Last year, for its 20th anniversary year, the FHH reaffirmed its mission of transmitting watchmaking knowledge with a renewed focus on inclusion and universal access beyond the sole watch industry. A year later, the FHH, through its educational arm the FHH Academy, is collaborating with the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), an independent non-profit organisation which is regarded as the world’s foremost authority in gemmology. 

The collaboration brings together two internationally recognised institutions, combining their respective expertise in watchmaking and gem and jewellery education.

Through the new collaboration, GIA will offer FHH Academy programmes to its students across its global campus network and online, beginning in early 2027 with the Watch Advisor — the Academy’s first level of certification — alongside open sessions with a dedicated tutor.

The FHH Academy programmes and certifications span the fundamentals of watchmaking, culture and heritage to advanced technical courses, catering to both industry professionals and enthusiasts. With more than 50,000 people trained since its inauguration and over 18,000 certified across 20 countries, the Academy has developed an international platform for horological education and certification.

The GIA was founded in 1931 and has educated more than 200,000 professionals worldwide. The institute teaches on seven campuses across the United States, Europe and Asia. With the FHH, they share a similar longstanding commitment to education and the dissemination of specialist knowledge, creating new pathways to spotlight watchmaking to audiences beyond the traditional watch industry.