The Gemological Institute of America and the Fondation Haute Horlogerie are partnering to offer watchmaking certification courses at GIA campuses and online.
Key facts
- •The FHH Academy has certified more than 18,000 people since its 2014 launch.
- •GIA operates seven campuses, including locations in Carlsbad, New York, London, Mumbai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Taipei.
- •The GIA has educated over 200,000 professionals since its founding in 1931.
- •The partnership marks the first time the GIA will offer a watchmaking class on its campuses.
- •Registrations for the new program are set to open in October.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) have announced a strategic collaboration to bring watchmaking education to GIA students. Starting in the first quarter of 2027, the GIA will offer the FHH Academy’s Watch Advisor course, marking the first time the gemological institution has provided watchmaking instruction.
By the numbers
Program Details and Rollout
The Watch Advisor course represents the first of three levels in the FHH Academy’s certification program. Registration for the course is scheduled to open in October, with the initial location to be announced at that time. In addition to in-person instruction at GIA campuses, the program will be accessible through the GIA’s e-learning portal.
Expanding Educational Reach
The partnership aims to broaden access to watchmaking education beyond traditional Swiss and specialist circles. The FHH Academy, established in 2014, has previously trained over 50,000 individuals across 20 countries. For the GIA, which was founded in 1931 and operates seven global campuses, the collaboration introduces a new discipline to its existing gemology and jewelry arts curriculum.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by WWD.
