NOMOS Glashütte
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Independent German watchmaker from Glashütte.
Until NOMOS Glashütte 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 NOMOS Glashütte, 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 NOMOS Glashütte? Send a right of reply.
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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
Where it's made
From NOMOS Glashütte's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Strong protections | 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 NOMOS makes about 95% of its movement parts itself and builds, regulates and cases its watches at its own sites in Glashütte and nearby Schlottwitz, Germany, with more than 180 staff there and about 20 designers in Berlin. Cases, dials, hands, straps and buckles are bought from outside partners whose names and countries are not published. Its 2025 supplier code bans forced and child labour, requires at least the legal minimum wage, freedom of association and a grievance mechanism, and allows external audits, but no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment is published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour abuse allegations involving NOMOS Glashütte or its suppliers were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Ein Besuch der NOMOS Glashütte Manufaktur (Swisswatches Magazine) · search the archive · Over 180 staff in Glashütte and about 20 in Berlin; about 95% in-house; case, hands, dial, strap and buckle bought in
- NOMOS Glashütte catalogue (The Hour Glass Australia) · search the archive · The Hour Glass, with boutiques in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, is an official NOMOS retailer in Australia
Published by NOMOS Glashütte or its owner
- NOMOS Glashütte - Manufacturer of fine watches · search the archive · Founded 1990 by Roland Schwertner; owner-managed; calibre parts made in Schlottwitz, calibres built and cased in Glashütte
- NOMOS Supplier Code of Conduct 2025 · search the archive · Bans forced and child labour; legal minimum wage; freedom of association; grievance mechanism; external audits allowed
- NOMOS Glashütte - Contact · search the archive · Registered as NOMOS Glashütte/SA Roland Schwertner KG, Glashütte, Germany
- NOMOS Glashütte - Commitments and compliance · search the archive · Company, employee and supplier codes of conduct; anonymous grievance channel for suppliers and others
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Employees
- About 200
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is NOMOS Glashütte ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/nomos-glashutte, 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 NOMOS Glashütte.