HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ -- JNA (Jewellery News
Asia), organiser of the prestigious JNA Awards, has announced
the much-anticipated list of Honourees or shortlisted finalists
across 15 categories for 2015. A total of 49 Honourees representing
31 companies from 10 countries/regions have been shortlisted.
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The JNA Awards is supported by Headline Partners Rio Tinto Diamonds
and Chow Tai Fook, together with Honoured Partners Diarough Group,
Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies,
Shanghai Diamond Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited
(GDLAND).
The judging panel consists of five industry experts, namely James
Courage, Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC);
Albert Cheng, Managing Director of the World Gold Council, Far East
(WGC); Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai
Diamond Exchange (SDE); Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director of GIA
India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, Chairman of Suwa
& Son, Inc.
The Awards serves as an open platform that promotes and encourages
the sharing of best practices and innovative ideas for the
international jewellery and gemstone industry. It continues
to draw interest among companies across key markets in the trade,
including dynamic enterprises from South Korea, Taiwan, the United
Kingdom and Vietnam that have been shortlisted for the first time.
Other countries represented include Australia, Mainland China,
Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Thailand.
Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia, said, "The JNA
Awards is entering its fourth year, and it is indeed very exciting
for us to see such positive and enthusiastic response from the
trade both in terms of entrants and quality of entries. We would
like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the judges who worked
tirelessly and professionally to come up with such a stellar list
of finalists."
Letitia Chow, Chair of the JNA Awards 2015 Judging Panel, Founder
of JNA and
Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia,
noted, "I have been serving as the Chair of the Judging Panel since
the first year and I continue to observe an increasing high level
of energy and zeal to excel and advance among the participating
companies and individuals. This year, we have added a couple of
criteria in the entry rules, which made room for different scale
enterprises and newcomers to be qualified as Honourees. It is also
encouraging to see past Recipients entering and being shortlisted
for categories new to them.
"As in the past, the members of the judging panel have demonstrated
dedication, professionalism and tremendous commitment during the
selection process that they themselves exemplify the spirit of the
JNA Awards."
WGC's Albert Cheng, a member of the judging panel for the fourth
year, commented, "I felt the enthusiasm of the participants through
their applications and success stories. I hope the Awards will
continue to attract more companies from the region in the coming
years. The JNA Awards is truly an excellent platform for the
jewellery fraternity to have a reality check every year, benchmark
themselves against their peers and learn from the industry's best
practices."
James Courage from RJC added, "There is a strong spirit of
innovation, both technical and in business approach, to meet the
challenges of cost, competition and developing new designs. A
positive reflection of entrants listening to consumer needs for
variety in content, identifying means of purchase, gaining
confidence in the product and supplier, and increasing
international reach. As before, there are many clear illustrations
of the importance of looking at both customer and employee
relationships and retention."
Lin Qiang of SDE said, "In my fourth year of judging, I continue to
be impressed by the innovative spirit and exceptional leadership of
the entrants. The quality this year made it difficult to draw up a
shortlist of finalists since they have all achieved excellent
results in taking their businesses to a higher level, which
undoubtedly will raise the bar for future Awards. I believe that
the tight competition in the JNA Awards will inspire everyone to
excel and thus, drive the whole industry forward."
GIA's Nirupa Bhatt added, "It is a privilege to be invited back as
a JNA Awards judge for the third consecutive year. The Awards
brings together members of the gem and jewellery industry across
the globe who are working towards the common goal of expanding and
improving our industry. Award categories like 'Sustainability of
the Year' and 'Industry Innovation of the Year' will continue to
inspire businesses to strive for excellence. The JNA Awards has
undoubtedly become an important industry event."
Yasukazu Suwa of Suwa & Son remarked, "As a first-time judge on
the JNA Awards panel, I was not familiar with most of the
participants, but their eagerness to excel in business was
apparent. Through their entries, I could feel and see the vitality
in Asia. The unique values of these companies have made it possible
for them to flourish in a growing regional economy.
"One of the challenges I faced was the broad range of companies in
terms of size, which goes from less than US $1 million to US $9.9
billion in annual sales. Although the difference in scale affects
many things, I had to look at the entrants' business approach and
philosophy, and judge on quality rather than quantity. I was
impressed with the calibre of entrants and I found their stories
very enlightening."
