Inaugural JNA Awards -- A Tremendous Success

HONG KONG, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The awards recipients for the 10 categories of the inaugural JNA Awards were announced last week to an audience of over 450 guests from the international gemstone and jewellery industry at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Acclaimed by all present as a tremendous success, the JNA Awards is expected to become a not-to-be-missed event in the industry's calendar.

The JNA Awards is an industry-wide platform for the championing of best practices.

Major players of the industry who attended included Nicky Oppenheimer, Former Chairman of the De Beers Group; Philippe Mellier, CEO of the De Beers Group, Varda Shine, CEO of the Diamond Trading Company;  Kent Wong, Managing Director, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited;  Bruce Cox, Managing Director Rio Tinto - Diamonds, Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Chief Commercial Officer - Diamonds, Rio Tinto Diamonds; Ramesh Virani, Managing Director, KARP Group;  Robert Wan, Founder and Chairman, Robert Wan Tahiti; Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director, Shanghai Diamond Exchange; and Moti Ganz, Chairman, The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI).

Key personalities also included John Botts, former chairman of UBM plc and Jime Essink, President & CEO, UBM Asia Ltd; Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President, UBM Asia Ltd.

Recipients of the JNA Awards 2012:

• Lifetime Achievement Award
  Nicky Oppenheimer
  Nicky Oppenheimer, former Chairman of the De Beers Group, is awarded JNA's highest accolade for his outstanding contribution to the world diamond industry over the course of a career that spans 44 years. The third generation of the Oppenheimers to lead De Beers, Nicky Oppenheimer has added his own, distinguished contribution to a family legend that dates back to 1902 when his grandfather, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, arrived in Kimberley to work as a diamond buying agent. Nicky Oppenheimer presided over important changes in the history of the De Beers Group. Under his leadership, De Beers opened up new markets for diamond jewellery in China and India, and established the De Beers' Best Practice Principles (BPPs), a standard of ethical business behaviour that has set the benchmark for other global industries.
• 3 Decades of Excellence
  Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd
  Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd, the world's largest jewellery retailer by market value, since its founding decades ago, continues to raise the bar of excellence and creativity in the gemstone and jewellery industry. Embracing the enduring principles of "sincerity" and "eternity," Chow Tai Fook puts integrity at the centre of its business operations. The Hong Kong-listed company has an extensive retail network, with more than 1,600 points-of-sale in Greater China, Malaysia and Singapore.
• Brand of the Year
  Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd
  With its immense reach and presence in the Greater China market, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd has always been viewed as a trendsetter in the industry. Its unwavering commitment to quality and service excellence has made it one of the most iconic brands in Greater China.
• Employer of the Year
  Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd
  More than 30 years since its founding, Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd continues to demonstrate the same heartfelt passion and commitment that it has for a business that celebrates enduring love and romance. The diamond manufacturer has not lost sight of the core corporate values upon which Dharmanandan was built, and these are excellence in innovation, manufacturing and talent management. By connecting with its employees and keeping them engaged, the India-based diamond manufacturer is able to clearly communicate the group's vision and goals with its staff.
• Industry Innovation of the Year - Manufacturing
  TTF High Jewellery
  Since its establishment in September 2002, Shenzhen-based TTF High Jewellery has been consistently producing jewellery pieces of outstanding design and craftsmanship. Its collections are showcased internationally and have received great acclaim across the industry. TTF has mastered many high-level techniques in jewellery making, including K-gold production, which gives gold lasting colour and shine. Known for its "think-outside-the-box" approach to manufacturing and marketing, TTF is always on the lookout for fresh, bold and creative solutions to existing and novel challenges.
• Industry Innovation of the Year - Retail   
  Plukka (HK) Ltd
  Leveraging the power of social media and online marketing, Plukka (HK) Ltd is changing the dynamics of jewellery trade and manufacturing. Launched less than a year ago by partners Jai Waney and Joanne Ooi, the Hong Kong-based e-Retailer is bringing the concept of group buying to a larger audience.
• Manufacturer of the Year  
  Pranda Group
  Thailand-based Pranda Group prides itself on being a leading supplier of high-quality jewellery to some of the world's most recognisable retail brands, while offering its own branded jewellery products. With a 4,000-strong workforce in seven manufacturing facilities, Pranda Group is a force to reckon with, producing more than 10,000 new designs and over 8 million pieces annually.
• Retailer of the Year       
  Luk Fook Holdings (International) Ltd
  One of Hong Kong's most successful home-grown brands, Lukfook is recognised globally for its achievements in the jewellery industry. Operating more than 920 retail outlets worldwide, more than 870 of which are in China, Lukfook uses innovative technology to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the customer experience.
• Sustainability Initiative of the Year
  Jewelmer International Corporation
  Renowned for its golden South Sea cultured pearls, Jewelmer International Corporation champions sustainable development in its operations and projects. Based in the Philippines, it adopts the most ecologically friendly practices in its pearl farms in Palawan. Jewelmer's Save Palawan Seas Foundation also provides coastal communities with livelihood alternatives to destructive fishing practices, among others.
• Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below)
  Chris Benham (The Inspired Collection)
  Chris Benham, co-founder of The Inspired Collection, has led the New Zealand-based company into winning several domestic and international jewellery design awards over a span of just three years. Known for its fresh, innovative approach to diamond jewellery design, The Inspired Collection has also won major design contracts with highly respected companies, including Hiersun, a retailer with more than 200 bridal jewellery shops in China.

