Patek Philippe
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Family-owned Geneva watchmaker.
Until Patek Philippe traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 4 of 7 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 unprotected.
Good requirements 4 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Switzerland are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: watch movements, cases and dials, and cast or set parts
- 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: 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 Patek Philippe'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 |
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
- Modern slavery statement
- "Made in Switzerland" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, watch movements, cases and dials, and cast or set parts can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good.
- 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 Patek Philippe makes its watches in Switzerland at its own manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, where its PP6 building brings together almost all production (cases, bracelets, components, finishing and gem-setting), with some work by Swiss partner companies. It says it aims to use traceable, ethically sourced materials and has begun mapping its supply chain, but it is not an RJC member and publishes no supplier list, audit results, gold or diamond sourcing data or living wage commitment. WWF's 2023 watch and jewellery report rated it the only non-transparent brand.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Patek Philippe SA publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement (approved August 2024); it says manufacturing is in Switzerland and reports no cases. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour abuse allegations involving Patek Philippe's workshops or suppliers were identified. View |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- Swiss union Unia listed 'Patek Philip' in a 2024 dossier of anti-union dismissals, saying that in 2020 employees protested an untenable working climate, one worker was dismissed for her part in the protest and another after refusing a warning over a racism complaint; these are the union's claims, and no court ruling has been reported. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- WWF Watch and Jewellery Report 2023 · search the archive · Patek Philippe rated the only 'non-transparent' brand among 21 rated.
- Unia: cases of abusive anti-union dismissals (2024) · search the archive · Lists Patek Philippe (2020): protest over working climate; dismissals of a union activist and of a worker who reported racism.
- We Toured Patek Philippe's Sprawling Production Facility (Robb Report, 2025) · search the archive · PP6 in Plan-les-Ouates unites virtually all production; cases, bracelets, components and finishing made in-house; about 1,700 staff there.
Published by Patek Philippe or its owner
- Patek Philippe - Modern Slavery Act statement · search the archive · Manufacturing in Switzerland via its manufactures and partner companies; supply chain mapping begun; site visits to suppliers; no cases reported.
- Patek Philippe - Sustainability · search the archive · Aims to use materials traceable to source that meet ethical criteria; sustainability charter; no RJC or sourcing data given.
- Patek Philippe authorised retailers - Sydney · search the archive · Sold in Sydney stores by J. Farren-Price and The Hour Glass.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Switzerland
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Patek Philippe ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/patek-philippe, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded watches
No watches brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Patek Philippe.