Story Highlight
– International Fine Jewellery Academy launched in Milan, Italy.
– Focus on preserving Italian jewellery craftsmanship and traditions.
– Partnership includes CIBJO, ConfCommercio, and CAPAC.
– Hands-on training from skilled artisans featured in curriculum.
– Classes expected to start in 2026, emphasizing sustainability.
Full Story
The International Fine Jewellery Academy (IFJA) has been officially inaugurated in Milan, Italy, in a ceremony held on September 6. The event took place during a presentation as part of the CIBJO seminar series at the September 2025 VICENZAORO jewellery show in Vicenza. The academy aims to uphold and transmit the rich heritage of the Italian jewellery industry to future generations of artisans from across the globe.
The establishment of IFJA is a collaborative initiative involving several prominent organisations, including CIBJO, the leading Italian trade association ConfCommercio, the Foundation Mani Inteligenti, which focuses on training emerging goldsmiths in Valenza, and CAPAC – Politecnico del Commercio e del Turismo. CAPAC has been dedicated to professional training since 1961 and will provide the academy’s facilities in Milan, where hands-on learning experiences will be conducted alongside theoretical classes.
Notable figures attended the launch, including Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer of Kering, a luxury goods company backing the academy. Alongside her were Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO; Alessia Crivelli, Chair of Foundation Mani Inteligenti; Umberto Bellini, Vice President of Confcommercio Milano; Simonpaolo Buongiardino, President of CAPAC; and Gabriele Cartasegna, Director of CAPAC. The session was moderated by Steven Benson, CIBJO’s Director of Communications.
Dr. Cavalieri emphasised the significance of Italy’s jewellery artisans, 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 highlighted that the academy aims to leverage this extensive expertise to train young individuals from around the world, allowing them to learn directly from masters both in formal education settings and practical workshops.
He further noted the importance of integrating modern practices into the curriculum: “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, including responsible sourcing, sustainable development and ESG principles.”
Classes at the International Fine Jewellery Academy are set to commence in 2026, marking a new chapter in the education of aspiring jewellers.