Thomas Sabo
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
German brand selling silver and gold-plated jewellery.
We couldn't confirm where Thomas Sabo makes most of its sterling silver charms and jewellery.
Also worth knowing
Most jewellery and watches are made in countries such as India and China, where pay is usually below a living wage and unions are heavily restricted.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- 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 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere jewellery and watches are usually made, such as India and China, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- 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
- 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: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
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 Thomas Sabo'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, Necklaces & pendants, Earrings, Bracelets, Watches: Lacks transparency, the same as Thomas Sabo 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
We couldn't confirm where Thomas Sabo makes most of its products, so this shows where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | 20% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Switzerland | 10% | 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
- Uses high-risk raw materials such as tanned leather, mica or artisanal gold.
- 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.
Research notes Thomas Sabo designs in Germany and has its jewellery, mostly 925 sterling silver and some gold-plated, made by long-standing production partners in Europe and Asia that it does not name. It holds Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices certification (valid to October 2027, no Chain of Custody) and requires suppliers to sign a code of conduct. It re-melts silver and gold from production waste and old jewellery through German refineries but gives no recycled share and no origin for mined metal or stones. It publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not listed | No Australian modern slavery statement from Thomas Sabo was identified. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Not listed | No UK modern slavery statement from Thomas Sabo was identified. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No labour abuse allegations involving Thomas Sabo or its suppliers were identified. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- RJC member page - Thomas Sabo GmbH + Co KG · search the archive · RJC member since February 2019; COP certificate valid 5 October 2024 to 5 October 2027; no Chain of Custody certificate.
- Good On You - Thomas Sabo · search the archive · People rated 'Not Good Enough' (2/5); RJC covers final production stage; no evidence of living wages.
Published by Thomas Sabo or its owner
- Thomas Sabo - Sustainability · search the archive · Works only with certified, unnamed production partners; audited to RJC COP 2019; metals recycled by German refineries; no share given.
- Thomas Sabo - Responsibility · search the archive · Certified RJC member; supplier code of conduct; no production locations or recycled share.
- Thomas Sabo - The brand world · search the archive · 925 sterling silver core material plus gold plating and stones; long-standing suppliers in Europe and Asia; design in Lauf.
- Thomas Sabo - Responsibility (corporate site) · search the archive · Products made only in countries with employee protection standards (unnamed); suppliers pledge no child labour; site audits.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Thomas Sabo ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/thomas-sabo, 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 Thomas Sabo.