With fewer than 10 weeks to go to the opening of the 2025 CIBJO Congress in Paris, France, on October 27, 2025, the first of the pre-congress Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Marketing and Education Commission, headed by Jonathan Kendall, it provides details about two large-scale educational initiatives currently being undertaken on behalf of the greater jewellery industry.

The first is the CIBJO Academy, which was established in 2023 as the central pillar of a programme to educate both the jewellery industry and its consuming public about the standards, operating principles and terminology that has been developed over the years by CIBJO’s commissions and expert committees. Led by CIBJO Vice President Kenneth Scarratt, who serves as its Dean, it is charged with the preparation and delivery of educational programmes and materials for both jewellery professionals and the consuming public, via multiple platforms including the CIBJO website, social media, webinars and live in-person events. 

The essential course material for the CIBJO Academy are the CIBJO Blue Books, which present definitive standards for diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls, coral, precious metals, gemmological laboratories and responsible sourcing. But increasingly there has been a focus on information that goes beyond them, and this is being contained in a growing series of guides designed and developed by expert working groups operating under CIBJO’s umbrella. The special report provides information on four such guides, covering pearls, precious coral, jade and opal.

The second initiative is the International Fine Jewellery Academy (IFJA), which is a new educational institute that will be based in Milan, Italy, serving students from around the world. It will draw on the legacy, knowledge and experience of the Italian jewellery sector, providing classroom and hands-on training delivered by some of the world’s most skilled jewellery artisans, at partner companies in the north of Italy.

IFJA is being created as a partnership involving CIBJO; ConfCommercio, Italy’s largest trade association; Foundation Mani Inteligenti, a body based in Valenza dedicated to training the next generation of Italian goldsmiths; and CAPAC – Politecnico del Commercio e del Turismo. a non-profit foundation that has been operating in the professional training sector since 1961.

“Education and training is of paramount importance to those working across the jewellery industry and is now undoubtedly one of CIBJO’s core value propositions,” write Mr. Kendall. “We will continue to focus and deliver on this in the coming year and beyond.”