The Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are joining forces to broaden access to watchmaking education, bringing together two institutions with longstanding expertise in specialist knowledge. Through the FHH Academy, the FHH’s educational arm, the new academic collaboration will create new pathways for horological learning among GIA students and extend watchmaking knowledge beyond its traditional industry audience.
Expanding Access to Horological Knowledge
The FHH Academy was established in 2014 as one of the FHH’s core pillars, offering programmes that range from the fundamentals of watchmaking, culture and heritage to advanced technical courses. Its educational offer is designed for both industry professionals and enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 people trained and over 18,000 certified across 20 countries since its inauguration.
GIA brings a similarly extensive educational network. Founded in 1931, the institution has educated more than 200,000 professionals worldwide and operates seven campuses across the United States, Europe and Asia. Its expertise in gemmology and jewellery arts makes the collaboration a natural connection, particularly as horology and jewellery share longstanding links through craftsmanship, science and cultural history.
From early 2027, GIA will offer FHH Academy programmes to students across its global campus network and online. The initiative will begin with the Watch Advisor, the first level of FHH Certification, alongside open sessions led by a dedicated tutor. The programme is intended to introduce GIA students to the principles and culture of watchmaking while providing a recognised educational pathway.
Bringing Watchmaking and Jewellery Together
For both institutions, the collaboration is about more than adding another subject to an existing curriculum. It reflects a shared belief in the value of specialist knowledge and the importance of transmitting expertise to future generations.
The FHH emphasises that education is central to its mission. Aurélie Streit, Vice President of the FHH, describes the collaboration as an opportunity to help people understand watchmaking “in all its depth and diversity” while continuing to raise educational standards within the industry.
GIA’s Johanna Levy, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, similarly highlights the relationship between horology and the jewellery sector. By bringing FHH Academy’s watchmaking expertise into GIA’s programmes, the collaboration gives students the opportunity to discover horology and gain knowledge that can support their future careers.
The partnership also places human exchange at the centre of learning. Both gemmology and watchmaking are disciplines built over centuries, requiring knowledge to be shared through experience, practical learning and direct exchange. While technology continues to influence how people learn, the institutions see trusted expertise and interaction with experienced professionals as essential to developing genuine understanding.
This wider access is relevant as the luxury sector increasingly values informed professionals who can explain the stories, techniques and craftsmanship behind the objects they represent. For students entering jewellery, watches or related fields, a stronger understanding of horology can deepen their perspective on how these disciplines intersect.
A Broader Future for Horological Education
For the FHH, the partnership provides an opportunity to extend its international ecosystem and reach audiences who may not traditionally have encountered watchmaking. For GIA, it introduces horology to students already developing expertise in the broader world of gems and jewellery.
The first initiative marking the collaboration is scheduled to take place in October 2026, with further programme details to be announced. Ultimately, the partnership reflects a wider effort to make reliable watchmaking education more accessible while preserving the independence, rigour and human expertise that underpin both institutions.
By connecting FHH Academy’s horological knowledge with GIA’s global educational reach, the collaboration opens another route for watchmaking culture to be understood, shared and carried forward by the next generation.
