Zales
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
US jewellery retailer selling engagement rings.
Zales can't show that the workers who make its products in India earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Zales? Send a right of reply.
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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 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 rightsMost of its products are made in India, China and Thailand, where 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: 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
Where it's made
These are Signet Jewelers' countries across all its brands; Zales doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 44% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | Not given | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Botswana | Not given | Regular violations | Not rated | Low |
| Japan | Not given | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| SwitzerlandUsual for the industry | 3% | 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.
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses lab-grown diamonds or gemstones
- 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 Zales jewellery is bought from outside manufacturers by Signet, which cuts and polishes some diamonds at its own unionised plant in Gaborone, Botswana. Signet publishes no factory list or country split for Zales; group-wide, it says about half of its finished jewellery and loose diamonds come from India, with Thailand, Italy, China, Botswana and Japan its other key sourcing countries. Signet is RJC-certified and requires suppliers to pursue RJC certification; its three ethical supplier audits in FY2026 found problems that were fixed, and one supplier was suspended for skipping an audit. Most diamonds are not traced to the mine, and no living wage commitment for supplier workers is published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion Report (latest edition 2026) does not assess jewellery retailers such as Signet. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Signet Trading Limited publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement covering the group, most recently for the year to 31 January 2026. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Human Rights Watch rated Signet 'moderate' on responsible gold and diamond sourcing in its 2020 assessment of 15 jewellers. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Human Rights Watch - Jewelry companies' sourcing improves but falls short (2020) · search the archive · Signet rated 'moderate' on responsible sourcing in 2020
- Signet Jewelers Form 10-K, fiscal 2026 · search the archive · About half of finished goods and loose diamonds from India; other key countries Thailand, Italy, China, Botswana, Japan; Botswana plant unionised
- Extrabux - Kay and Zales overseas buying guide · search the archive · Kay and Zales websites do not ship directly overseas; buyers must use a forwarding service
Published by Zales or its owner
- Signet FY2026 Citizenship and Sustainability Report · search the archive · RJC certified member; RJC pursuit required of all suppliers; 3 ethical audits, problems fixed, one supplier suspended; own Botswana plant
- Signet - Responsible Sourcing · search the archive · Signet RJC-certified; requires Key Tier 1 suppliers to be RJC-certified; no factory list published
- Signet - Compliance with US and international regulations · search the archive · UK Modern Slavery Act statement for year to 31 January 2026; QIMA audits; no supplier countries or findings disclosed
- Signet Jewelers - Our brands · search the archive · Kay and Zales are Signet US brands; all Signet brands offer both natural and lab-created diamonds
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Zales ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/zales, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Zales.