The following individuals and companies have been shortlisted as
Honourees for the JNA Awards 2015:
3
Decades of Excellence
Hong
Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association -- Hong
Kong
Jewelmer Joaillerie -- Philippines
Paspaley -- Australia
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India
Brand of the Year --
Retail
Chii
Lih Coral Co Ltd -- Taiwan
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited -- Hong Kong
The Genuine Gemstone Company -- United Kingdom
Employer of the
Year
Chow
Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited -- Hong Kong
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd -- India
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company -- Vietnam
Pranda Jewelry Plc -- Thailand
Industry Innovation of the
Year
China
Stone Ltd -- Thailand
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited -- Hong Kong
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd --
China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd --
China
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd -- India
Manufacturer of the
Year -- Coloured Gemstone Cutting &
Polishing
Lorenzo
Jewelry Limited -- Hong Kong
RMC Gems India Limited -- India
Manufacturer of the
Year -- Diamond Cutting & Polishing
Hari
Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd -- India
J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd -- India
Manufacturer of the
Year -- Gem-Set Jewellery
KGK
Jewellery Mfg Ltd -- Hong Kong
Lorenzo Jewelry Limited -- Hong Kong
MKS Jewelry International Co Ltd -- Thailand
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd -- China
Manufacturer of the
Year -- Precious Metals-Only Jewellery
Shenzhen
Cuilu Jewellery Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd --
China
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd --
China
Outstanding Enterprise of
the Year -- ASEAN Countries
China
Stone Ltd -- Thailand
PANDORA Production Co Ltd -- Thailand
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company -- Vietnam
Outstanding Enterprise of
the Year -- India
J.
B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd -- India
Kashi Jewellers -- India
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd -- India
Outstanding Enterprise of
the Year -- Mainland China
KGK
Diamonds (Shanghai) Ltd -- China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd --
China
Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd -- China
Retailer of the Year (450
outlets and below)
Golden
Dew Co Ltd -- South Korea
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company -- Vietnam
E-tailer of the
Year
KELA --
China
The Genuine Gemstone Company -- United Kingdom
Vaibhav Global Limited -- India
Sustainability Initiative
of the Year
Kiran
Gems Private Limited -- India
Shenzhen 3D-KET Jewellery Company Limited -- China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd --
China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd -- China
Young Entrepreneur of the
Year (Age 40 and below)
Mr.
Kwan Sit, Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co., Ltd --
China
Mr. Lei Xu, Zbird China -- China
The Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be nominated
by the organiser, and the announcement will be made at a later
date.
This year's JNA Awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held on
Sunday, 20 September, at the Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong, during
the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. It is an
industry-wide event that honours and recognises excellence and
achievement in the global jewellery trade with a focus on
contributions and achievements made in the Asian region. It is a
ticketed event by application only. Interested parties may submit
their request by logging on towww.JNAawards.com
For more information, please contact:
JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852 2516 2184
marketing@jnaawards.com
Notes for Editors:
1. About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com )
JNA is the organiser of the JNA Awards and is the flagship
publication of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. First published in 1983,
the title is the leader in providing up-to-date international
jewellery trade news with an Asian insight. It features original,
in-depth reports by experienced journalists covering the latest
developments in the diamond, pearl, gemstone, jewellery
manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.
2. About the Headline Partners
2.1 Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotinto.com/diamondsandminerals )
Rio Tinto operates a fully integrated diamonds business from
exploration through to sales and marketing. It is one of the
world's major diamond producers through its 100 percent control of
the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 percent interest in Diavik mine in
Canada, 78 percent interest in the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe and 100
percent interest in the Bunder project in India.
Rio Tinto's share of the production from its three operating
diamond mines is sold through its sales and marketing office in
Antwerp, with representative offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and New
York. It also operates a niche cutting and polishing factory in
Perth for the rare pink diamonds from its Argyle mine. Rio Tinto is
a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process, as well as a founding
member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
2.2 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com )
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, one of the world's leading
jeweller and the largest in terms of sales, was listed on the Main
Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. Chow Tai
Fook is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng China 50 Index and
the Hang Seng Mainland 100 Index.
The iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" of the Group has been widely
recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned
for product design, quality and value. The recent acquisition of
Hearts On Fire, an internationally acclaimed luxury jewellery
brand, has further underpinned the Group's stature as a diamond
expert in the industry.
The Group has an extensive retail network comprising over 2,250
Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire points of sale spanning nearly 500
cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the
United States, as well as a strong and fast growing e-tail network
through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-Shop and various e-tail
accounts on other online shopping platforms.
