Movado
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
New Jersey watch and jewellery company.
Until Movado 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 watches
Graded higher than Movado, selling the same kinds of things.
No watches brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Movado? Send a right of reply.
Compare Movado with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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 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 China, India and Thailand.
- 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
- 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: 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
Where it's made
Movado names some of the countries it makes in: Switzerland and China. The rest is shown as where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Switzerland | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| 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 |
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.
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- 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 Movado Group owns no factories: Movado, Ebel and Concord watches are assembled by independent assemblers in Switzerland, while other Movado lines, licensed brands and jewellery are made by contractors in Asia; over 80% of units come from Asia, most from China. SCSA audited 19 higher-risk factories in 2024, finding working-time and safety problems and 17-year-old dispatch workers, handled through corrective plans. It joined the RJC in 2024 but publishes no supplier list, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour abuse allegations involving Movado Group's assemblers or suppliers were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Movado Group Form 10-K (FY2026) · search the archive · Makes none of its products; Swiss assemblers for Movado, Ebel, Concord; Asian contractors; over 80% of units from Asia, mostly China; 1,386 staff.
- Movado BOLD 3600305 - Ashford Australia · search the archive · New Movado watches sold online priced in AUD on an Australian storefront.
Published by Movado or its owner
- Movado Group Corporate Responsibility Report 2025 · search the archive · SCSA audited 19 higher-risk factories; working-time, safety and 17-year-old worker findings with corrective plans; RJC member since 2024.
- Movado Group Corporate Responsibility Report 2024 · search the archive · Third-party social audits of key finished-goods suppliers since 2008, at least annually for higher-risk countries, aligned to SA8000.
- Movado Group - Vendor policies · search the archive · Publishes a 2025 vendor code of conduct, conflict minerals policy and gold sourcing policy.
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 1,386
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Movado ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/movado, 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 Movado.