Industry leaders take home trophies at 2014 JNA Awards

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Sep 16, 2014, 01:52 ET

HONG KONG, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Anoop Mehta of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and Ahmed Bin Sulayem of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) - exceptional and inspiring leaders who are making an incredible impact in the gemstone and jewellery industry - led this year's crop of 20 JNA Awards recipients. The awardees were feted in a spectacular ceremony and gala dinner that drew more than 600 industry stakeholders at the InterContinental Hong Kong on September 16.

The JNA Awards honours gemstone and jewellery industry leaders who represent excellence, innovation and success (PRNewsFoto/JNA)

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Organised by JNA, the awards gala dinner was the culmination of a year-long effort to recognise individuals and companies that are raising the bar for quality, innovation and excellence in the jewellery industry. The event was held on the sidelines of the world's No. 1 fine jewellery B2B show, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

Mehta, president of the BDB, was the recipient of JNA's Lifetime Achievement Award - one of the highest accolades in the global jewellery and gemstone industry and the most esteemed tribute conferred by the JNA Awards. Mehta was honoured for his work at the BDB, which ensures that the diamond trade between India and the rest of the world is fair, efficient and robust.

Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC, was conferred the Outstanding Contribution of the Year Award for his accomplishments that have had an extraordinarily positive and enduring impact, not only on DMCC and Dubai, but on the global gemstone and jewellery industry. Under Bin Sulayem's strong leadership, Dubai has become one of the leading diamond trading centres in the world, serving a pivotal role as the "New Silk Road."

Other recipients of the 2014 JNA Awards are:

Brand of the Year - Retail: Paspaley
Employer of the Year: Pandora Production Co Ltd
Retailer of the Year: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd
E-tailer of the Year: Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd (Zbird)
Industry Innovation of the Year - Manufacturing - Business: Frank Wu Design
Industry Innovation of the Year - Manufacturing - Technology: China Stone Co Ltd; Fukui Shell Nucleus Factory; Diamond Services Ltd and Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd
Manufacturer of the Year - Diamond Cutting & Polishing: Kiran Gems Pvt Ltd
Manufacturer of the Year - Gem-Set Jewellery: Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industry Co Ltd
Manufacturer of the Year - Precious Metals-Only Jewellery: Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd
Sustainability Initiative of the Year: Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd
Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 or below): Shreyansh Kapoor and Zheng Huanjian
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - ASEAN Countries: Jewelmer Joaillerie
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - India: Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - Mainland China: Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd

"The JNA Awards 2014 remains true to our purpose of recognising the companies and individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the industry in Asia and across the world. I am delighted that this year's recipients reflect the qualities the JNA Awards stand for: excellence, innovation and success. Again, my warmest congratulations to all of the Recipients and Honourees," said Letitia Chow, founder of JNA, Director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia and Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel.

Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Managing Director at Rio Tinto Diamonds, said: "Rio Tinto is very proud to be a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for the third consecutive year. We are especially appreciative of JNA for creating a platform that allows the industry to pay tribute to the designers, manufacturers, and retailers who continuously strive to grow new markets for diamond jewellery in mainland China. Their innovation, spirit of partnership and passion for the industry is second to none."

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, added, "As a proud Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for three consecutive years, we have witnessed the growth and achievement that the JNA Awards has made in terms of both scale and reputation. The Awards, which aims to promote excellence and achievement, is an exemplar by itself. In view of the growing number of high-quality entries and the stringent judging criteria, winning at the increasingly competitive JNA Awards is no easy task. Our heartfelt congratulations to all honourees and awardees!"

In addition to the Headline Partners, Diarough Group, Gubelin Group, KARP Group, Paspaley Pearling Company, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, the Israel Diamond Institute and Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd supported the JNA Awards 2014 as Honoured Partners.

Major industry representatives who attended the event included Wong of Chow Tai Fook; Lieberherr of Rio Tinto Diamonds; Raphael Gubelin, CEO of Gubelin Group; Ramesh Virani, Director of KARP Group; Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of Shanghai Diamond Exchange; Nishit Parikh, Director of Diarough Group; Nissim Palomo, Chief Marketing Office of Israel Diamond Institute; Russell Hanigan, Senior Pearling Manager of Paspaley Pearling Company; and Ye Xuquan, CEO of Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd.

Also in attendance were Yang Yi, Deputy Director-General and Head of the Commercial Office, Economic Affairs, Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR; Ahmed Naser Alkhaja, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in Hong Kong; Prashant Agrawal, Consul General of India to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR; and Evert Marechal, Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR.

Representing UBM plc was CEO Tim Cobbold. Also in attendance were UBM Asia President and CEO Jime Essink and Senior Vice President Wolfram Diener.

For more information on the event, please visit www.JNAawards.com or contact:

JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852 2516-1683
[email protected]

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, jewellery manufacturing, and 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 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, a leading jeweller in Mainland 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 85 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 2,100 points of sale in more than 470 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 (http://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 (http://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, 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 KARP Group (http://www.karpjewellery.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.

3.4 Paspaley Pearling Company (http://www.paspaley.com/)

Paspaley Pearling Company is the leading producer of Australian South Sea pearls, supplying strands, loose pearls and mother-of-pearl shells to many of the 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.

3.5 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (http://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.

3.6 The Israel Diamond Institute (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 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.

3.7 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (http://www.gdland.com.hk/en)

The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarter 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

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 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 more than 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.