Fondation Haute Horlogerie and GIA Join Forces to Expand Watchmaking Education

The Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) School of Gemology and Jewellery Arts have entered into a strategic academic collaboration aimed at expanding access to watchmaking education and horological knowledge worldwide.

The partnership brings together the FHH’s expertise in watchmaking education and the GIA’s longstanding experience in gemology and jewellery education. Through the FHH Academy, the educational arm of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie, the two organisations will use their international networks and educational resources to create new opportunities for students to learn about watchmaking.

The collaboration is intended to extend horological education to audiences beyond the traditional watch industry, particularly students and professionals already connected to the global jewellery, gemstone and luxury sectors.

FHH Academy expands its international education mission

The FHH Academy was established in 2014 as one of the core pillars of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie’s mission to preserve and share watchmaking knowledge and culture. Its programmes cover a broad range of subjects, from the fundamentals of watchmaking, culture and heritage to advanced technical training. Courses and certifications are designed for both industry professionals and watchmaking enthusiasts.

Since its establishment, the FHH Academy has trained more than 50,000 people and certified over 18,000 individuals across 20 countries. The Academy has consequently developed an international platform for horological education, providing structured learning opportunities for people at different stages of their engagement with watchmaking.

GIA brings global gemology and jewellery education network

The GIA, an independent nonprofit organisation founded in 1931, is recognised internationally for its work in gemology and jewellery education, research and laboratory services. The Institute has educated more than 200,000 professionals worldwide and operates educational programmes across seven campuses in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Its educational portfolio, scientific research and international network provide a complementary foundation for the new collaboration with the FHH. By introducing watchmaking education to GIA students, the partnership creates a connection between two fields that frequently intersect within the luxury industry: horology and jewellery.

FHH programmes to be introduced at GIA campuses

Under the new collaboration, GIA will make selected FHH Academy programmes available to its students across its global campus network. The first programme planned under the partnership is Watch Advisor, the FHH Academy’s entry-level certification programme. The initiative is scheduled to begin in early 2027 and will include open sessions supported by a dedicated tutor.

The programme will provide GIA students with an opportunity to develop foundational knowledge of watches and watchmaking alongside their existing studies in gemology and jewellery arts.

Focus on accessible and human-centred learning

The organisations said the partnership comes at a time when technology is changing how people access information and education. While digital tools can make learning resources more widely available, the FHH and GIA emphasise the importance of expertise, practical experience and direct interaction in specialist fields such as watchmaking and gemology.

The collaboration therefore places human exchange and hands-on learning at the centre of the educational approach. Watchmaking involves technical knowledge, craftsmanship, scientific principles and cultural history. The partnership aims to ensure that this knowledge can be experienced and understood through interaction with educators and practitioners rather than being treated solely as digital information.

The combination of FHH Academy’s specialist horological knowledge with GIA’s nearly century-long educational experience is expected to create additional opportunities for in-person learning across the organisations’ international networks.

Building connections between watchmaking and jewellery

The collaboration also recognises the close relationship between watchmaking and the wider jewellery and gemstone industries. Both fields require highly specialised knowledge developed through years of education, craftsmanship and professional experience. They also share connections with luxury retail, design, craftsmanship, heritage and consumer culture.

By introducing FHH Academy programmes to GIA students, the initiative can expose future gemologists, jewellery professionals and other industry participants to watchmaking at an earlier stage in their professional development.

Aurélie Streit, Vice President of the FHH, said education has remained central to the organisation’s mission and that the collaboration provides an opportunity to broaden access to knowledge while maintaining educational standards within the watchmaking industry.

Johanna Levy, Vice President of Communications & Corporate Affairs at GIA, said adding FHH Academy’s horology education to GIA’s existing gemology and jewellery programmes aligns with the organisation’s focus on preparing future professionals. She noted that the initiative will introduce GIA students to watchmaking and its relationship with the broader international jewellery and gemstone industry.

International networks to support future watchmaking talent

For the FHH, the agreement provides an opportunity to build on its existing international education ecosystem by partnering with an institution that has established networks across multiple regions and generations of learners. The collaboration could also help introduce watchmaking to individuals who may not traditionally have considered the sector as part of their educational or professional path.

