Hong Kong: The fifth annual JNA Awards was a resounding success. Twenty-eight shortlisted companies were recognized and recipients of eleven award categories were announced at the InterContinental Hong Kong on 14 September. To add to the excitement that evening, internationally acclaimed tenor, Warren Mok, gave an outstanding performance to the audience.

Organized by JNA (Jewellery News Asia), the awards event recognizes and celebrates companies and individuals whose passion for excellence, innovation and outstanding business performance has helped shape the growth and development of Asia’s jewellery industry.

Shouzui Yasui, Chief Executive Officer of Yasui & Co, was the recipient of the 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. Yasui is a name that has long been associated with casting solutions for the jewellery industry. Yasui’s casting solutions, starting from the wax injector, were seen as pivotal in the mass production of jewellery, which consequently made jewellery accessible and affordable to many.

The 14 award recipients across 10 categories are:

Brand of the Year — Retail

• Hiersun Industrial Co Ltd — I Do — China

Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year

• Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd — China
• Shenzhen Foreway Jewellery Group Co Ltd — China
• Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd — China
• Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd — China

Manufacturer of the Year– Cutting & Polishing

• Kiran Gems Pvt Ltd — India
• RMC Gems India Ltd — India

Manufacturer of the Year — Jewellery

• PANDORA Production Co Ltd — Thailand

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year — ASEAN

• Soo Kee Group — Singapore

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year — India

• Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd — India

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Greater China

• KGK Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd — Hong Kong SAR

Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)

• Beijing Cai Shi Kou Department Store Co Ltd — China

E-tailer of the Year

• China Stone Co Ltd — Thailand

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)

• Wang Zhuo, Shenzhen Sunfeel Jewelry Co Ltd — China

Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA, Director of Business Development — Jewellery Group at UBM Asia and Chair of the JNA Awards Judging Panel commented, “Great teamwork is always the key to a successful event. Each year, the JNA Awards team work closely with its stakeholders — our valued Headline and Honoured Partners, the judges, all participants who have submitted entries, and guests attending to make this a more meaningful and worthwhile event in the international jewellery and gemstone scene. I would like to extend, again, my warmest congratulations to all of the recipients and honourees.”

Simon Farry, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds, said, “Rio Tinto is proud to be a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for the last five years. Partnerships are at the heart of everything we do — they enable us to offer diamonds that are tracked from the source and through every stage of cutting & polishing by our customers. The JNA Awards plays an important role in fostering the kinds of partnerships required behind such innovative supply-chains, new products and new markets for diamond jewellery.”

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, added, “JNA Awards is a platform for exchanging great ideas to raise industry standard, generate innovation and uphold best practices for the betterment of the jewellery industry. I am delighted to witness the growth of the JNA Awards over the years and I believe that it will further deepen its impact to the industry.”

“The JNA Awards are a celebration of excellence, innovation and achievement within the jewellery industry. By championing the deserving nominees and winners, the JNA Awards stimulate creativity and excellence throughout the industry. They also stand as an initiative through which we, as an industry can come together and collaborate for greater success,” shared Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields.

In addition to the Headline Partners, Diarough Group, the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited supported the JNA Awards 2016 as Honoured Partners.