JNA Awards Expands Categories for 2013 Edition

HONG KONG, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Jewellery News Asia (JNA) has expanded the list of categories for the second edition of its JNA Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the jewellery and gemstone industry.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130311/HK74439 )
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2013/01/17/20130117180122220857.jpg )

At a press conference today, JNA announced that the 2013 Awards will be bestowed across 16 categories, compared to 11 in its inaugural edition last year.

The JNA Awards recognises and honours excellence and innovation in the sector, with a focus on companies and individuals that have made significant contributions to the trade in Asia.

The JNA Awards 2013 is led by Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Gubelin, Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Robert Wan Tahiti and the Shanghai Diamond Exchange as Honoured Partners. An international group of prominent industry experts will form the judging panel.

The current list of awards categories for 2013 is as follows:

• 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 - Coloured Gemstone Cutting & Polishing
• Manufacturer of the Year - Gem-set Jewellery
• Manufacturer of the Year - Precious Metal Only Jewellery
• Retailer of the Year
• E-tailer of the Year
• Outstanding Enterprise of the year - Mainland China
• Outstanding Enterprise of the year - India
• Outstanding Contribution of the year
• Store design of the Year
• Sustainability Initiative of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Companies and individuals may submit entries on behalf of themselves or others from mid-March to mid-May. The first stage of the judging process will begin in mid-May and end in mid-June. On 20 June the Honourees or shortlisted candidates will be announced. The Honourees and Recipients will be feted at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on 12 September during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2013.

Today's launch event was hosted by Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia Ltd; Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia; and representatives of the Awards' Headline Partners namely Rita Maltez, Manager Greater China Representative Office, Diamonds Sales and Marketing at Rio Tinto Diamonds; and Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited.

Ramesh Virani, Director of KARP Group; Smit Virani, Director of KARP Jewellery; Heimiti Tikare, Marketing and Communication Officer of Robert Wan Tahiti; Alexandrine Wan of Robert Wan Tahiti; and Gilat Elizov Gefen, Managing Director of IDI Asia Pacific Limited were also present at the media event.

Commenting on the second annual JNA Awards, Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said: "We are happy to see the evolution of the JNA Awards into one that is more reflective of the many changes and developments taking place in our industry. We have rebuilt the 2013 category list to better represent the core elements of the jewellery and gemstone industry. We are looking forward to seeing some of the most outstanding and innovative companies at the JNA Awards this year."

"The second edition of the JNA Awards promises to further inspire and promote excellence in the jewellery and gemstone industry. I am looking forward to a very successful Awards programme this year," said Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia Ltd.

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, added: "The JNA Awards is a major event in Asia, the world's largest jewellery market. Chow Tai Fook is very honoured to be one of the Headline Partners of the Awards for the second year, together with Rio Tinto Diamonds. In addition to recognising the most exceptional accomplishments of jewellery and gemstone companies, the Awards also plays an important role in driving the growth and development of the industry. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of best business practices."

"Rio Tinto's sponsorship is part of our commitment to support innovation as a driver of growth in the diamond industry, particularly in the fast-growing market of Greater China.

I am looking forward to seeing many more great examples of innovative and talented individuals and companies uncovered and showcased through the JNA Awards, as was the case in 2012," said Rita Maltez, Manager Greater China Representative Office, Diamonds Sales and Marketing at Rio Tinto Diamonds.

For more information about the JNA Awards, log on to our revamped JNA Awards website: www.jnaawards.com

Notes for Editors:

1. About the JNA Awards

The JNA Awards is an industry-wide event that honours and recognises excellence and achievement in the jewellery trade. The event is organised by Jewellery News Asia of UBM Asia.

The JNA Awards inaugural event was held last September at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The glittery event gathered an audience of over 450 industry leaders, including the most influential and inspiring decision-makers and stakeholders in the jewellery and gemstone trade. The inaugural awards attracted more than 70 entries of exceptional standards for 10 categories. Nicky Oppenheimer, former Chairman of the De Beers Group, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

2. About Jewellery News Asia

Jewellery News Asia, first published in 1983, is the flagship magazine of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. The publication is a leader in providing the latest industry updates and in-depth reports, covering the international jewellery trade with an Asian insight. Following its success, the publication launched its online edition in June 2011.

