JNA Awards 2014 Now Accepting Entries

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• India - English

HONG KONG, March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- JNA Awards, the annual industry-wide event that honours the innovators and leaders of the international jewellery industry, with a focus on their achievements and contribution in Asia, is now accepting entries for 2014.

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Individuals or companies may submit their entries or on behalf of others by completing the online application form available at the Awards' website: http://www.jnaawards.com. Deadline for submissions will be midnight (Hong Kong time) of April 17, 2014.

There will be 16 categories this year, including a new category that spotlights the ASEAN region. The full list of JNA Awards 2014 categories is as follows:

• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Outstanding Contribution of the Year
• Brand of the Year - Retail
• Employer of the Year
• Industry Innovation of the Year - Manufacturing - Business
• Industry Innovation of the Year - Manufacturing - Technology
• Manufacturer of the Year - Diamond Cutting and Polishing
• Manufacturer of the Year - Gem-set Jewellery
• Manufacturer of the Year - Precious Metal Only Jewellery
• Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - ASEAN Countries
• Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - India
• Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - Mainland China
• Retailer of the Year
• E-tailer of the Year
• Sustainability Initiative of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)

Entries will be judged from May to June by a highly respected international panel of judges representing key sectors of the jewellery industry. The Honourees or shortlisted candidates will be revealed on June 19, and will be feted together with the Recipients at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on Tuesday, September 16, at the InterContinental Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2014.

Speaking at today's launch event, Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said "Since its launch, the JNA Awards has been widely recognised as one of the most prestigious accolades one could aspire for in the jewellery and gemstone industry. With this year's categories, we continue to deliver an awards programme that is in tune with the industry's evolution. With our new category, we recognise the growing importance of the ASEAN region in the jewellery and gemstone industry. We are looking forward to seeing a wider range and more exceptional entries this year."

Wolfram Diener, senior vice president of UBM Asia, added "UBM Asia is proud to organise a platform that inspires the jewellery and gemstone industry to continuously strive for excellence and growth. With the tireless efforts of our organising team and outstanding support from our partners, I believe that the JNA Awards will be even more successful this year."

Rita Maltez, manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds' Greater China Representative Office, said "Rio Tinto is honoured to be the headline partner of JNA Awards, together with Chow Tai Fook. Since its inception, we believed the JNA Awards would become the most important event of its kind and in 2013 this was reflected in the increased diversity of entries. We are delighted to see the expansion of award categories and the addition of new honoured partners in 2014, which is further testament to the importance of this platform."

Kent Wong, managing director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group said, "JNA Awards proudly marks its third edition this year. As a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for three years in a row, we will definitely continue to offer the best of our support to the organiser. The JNA Awards has achieved resounding success in the previous two years. Their triumph encourages and motivates us to do better year after year.

"With the announcement of this year's award categories, I strongly encourage industry players to submit their entries. It is only with your strong support, comprehensive representation and industry-wide reception that the JNA Awards could flourish. I look forward to seeing old and new faces in the award presentation ceremony," Wong added.

Now on its third year, JNA Awards 2014 is organised by JNA (Jewellery News Asia) and is led by Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, Gubelin Group, the Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Paspaley Pearling Company and Shanghai Diamond Exchange as Honoured Partners.

Notes for Editors:

1. About JNA

JNA is the flagship magazine 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 and jewellery-making equipment, and supplies sectors.

2. About the Headline Partners

2.1 Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotintodiamonds.com)

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 of the 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 Limited, a leading jeweller in the Mainland of China, Hong Kong and Macau, was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011 and has become the world's largest pure-play jeweller by market capitalisation. Chow Tai Fook is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng China 50 Index and the Hang Seng Mainland 100 Index. Its principal products are mass luxury jewellery and high-end luxury jewellery products including gem-set jewellery, gold products, platinum and karat gold product, and watches.

The Group's iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" and long-standing history of over 80 years of operations represent key competitive advantages of its business. The Chow Tai Fook brand is recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for its product design, quality and value.

The Group has an extensive retail network, with over 2,000 points of sale in more than 400 cities in Greater China, Singapore and Malaysia. It also has a growing presence in e-commerce. The Group's 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 retail network.

3. About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Diarough Group

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 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, Gubelin 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 Gubelin 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 The Israel Diamond Institute

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 the Israeli diamond industry has an illustrious history dating back to the late 1930s. 

IDI works for the benefit of Israel's diamond industry in the areas of marketing and business promotion, international communications, R&D, rough sourcing, professional training, publishing and security consultancy. IDI is responsible for industry participation in major trade fairs around the world, organising Israeli Diamond Pavilions, receptions, press conferences and other events at these fairs.

IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters trade relations with Asian markets.

3.4 KARP Group (www.karpgroup.com)

With over four decades of experience and expertise in the diamond trade, KARP caters to international luxury brands. Apart from being a DTC Sightholder, the group is recognised as an "institution" in the industry, using the most technologically advanced manufacturing systems in the business. KARP manufactures a huge array of products, from 0.005-carat goods to stones weighing 10 carats and above.

It excels in the production of certified fine makes, fancy-cut goods and fancy coloured diamonds. The manufacturer is one of the few companies that has achieved up to 5-micron precision in diamond manufacturing.

3.5 Paspaley Pearling Company

Paspaley Pearling Company is the leading producer of Australian South Sea pearls, supplying strands, loose pearls and mother-of-pearl shells to many of world's leading jewellery wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers.

The Paspaley family became involved in pearling in the 1920s, and is the world's only South Sea pearl producer with origins in the natural pearl industry. Paspaley Pearling Company Pty Ltd was incorporated in 1953 and built its success and reputation as a pioneer in the cultivation of South Sea pearls. Today, the Company sets the benchmark for modern pearling practices, operating numerous pearl farms dotted along more than 2,500 kilometres of the remote and pristine coastline of north-west Australia.

Paspaley's harvest represents the majority of Australian South Sea pearl production and has a well-deserved reputation for exceptional quality. 

3.6 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.

4. About UBM Asia

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland 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 25 major cities with 30 offices and over 1,400 staff. 

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 21 market sectors with 160 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions, 75 high-level professional conferences, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock vertical portals and virtual event services 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, Chengdu and Shenzhen, where we organise more than 70 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 60 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country. 

For more information, contact:

JNA 
UBM Asia (Hong Kong) 
+852-2516-1630
[email protected]

SOURCE UBM Asia Ltd