The Fondation Haute Horlogerie and the Gemological Institute of America will collaborate to broaden access to horological knowledge, pairing the FHH Academy’s watchmaking expertise with GIA’s global education network.
Created in 2014, the FHH Academy has trained more than 50,000 people and certified over 18,000 across 20 countries, covering fundamentals through advanced technical courses. It is a practical bridge between culture, craft and the people who keep both alive.
GIA, founded in 1931 and long regarded as a leader in gem and jewelry education, has educated more than 200,000 professionals and teaches on seven campuses across the United States, Europe and Asia. Its reach and experience make a clear counterpart to the FHH’s subject depth. As pairings go, this is a loupe passed across the aisle.
Beginning in early 2027, GIA will offer FHH Academy programmes to its students on campus and online, starting with Watch Advisor – the Academy’s first certification level – alongside open sessions with a dedicated tutor. The first initiative that marks the collaboration is slated for October 2026, with details to follow.
The partners stress human exchange over pure information. As Aurélie Streit of the FHH notes, “Our responsibility is not simply to transmit knowledge, but to create the conditions for people to understand watchmaking in all its depth and diversity.” GIA’s Johanna Levy adds, “This programme brings horology – closely tied to the global gem and jewelry industry – to our students.”
The intent is sober and welcome: credible instruction, wider access, and an expansion of in-person learning without diluting standards. If executed well, it should expose new hands and eyes to the craft, beyond the usual watch circles. Education creates confidence. In time, confidence becomes care – the kind that keeps a movement, and a culture, running.
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