By weaving horological training into GIA’s long-established gemology and jewellery programs, two of the luxury world's biggest educational names are creating new pathways for the next generation of industry professionals.
GIA will begin offering FHH Academy programs across its international campus network, which spans the United States, Europe, Asia, and India, starting in early 2027. The training will start with the FHH Academy's "Watch Advisor" course—its foundational certification level—and will feature open sessions led by dedicated tutors.
Both institutions are putting direct human exchange, expert guidance, and practical experience at the heart of the learning process. The overall partnership will officially launch its first joint project in October 2026, with further program details set to be shared soon.
This initiative comes as the luxury jewellery and fine watch sectors grow increasingly connected. Because jewellers and sales professionals often work with both gem-set pieces and complex timepieces, building a formal bridge between the two fields gives students a much well-rounded skill set for today's market.
Aurélie Streit, Vice President of the FHH, noted that passing on knowledge and helping people appreciate watchmaking in all its depth has always been central to their goal. She shared that teaming up with GIA allows them to reach a far wider audience while continuing to set higher educational benchmarks across the industry.
Echoing this vision, Johanna Levy, GIA's Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs, highlighted that adding respected horological courses to GIA's existing curriculum fits right into their goal of preparing future trade leaders. She added that introducing GIA students to watchmaking makes natural sense given how closely tied timepieces are to the wider jewelry world.
The alliance brings together decades of deep domain experience on both sides. GIA, founded in 1931 as an independent non-profit, created the famous 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System, having trained more than 200,000 professionals across seven global campuses over its history. Meanwhile, the FHH was established in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, and the Richemont Group to preserve watchmaking culture as an art form. Through its educational arm, the FHH Academy, the organization has already trained over 50,000 people and certified more than 18,000 individuals in 20 countries.
By uniting GIA's massive global footprint with the FHH's specialized horological knowledge, this strategic move ensures that emerging jewellers, designers, and luxury retailers gain the well-rounded expertise needed to thrive in a fast-moving industry.