3. About the Headline Partners

Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotintodiamonds.com)

As one of the largest producers of rough diamonds in the world, Rio Tinto Diamonds enjoys an important presence in the international diamond market through its 100 percent control of the Argyle mine, 60 percent of the Diavik mine, 78 percent interest in the Murowa mine and an advanced diamond project in India. Rio Tinto Diamonds' productions are sorted and prepared for sale at its sales and marketing headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, supported by a network of representative offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai and New York. Rio Tinto Diamonds maintains an extensive industry intelligence network and a high level of customer and product support. The company also believes in supporting consumer confidence in diamonds and plays an active role in addressing key industry issues around product integrity and sustainable development. Rio Tinto Diamonds is a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, the not-for-profit organisation established to reinforce consumer confidence in the jewellery industry.

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com)

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (Chow Tai Fook), listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2011, is today's largest jeweller by market capitalisation in the world. With a heritage and long-standing reputation spanning more than 80 years, the iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" is recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for its product design, quality and value. Chow Tai Fook has an extensive retail network with over 1,800 points of sale spanning 400 cities in Greater China, Singapore and Malaysia, and a rapidly growing presence in e-commerce. Chow Tai Fook's fundamentals and growth dynamics are strong, and it aspires to become the world's most trusted Asian jewellery brand.

4. About the Honoured Partners

Gubelin

Since 1854 the Gubelin family business stood for the highest standards in jewellery and gemstones. With its wide range of selected gems and signature jewellery collections, it boasts a presence at Switzerland's premier locations: Lucerne, Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lugano, St. Moritz and Geneva and with the recent opening in Malaysia Gubelin runs its first boutique in Asia at famous Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. At the head of the business, now in its sixth generation, stands Raphael Gubelin. Besides the jewellery retail stores and the Gubelin Ateliers the corporate group also comprises the Gubelin Gem Lab, a world-renowned scientific gemstone laboratory with its headquarters in Switzerland and an office in Hong Kong. In his position as head of the company Raphael Gubelin will continue on from his father's business philosophy and nurture the company's traditional values of genuineness, purity, exclusivity, quality and authenticity. 

Israel Diamond Institute

The Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Group of Companies is a non-profit, public interest company that represents all organisations and institutions involved in Israel's diamond industry. Israel is one of the world's leading diamond centers, and the Israeli diamond industry has an illustrious and impressive history dating back to the late 1930s. IDI works for the benefit of Israel's diamond industry. Its responsibilities include marketing and public relations, technological R&D, promotion of rough sources, professional training, publishing professional literature and security consultancy. IDI is also 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.

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.

Robert Wan Tahiti

Robert Wan Group, located in Papeete, Tahiti, is a global brand that focuses its activities around the culture of Tahitian pearls. The Group is represented in Europe, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, the Middle East and Oceania. The brand representing the culmination of Robert Wan's vision to create timeless exquisite pearl jewellery embracing his passion to combine elegance, nature and sophistication. The result is high-end feminine designs, chokers and sautoirs of superb-quality pearls from his farms in South Marutea, Polynesia. Robert Wan as one of pearl cultivations pioneers, plunged into the industry in the early seventies. He has now become the first Tahitian pearls producer top conquer the international markets, earning him his nickname: "the Emperor of the Pearl". In 1983, he acquired the atoll of South Marutea, in the Tuamotu Gambier archipelago.

Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is a national market authorized by the State Council and the only transaction platform for the import and export of diamond in mainland China. It is a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

5. 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 29 offices and over 1,200 staff. With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 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 60 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 50 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country.

6. About UBM plc

UBM plc is a leading global business media company. The company informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print, and provides them with the information they need to do business successfully. The company has 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries that are organised into specialist teams, which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and work effectively and efficiently in their markets.

For more information, please contact:

Jewellery News Asia
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852-2516-1637
[email protected]

SOURCE UBM Asia Ltd