With a history going back centuries, the Union Française de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie, des Pierres & des Perles (UFBJOP) brings together all parties involved in the French jewellery, goldsmithing, precious stone and pearl industry, with 200 business members. It acts across all dimensions of the trade and achieves this by successfully balancing its roles as a trade association, a training hub, a centre of expertise for gemstones and a champion of French excellence. The 24 professions represented by the UFBJOP rank among the 217 professions accorded the status of métier d'art in France. Always responding to the needs of its members, UFBJOP created the Haute Ecole de Joaillerie in 1867 which trains 600 students in art and jewellery techniques and design at three different levels.