The following companies have been selected as honourees of the inaugural JNA Awards 2012, Wonder of the World category:

• Vitalit, Thailand, two entries
  • Vivid Orange Natural Mandarin Garnet in finest cut cushion shape or Natural Spessartite (-Garnet)
  • Pinkish Red Spinel of Pamir Mountains origin
• Makhni Enterprises, Thailand, one entry
  • A pair of 8 carats rare unheated ruby

Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and the Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel, said: "The success of the inaugural JNA Awards ceremony and gala dinner has been tremendous. I am proud to announce that we have achieved our main goal to provide the industry with a benchmark for excellence and achievement. I would like to thank you all that helped us to make it possible. We are looking forward to the same success at the JNA Awards 2013."

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited said: "When we signed the JNA Awards partnership agreement months ago, we knew that it would be a great success. Last night's event surpassed our expectations. It was of course an entertaining evening but was also an excellent opportunity for many key people of our industry to network. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Honourees and Recipients who brought excellence to the awards."

Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Chief Commercial Officer - Diamonds, Rio Tinto Diamonds said: "Rio Tinto congratulates the organisers of the inaugural JNA Awards which culminated in a wonderful event. We are extremely proud to be able to contribute to the development of innovation and new opportunities in this industry, particularly in the Chinese jewellery market. We congratulate all the honourees and recipients and look forward to a long association with this important event."

The entertainment for the evening started with a colourful and vibrant Bollywood performance by

Xin Wang Prestige. Later, there was a performance by world-renowned tenor Warren Mok accompanied by young American soprano Corinne Winters, which drew enthusiastic applause.

The JNA Awards 2012 featured Rio Tinto and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Israel Diamond Institute, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Robert Wan Tahiti and the KARP Group as Honoured Partners.

For more information regarding the JNA Awards 2012 please go to http://www.jnaawards.com/.

About the JNA Awards

The JNA Awards is an industry-wide event that honours and recognises excellence and achievement in the jewellery trade. The inaugural Awards ceremony and gala dinner has been held on September 20, 2012, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

The event, the first of its kind in Asia was organised by Jewellery News Asia (http://www.jewellerynewsasia.com/) of UBM Asia in collaboration with UBM Awards.

Jewellery News Asia, first published in 1983, is the flagship magazine of UBM Asia's (http://www.ubmasia.com/) 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, http://www.jewellerynewsasia.com/ in June 2011.

Note for Editors:

1. About UBM Asia (http://www.ubmasia.com/)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.

2. About UBM plc (http://www.ubm.com/)
UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, and from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,600 staff in more than 31 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business effectively and efficiently.

3. About UBM Awards
UBM Awards is UBM plc's awards organiser and producer. Based in London, UBM Awards specialises in end-to-end delivery of cross-sector awards programmes and bespoke events worldwide. UBM Awards organises more than 30 awards and bespoke events annually including the National Business Awards, the Asian Awards and the National Sales Awards.

Please contact:

Jewellery News Asia
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852-2516-1683
enquiries@jnaawards.com

Paul Pimlett, Events Director
UBM Awards (UK)
+44 (0) 20-7921-8090
paul.pimlett@ubm.com