
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Independent Auckland jewellery studio.
Until Meadowlark traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
Better-graded fine jewellery
Graded higher than Meadowlark, 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 Meadowlark? Send a right of reply.
Compare Meadowlark with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 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 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 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- 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
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Meadowlark'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: Lacks transparency, the same as Meadowlark 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 Meadowlark's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ItalyUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| SwitzerlandUsual for the industry | 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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- 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 Most Meadowlark pieces are made by its own jewellers and stone setters at its Auckland studio; a small selection, including some charms, is made by overseas partners in countries it does not name, saying it keeps direct relationships with them to check quality and working standards. It recycles workshop scrap but does not say its metal is recycled, sells mainly mined diamonds (lab-grown on request), and names no metal or stone suppliers, saying full supply chain transparency remains difficult. It does not claim Responsible Jewellery Council membership.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | No Australian modern slavery statement was identified; it is a small New Zealand business likely below the reporting threshold. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations involving Meadowlark were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- NZ Herald Viva – Meadowlark profile · search the archive · In-house workshop in Newton, Auckland; some charms made offshore for cost reasons; stocked in Australia by Bassike.
Published by Meadowlark or its owner
- Meadowlark – Home · search the archive · Independent Auckland studio; with few exceptions jewellery is made to order at the studio in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland; sterling silver, gold plate, 9-18ct gold and platinum.
- Meadowlark – FAQ · search the archive · Primarily made in its Auckland atelier; a small selection made offshore; five jewellers; works with many suppliers worldwide for 'ethical stones and metals'.
- Meadowlark – About · search the archive · Most pieces made in Auckland studio; small selection by overseas partners with direct relationships on working standards; scrap recycled; transparency difficult.
- Meadowlark – Diamond guide · search the archive · Range is predominantly naturally mined diamonds; lab-grown diamonds sourced by request; no origin or traceability information.
- Meadowlark – Metals · search the archive · Gold plate is 2 microns of 23ct gold over 925 sterling silver; no recycled content or metal source stated.
Company details
- Headquarters
- New Zealand
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Meadowlark ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/meadowlark, 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 Meadowlark.