Story Highlight
– International Fine Jewellery Academy launched in Milan, Italy.
– Partnership includes CIBJO, ConfCommercio, and CAPAC.
– In-person training at CAPAC’s Milan campus.
– Courses focus on Italian jewellery tradition and craftsmanship.
– Classes to start in 2026, incorporating sustainable practices.
Full Story
**International Fine Jewellery Academy Launches in Milan**
Milan, Italy – The International Fine Jewellery Academy (IFJA) has been officially inaugurated, marking a significant development in jewellery education. The launch occurred on September 6, during a presentation featured in the CIBJO seminar series at the VICENZAORO jewellery show in Vicenza, scheduled for September 2025.
The academy aims to harness the rich traditions and expertise of the Italian jewellery industry, ensuring these valuable insights are preserved and passed down to aspiring jewellers worldwide. IFJA is the result of a collaboration between several key organisations: CIBJO, ConfCommercio – Italy’s major trade association encompassing around 155 sectors, including jewellery; the Foundation Mani Inteligenti, dedicated to nurturing future goldsmiths; and CAPAC – Politecnico del Commercio e del Turismo, a non-profit foundation with a history in professional training since 1961.
CAPAC will offer its Milan campus as the primary location for the IFJA, where students will engage in both classroom instruction and practical training with skilled artisans from the jewellery sector in northern Italy.
Notable figures at the launch included Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at the Kering luxury group, who expressed support for the initiative. Also present were CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, Alessia Crivelli of Foundation Mani Inteligenti, Umberto Bellini from Confcommercio Milano, Simonpaolo Buongiardino representing CAPAC, and Gabriele Cartasegna, CAPAC’s Director. The session was moderated by Steven Benson, CIBJO’s Director of Communications.
Dr. Cavalieri articulated the vision for the IFJA, 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 emphasised the academy’s role in connecting young people from diverse backgrounds with the essence of Italian jewellery tradition, facilitated through learning from master artisans both in educational settings and practical workshops.
In addition to traditional techniques, Dr. Cavalieri highlighted that the curriculum will encompass modern principles essential for today’s jewellery market. “Students in the IFJA programme will learn to apply their newfound knowledge in a way that is appropriate to the jewellery industry of the 21st Century,” he noted, referencing the integration of responsible sourcing, sustainable development, and ESG principles championed by CIBJO.
Classes at the International Fine Jewellery Academy are set to commence in 2026, promising a new era of education in fine jewellery making.