The Group's sophisticated vertically integrated business model
provides an effective and tight control over the entire operation
chain from raw material procurement, design, production, to
marketing and sales through its extensive POS and e-tail
channels.
3. About the Honoured Partners
3.1 Diarough Group (www.diarough.com )
Diarough Group was established in Antwerp in 1975 and owns diamond
polishing factories in China, India, Thailand and Botswana, with a
network of sales offices around the world. Diarough is known among
the most professional and respected names in the international
diamond industry.
Diarough believes in building and nurturing long-term business
relationships based on mutual trust, finding solutions to business
and marketing problems, creating marketable opportunities through
innovative products and providing excellent client services.
Its jewellery manufacturing unit Uni-Design has produced many
award-winning jewellery pieces, which have been proudly worn by
celebrities on the red carpet over the years.
The Group employs over 3,500 people and is engaged in a wide range
of diamond business activities like rough trading, cutting,
polishing, jewellery manufacturing and marketing to retailers,
chain stores, global brands and private labels worldwide. Diarough
employs advanced technology and modern work speed with traditional
ethical business practices upon which the Company was founded.
3.2 Gubelin
Group (www.gubelin.com )
Since 1854, the name Gubelin
has stood for the very highest standards in gemstones, jewellery
and watches. With its selection of the most sought-after timepieces
and jewellery of its own design, the family-run business is
represented at all the prime locations in Switzerland: Lucerne,
Zurich, Basel, Bern, St. Moritz, Lugano and Geneva. Last November,
Gübelin Jewellery established its presence in Hong Kong.
Besides the jewellery boutiques and the Gubelin
Ateliers, the group has a newly-established Academy and a
world-renowned Gemmological Laboratory. The Gübelin Gem Lab is one
of the oldest and most respected institutions of its kind, relied
on by dealers, auction houses, royal families and collectors since
the 1920s.
3.3 Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (www.israelidiamond.co.il )
The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) is a
non-profit, public interest company representing all institutions
involved in the Israeli Diamond Industry. Israel is one of the
world's leading diamond centres and IDI works to enhance Israel's
position as a major trading and manufacturing hub.
IDI works to benefit Israel's diamond industry in a variety of
areas including: marketing and PR, technological innovation,
encouraging local manufacturing, training, and security consulting.
IDI seeks out new markets for Israeli diamonds and develops
existing ones. As part of this effort, IDI organizes industry
participation in major trade fairs around the world, establishing
Israeli Diamond Pavilions and sponsoring events at these shows.
IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters
trade relations with Asian markets.
3.4 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com )
Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange
(SDE) is the only diamond exchange in China and provides diamond
dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision.
It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in
accordance with international best practices of the diamond
industry.
Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating
membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of
Diamond Bourses.
3.5 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (www.gdland.com.hk )
The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarters
in Hong Kong, is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited,
and is a subsidiary of GDH Limited, which is Guangdong Province's
largest conglomerate operating outside Mainland China.
The principal business of GDLAND is property development and
investment, including but not limited to the development and
operational management of the innovative commercial real estate,
urban complex and industrial business complex. As the strategic arm
of GDH Limited, GDLAND engages in the business development of
commercial real estate, as well as the projects of urban and
industrial complex.
GDLAND's flagship project, namely the "Buxin Project", is planned
to become the biggest and most advanced jewellery mart in the
world, including a large-scale jewellery trading and exhibition
centre along with other facilities, with a lot size of over 87,000
square metres and the construction scale (floor area) is expected
to be more than 700,000 square metres. The Buxin Project, which is
located in the Buxin area of Luohu district in Central Shenzhen,
close to the Shuibei Gold and Jewellery Base, is expected to
develop the area into one of the most influential gold and
jewellery trading and exchange platforms in China and around the
world.
4. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com )
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is
the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial
organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its
headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and
in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities
with 30 offices and 1,300 staff.
With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 20
market sectors with 230 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions and
high-level professional conferences, 23 targeted trade
publications, 20 round-the-clock online products for over 1,000,000
quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and
subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop
diversified global service for high-value business matching,
quality market news and online trading networks.
UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and
India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM
China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China,
including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and
Shenzhen, where we organise 90 exhibitions and conferences. In
ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 40
events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi,
Bengaluru and Chennai organise 40 exhibitions and conferences every
year across the country.
JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852 2516-1683
marketing@jnaawards.com
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