Rolex and Chopard slammed for opacity in gold and diamond sourcing
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ac
Human Rights Watch has criticised Swiss firms Rolex and Chopard for lack of sufficient publicly available information on their gold and diamond supply chains and human rights due diligence.
In a 99-page reportExternal link released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch rated Chopard “weak” and chastised Rolex for complete non-disclosure among 13 major firms in the jewellery sector. None of the companies assessed managed to make it to the “excellent” category. American jeweller Tiffany took the top spot and was the only firm that made it into the “strong” category.
Geneva-based Chopard, which makes both jewellery and watches, received some kudos for obtaining some of its gold from artisanal mines in South America and helping them achieve Fairmined certification.
“Of all the companies assessed, Chopard stands out for its efforts to support responsible mining in the artisanal sector. However, the company provides little public information on its supply chain or due diligence for the bulk of its gold and diamonds,” the report said.
Biel-based Rolex, on the other hand, failed to even make it into the rankings.
“Rolex has not responded to Human Rights Watch’s letters and publishes virtually no information on human rights due diligence and its supply chain. On the basis of available information, we are unable to determine whether Rolex conducts any human rights due diligence,” the authors wrote.
Entitled “The hidden cost of jewellery”, the release of the report was timed to have an impact on consumers’ conscience just ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
This content was published on
The detailed study, by the Swiss branch of the non-governmental organisation the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), showed that some international refiners continued to import gold from producers responsible for environmental pollution and human rights abuses. “Gold that has been processed for many of the products on display [at the fair] is suspected to include…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.