Through the partnership, the two organisations aim to increase access to reliable watchmaking education while maintaining an emphasis on academic rigour, independent learning and practical human interaction. The organisations view education as an important means of sustaining specialist knowledge and encouraging new generations to engage with watchmaking.

First collaboration initiative planned for October 2026

The first initiative associated with the new collaboration is scheduled to take place in October 2026. Further details about the programme are expected to be announced by the organisations.

The broader academic collaboration will then begin extending FHH Academy programming to GIA students, with the Watch Advisor certification planned as the first offering from early 2027.

The partnership represents a new link between two international educational institutions working across complementary areas of the luxury sector, with a shared focus on expanding specialist knowledge and creating pathways for future professionals.

About the Foudation Haute Horlogerie

The Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) was founded in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and the Richemont Group. Its mission focuses on promoting watchmaking culture internationally and positioning the watch as an object of art and culture.

The organisation operates through three principal areas. Watches and Culture develops content, events and international meetings focused on watchmaking culture for professionals and the public. The FHH Academy provides training and certification for current professionals and people interested in watchmaking, with courses available in more than 20 countries through both in-person and online formats.

The FHH Forum provides an industry-focused platform for discussion and debate, connecting industry leaders around issues affecting the future of watchmaking. Approximately 40 watch brands actively support the FHH’s mission to preserve and promote watchmaking culture and heritage.

About GIA

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is an independent nonprofit organisation established in 1931 and internationally recognised for its work in gemology. GIA developed the 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight, which are widely used to describe diamond quality. In 1953, the organisation established the International Diamond Grading System, which became an international reference for diamond grading.

Through education, research, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, GIA works to promote public confidence in gems and jewellery. Its programmes emphasise academic standards, scientific research, professional integrity and industry expertise, supporting students and professionals across the global gem and jewellery sector.

Editor’s Note

Specialist education plays an important role in preserving industries whose knowledge cannot be reduced to textbooks or technical specifications. Watchmaking is a particularly strong example, combining engineering, craftsmanship, history, design and cultural knowledge. The collaboration between FHH and GIA acknowledges that sustaining such an ecosystem requires opportunities for people to encounter the discipline, understand its foundations and develop an informed appreciation of the work behind a finished timepiece.

The partnership is also significant because it connects watchmaking education with the wider jewellery and gemstone ecosystem. Students entering gemology and jewellery careers may increasingly encounter watches as part of the luxury market, while watchmaking itself continues to depend on specialised knowledge being passed between generations. By bringing FHH Academy programmes into GIA’s international education network, the initiative creates another pathway through which horological knowledge can reach emerging professionals and potentially encourage new talent to explore the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the new FHH-GIA collaboration?

The Fondation Haute Horlogerie and the GIA School of Gemology and Jewellery Arts have established a strategic academic collaboration to expand access to watchmaking education through GIA’s international education network.

2. What is the FHH Academy?

The FHH Academy is the educational division of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie. Established in 2014, it provides watchmaking education, training and certification for professionals and enthusiasts.

3. How many people has the FHH Academy trained?

The FHH Academy has trained more than 50,000 people since its establishment and has certified over 18,000 individuals across 20 countries.

4. Which FHH programme will GIA students initially receive?

The first programme planned under the partnership is Watch Advisor, described as the FHH Academy’s first-level certification programme.

5. When will the Watch Advisor programme begin?

The programme is scheduled to launch for GIA students in early 2027.

6. Will the programme be available at GIA campuses?

Yes. GIA plans to offer FHH Academy programmes across its global campus network, starting with Watch Advisor and open sessions supported by a dedicated tutor.

7. Why are FHH and GIA collaborating?

The organisations have complementary areas of expertise. FHH specialises in watchmaking education and culture, while GIA focuses on gemology and jewellery education. The collaboration creates opportunities to connect these areas of specialist knowledge.

8. How many professionals has GIA educated?

GIA has educated more than 200,000 professionals worldwide since its establishment in 1931.