HONG KONG, 21 June 2018 – The seventh edition of the JNA Awards announced its much-awaited list of Honourees across 12 categories at a news conference held alongside of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
A world-renowned programme organised by UBM Asia, the JNA Awards is dedicated to recognising and celebrating best business practices, excellence and innovation with a focus on advancing the trade in Asia.
The seventh edition saw a record-breaking 127 highly qualified submissions from 16 countries and regions, namely Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The categories with the most number of entries were Industry Innovation of the Year and Brand of the Year – Retail.
Letitia Chow, Chairperson of the JNA Awards, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, commented, “Competition has never been keener or more vigorous judging from the record-breaking number of entries we received this year. To top it off, the quality of the submissions remains remarkable. Our efforts to promote excellence, innovation and creative thinking in the jewellery industry have started to bear fruit, and will no doubt help build an even brighter future for this sector.”
The 2018 independent judging panel consists of industry experts namely Albert Cheng, Advisor to the World Gold Council (WGC) and former Managing Director, Far East (WGC); James Courage, former Chief Executive of Platinum Guild International (PGI) and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE); Mark Lee, Research Director of Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy (APIFS); Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, Chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc.
Cheng shared, “The JNA Awards is further gaining momentum, with certain categories drawing an overwhelming number of entrants. The quality of participants and their willingness to share information to support their application also deserve special mention. Once again, the judging panel went through the lively process of debate and discussion in selecting this year’s Honourees. We expect to engage in even more spirited discussions when selecting the champions for each category.”
Courage added, “The entries this year reflect an emphasis on innovation in design, manufacturing, finance and marketing. They recognise the challenges to the jewellery sector from other categories and the need to target millennials and younger consumers. They also underline the importance of running efficient and profitable businesses that remain aware of their responsibilities to all their stakeholders.”
Lin of SDE remarked, “I continue to be inspired by the achievements and innovative spirit of all the entries. This year, the competition is particularly fierce that selecting the frontrunners from such a diverse and excellent pool of entries had been most challenging. Clearly, everyone is a winner.”
“It’s exciting to see the quality of entries for this year’s JNA Awards. As a member of the judging panel, I’m glad that such is the case since it makes the process even more challenging. This is a testament to the innovations and disruptions that have been driving growth in Asia’s gemstone and jewellery industry. I wish all the participants great success in promoting excellence in the industry,” GIA’s Bhatt noted.
Lee of APIFS added, “I am honoured to once again be a judge in the JNA Awards. It is encouraging to see more participants this year. Again, I was so impressed to see their passion, innovation and contribution to the jewellery and gemstone industry. Innovation and sustainable strategies are very important in this rapidly changing world, and all of them have made it. The JNA Awards is an excellent platform to showcase the industry’s development and successes, and exemplifies the efforts that the participants have put into their operations. Congratulations, and I wish you all a most brilliant future.”
Suwa expressed, “Entrants to the JNA Awards vary very much in terms of annual turnover, from a hundred thousand dollars to close to US$10 billion, and the size of the workforce, from a few employees to nearly 30,000 workers. The judging panel is focusing on the quality of the work achieved and not only on the scale or size of the business.”
Brand of the Year – Retail
- •Jewelmer (KARAMAR CORPORATION)
- •Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited (Stock Code 00590.HK)
- •Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company
- •Shenzhen Darry Jewelry Co., Ltd.
- •Shenzhen Perfect Love Diamond Co., Ltd.
- •ShenZhen Sunfeel Jewelry Co.,Ltd
eSupplier of the Year
- •Fujia Financial Information Service Co., Ltd.
- •Kiran Gems Private Limited
- •Zbird / Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd
Industry Innovation of the Year
- •Cody Opal Australia Pty Ltd
- •DRC TECHNO
- •IIDGR (UK) Ltd
- •ISMOND Jewelry technology co., LTD
- •PANDORA Productions
- •Shenzhen China Precious Gold Group Limited
- •Shenzhen Heng Fu Ying Jia Gold Company Limited
- •ShenZhen Lingchengben Technology Corporation Limited
- •ShenZhen MOVER Jewellery CO.,LTD.
Manufacturer of the Year – Cutting & Polishing
- •Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group
- •KGK Diamonds (HK) Limited
Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery
- •Kuwayama Corporation
- •MKS Jewelry International Co., Ltd.
- •Shenzhen Kingli Jewellery Co Ltd
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN, Japan & Korea
- •Crossfor Co., Ltd.
- •ESTINA
- •Poh Kong Jewellers
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Greater China
- •Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited
- •Shenzhen Mingfeng Jewellery Co,. Ltd
- •ShenZhen Sunfeel Jewelry Co.,Ltd
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
- •K. Jewels Private Limited
- •KGK Diajewels Private Limited
- •RMC GEMS INDIA LIMITED
Retailer of the Year (500 outlets and below)
- •Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company
- •Poh Kong Jewellers
- •PT Central Mega Kencana
- •Shenzhen Darry Jewelry Co., Ltd.
Retailer of the Year (501 outlets and above)
- •HIERSUN
- •Mokingran Jewelry Group Co.Ltd
- •Shenzhen Ideal Jewellery Co Ltd
Sustainability Initiative of the Year
- •Jewelmer (KARAMAR CORPORATION)
- •KGK Diamonds (HK) Limited
Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)
- •Mr Sureshkumar Ghevriya, Prism Group
- •Ms Xiao, Xu, Zbird / Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd
- •Mr Lian Guang, Yang, Beijing Ying Yan Network Technology Co., Ltd.
The winners in each category will be announced and feted at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner scheduled for 16 September during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be decided by the organiser and announced in July.
