There are a few places in London where the past feels as vividly present as it does in Hatton Garden. The district is more than just a collection of shops and workshops. It is a living archive of British jewellery making, shaped not by accident but by centuries of commercial, artistic and social momentum. Its origins trace back to 1581, when Queen Elizabeth I granted Ely Place to Sir Christopher Hatton, one of her most trusted courtiers. This royal association laid the groundwork for a neighbourhood that would, over time, become the country’s most prestigious jewellery quarter.
The transformation from aristocratic estate to jewellery epicentre did not happen overnight. It emerged slowly, through the ebb and flow of London’s expanding economy. During the medieval period, the city began to organise its trades into zones. Craftspeople and merchants tended to cluster for practical reasons, sharing tools, labour and local clientele. As the Hatton estate began to break apart, its parcels were snapped up by traders and artisans. Residential buildings gave way to shopfronts. Skills accumulated. By the nineteenth century, Hatton Garden had already gained a national reputation.
The real turning point came with the Industrial Revolution. The marriage of new machinery and traditional handcraft turned Hatton Garden into a production powerhouse. Artisans no longer worked solely for local clients. Their creations travelled across the empire. The district’s reputation grew with every export, attracting investors, goldsmiths and gem traders from across the world. While other artisan quarters in London faded or were pushed out by commercial redevelopment, Hatton Garden held firm. Today it stands as the largest jewellery district in the United Kingdom, housing more than 300 businesses and around 55 retail shops. It also includes the London Diamond Bourse, one of the few remaining diamond exchanges in Europe. The streets still echo with the same blend of ambition, quality and precision that made this place what it is.
Where Craft Still Breathes
What sets Hatton Garden apart is not simply its heritage but the way that heritage continues to shape its present. While some historic districts become glossy versions of themselves, frozen in time for tourists and nostalgia, Hatton Garden is still working. It is still teaching. Still producing. The area’s global reputation is built on expert jewellers, many of whom operate out of multi-generational family workshops. These businesses do not rely on their past to attract clients. They rely on their skill.
The significance of this living tradition is especially profound for students. To learn here is to enter a professional environment where excellence is the norm. It is a place where bespoke jewellery design is standard practice, not a luxury. Techniques such as pavé setting or hand engraving are not museum curiosities but part of the daily workflow. This continuity makes Hatton Garden not just a place to study but a place to absorb. Students are surrounded by working professionals whose output reflects the highest levels of the contemporary jewellery market. For those training here, theory and practice are always within arm’s reach of each other.
Another rarely acknowledged truth is that many of the luxury jewellery brands found in London’s West End and Bond Street quietly rely on Hatton Garden workshops for production. The design might be French or Italian in origin, but the execution is often British, crafted just a short walk from Farringdon station. This behind-the-scenes role underscores the district’s true power. It is the engine room of British fine jewellery, a space where legacy meets real-world utility.
Tradition in Motion
Part of the magic of Hatton Garden lies in its ability to remain deeply historic without becoming stagnant. Walk its streets and you will find a curious coexistence. Historic pubs sit beside media startups. Georgian buildings house CAD workstations. The contrast is not jarring. It feels natural. The creative energy that once defined the area has simply evolved.
This coexistence is central to the educational philosophy found within Hatton Garden. The institutions based here deliberately combine heritage training with forward-looking design and technology. Courses regularly blend bench skills with 3D modelling, CAD software, or even laser welding. Students are taught that mastering a craft means knowing both where it comes from and where it is going. This balance between tradition and innovation makes education in Hatton Garden unique. It gives learners not only a strong technical foundation but also an adaptable mindset fit for today’s market.
In a district as concentrated and specialised as this, students learn as much from their environment as they do from their tutors. The presence of casters, polishers, stone dealers and engravers within a few minutes’ walk creates opportunities that are simply not available in isolated classroom settings. One can pop into a supplier, ask technical questions, compare gemstones, or discuss finish options with a polisher—all in the course of a single afternoon. This proximity turns passive learning into active engagement.
Fun Fact: The London Diamond Bourse, located in Hatton Garden, is one of only 30 diamond exchanges in the world and operates on trust-based trading, with deals often sealed by handshake.
The value of a qualification earned here is more than academic. It is symbolic. A diploma or apprenticeship tied to Hatton Garden signals more than capability. It signifies exposure to the best. Industry professionals, hiring managers and brand directors recognise the name. They understand the discipline it implies. For graduates, this reputation translates into real-world opportunity. It shortens the path from training to employment and offers a competitive edge in a highly selective industry.
Institutions That Shape the Future
BAJ: Technical Mastery with Trade Recognition
Among the many options available in Hatton Garden, the British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) occupies a commanding position. Its foundation by a local family business in 1999 speaks volumes about its credibility and community roots. Rather than emerging from academic bureaucracy, it was shaped by the very industry it serves. That focus has remained intact.
