Story Highlight
– International Fine Jewellery Academy launched in Milan, Italy.
– Partnership includes CIBJO, ConfCommercio, and Foundation Mani Inteligenti.
– CAPAC provides training facilities for the academy in Milan.
– Students will learn from skilled artisans and classroom instruction.
– Classes scheduled to begin in 2026, emphasizing sustainability.
Full Story
The International Fine Jewellery Academy (IFJA), dedicated to the craftsmanship and design of jewellery, was officially inaugurated on 6 September in Milan. The announcement came during a pivotal presentation at the CIBJO seminar series, part of the VICENZAORO jewellery exhibition, held in Vicenza in September 2025.
Established to preserve and transmit the unique heritage of Italian jewellery, the IFJA aims to equip future jewellers from around the world with essential skills and knowledge. The academy is a collaborative initiative involving several key partners: CIBJO, Italy’s largest trade association ConfCommercio, the Foundation Mani Inteligenti, which focuses on training aspiring goldsmiths, and CAPAC – Politecnico del Commercio e del Turismo, a foundation with a long history in professional training since 1961.
CAPAC will host the new academy at its central Milan campus, offering both classroom instruction and practical training facilitated by expert artisans from various partner jewellery companies in northern Italy.
The launch event featured notable attendees including Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at the Kering luxury group, alongside CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, Alessia Crivelli from Foundation Mani Inteligenti, Umberto Bellini of Confcommercio Milano, Simonpaolo Buongiardino from CAPAC, and Gabriele Cartasegna, also from CAPAC. The session was moderated by Steven Benson, Director of Communications at CIBJO.
Dr. Cavalieri emphasized the significance of Italy’s jewellery industry, stating, “Italy’s genius is vested in the men and women of its jewellery industry, who are the custodians of a wealth of knowledge, skill and experience that is unmatched anywhere in the world.” He noted that the aim of IFJA is to leverage this intellectual heritage, allowing young talents globally to immerse themselves in Italian jewellery traditions, learning from seasoned masters both in the classroom and through hands-on experience.
In addition to traditional skills, students in the IFJA programme will be prepared to integrate modern practices into their work. “Students will learn to apply their newfound knowledge in a way that is appropriate to the jewellery industry of the 21st Century,” Dr. Cavalieri explained, highlighting the importance of responsible sourcing and sustainable development, guided by CIBJO’s best practice principles.
Classes at the International Fine Jewellery Academy are anticipated to commence in 2026.