The academy’s programme range caters to learners at every level. From entry-level diplomas to advanced qualifications and apprenticeships, BAJ provides a direct path into the trade. Standout courses include the Level 3 and Level 4 Diplomas in Jewellery Design and Manufacturing, a full BA (Hons) in Jewellery Design and Production, and its prestigious two-year paid apprenticeship in Jewellery and Allied Trades. This route, combining structured workshops and real-world placement, delivers a learning experience rooted in day-to-day benchwork.
What gives BAJ its edge is its industry integration. Backed by partnerships with De Beers, Signet and the National Association of Jewellers, it offers students not only training but a clear route into employment. With Ofsted giving the institution a solid ‘Good’ rating, the teaching is validated externally as well. Tutors are active professionals, not just instructors, and students consistently report a nurturing yet rigorous environment that encourages both skill development and creative risk.
For those who want a career in jewellery making, BAJ stands as the most formal and recognised launchpad in Hatton Garden. Its graduates are routinely hired by respected workshops, design houses and international brands, further reinforcing its standing within the trade.
The Entrepreneur’s Studio
While BAJ addresses the technically focused learner, the Jewellers Academy serves a more entrepreneurial audience. Originally known as the London Jewellery School, the platform has transitioned into an online-first model with global reach. Though now physically based in Brighton, its instructional identity is closely tied to the craft traditions of London and Hatton Garden.
What sets the Jewellers Academy apart is accessibility. It operates on the principle that “Everyone can Make Jewellery.” Courses range from basic silver ring making to advanced wax carving and metal clay techniques, with a strong emphasis on supporting students who want to run their own brands. The academy’s flagship programme, the Jewellery Business Academy, goes beyond craft. It includes modules on marketing, pricing, photography, and legal setup—an entire business plan for the aspiring designer.
Its community-driven model uses group mentoring, one-to-one coaching, and social media to help students launch collections, build brand identity and secure retail partnerships. While it lacks the full-immersion setting of Hatton Garden, it offers flexibility and depth for learners who value independence or cannot relocate. It may not involve daily strolls past diamond dealers, but it equips students with the knowledge to sell to them.
This model appeals particularly to those outside traditional pathways—career changers, parents, side hustlers or rural creatives. It decouples jewellery education from geography and proves that excellence can still be achieved through the screen, so long as the curriculum remains grounded in practice and commercial awareness.
Intimate Learning: Studios with Master Mentorship
For learners seeking personalised attention, independent studios within Hatton Garden offer an entirely different experience. Here, class sizes are small, instruction is bespoke, and the learning environment reflects a commitment to traditional mentorship.
The Central School of Jewellery, located in the heart of the district, exemplifies this approach. Its classes are capped at seven participants, and courses range from eight-week evening sessions to weekend intensives and private couples’ workshops. There are even business consultancy sessions for designers launching their first brand. With courses covering everything from soldering and stone setting to hand engraving, this school fosters a warm, workshop-driven ethos with room for both professionals and passionate beginners.
Another notable example is the studio of Stelios Karantonas, where learning takes place in a real jewellery production environment. Karantonas restricts classes to no more than four students at a time, allowing for an immersive, error-friendly experience. His curriculum includes advanced wax carving, Mitsuro Hikime technique, and practical exposure to sourcing, casting, and workshop logistics. For those already familiar with the basics, the opportunity to sit beside a working artisan at a live bench is invaluable. Students walk away not just with new techniques, but with a sense of how a studio actually runs.
Then there is the Queensmith Jewellery Academy, a fully commercial enterprise with a built-in training programme. Unlike traditional tuition, this three-year path is a paid job, beginning at £24,000 annually. Applicants must already show aptitude, and if accepted, are placed on a clear route toward becoming either a goldsmith or a diamond setter. Equipment is state of the art, instruction is practical, and the end goal is employment within Queensmith itself. This model is not for casual learners, but for committed professionals who want to progress quickly within a structured commercial setting.
The Wider Circle: Nearby Institutions Worth Considering
Though not technically inside Hatton Garden, a few institutions just outside its borders offer training of equal prestige and value. The Goldsmiths’ Centre, located in nearby Clerkenwell, provides advanced short courses, masterclasses and business support to developing jewellers. It also manages the Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme, which continues the centuries-old tradition of pairing learners with master craftspeople for long-term skill transmission.
Meanwhile, Morley College, with campuses in Waterloo and North Kensington, offers a vast range of short and long-term courses. These include BTEC Diplomas, Level 2 and 3 Certificates and one-day taster sessions. Scholarships with partners like De Beers ensure that students from underrepresented communities can also access high-quality training. With strong facilities and frequent exhibitions, Morley serves both the beginner and the career-minded with equal finesse.
What these satellite institutions prove is that the strength of London’s jewellery education scene does not begin and end at Hatton Garden’s border. However, the proximity to it remains a distinct advantage. Many students attend both: they train in Clerkenwell or Kensington, then source materials, internships or inspiration from the Garden.
