JNA Awards 2014 now accepting entries

JNA Awards 2014 now accepting entries

Categories include search for outstanding ASEAN enterprise;
entries will be accepted until midnight, April 17, 2014

HONG KONG, March 06, 2014 – JNA Awards, the annual industry-wide event that honours the innovators and leaders of the international jewellery industry, with a focus on their achievements and contribution in Asia, is now accepting entries for 2014.

Individuals or companies may submit their entries or on behalf of others by completing the online application form available at the Awards’ website: www.jnaawards.com. Deadline for submissions will be midnight (Hong Kong time) of April 17, 2014.

(From left) Nissim Palomo, chief marketing officer of Israel Diamond Institute; Gilat Elizov-Gefen, managing director of IDI Asia Pacific; Naresh Surana, director of Diarough (Hong Kong); Helen Molesworth, managing director of Gübelin Academy; Albert Cheng, managing director of World Gold Council Far East; Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development - Jewellery Group of UBM Asia; Kent Wong, managing director of Chow Tai Fook; Rita Maltez, manager of Rio Tinto Diamond’s Greater China Representative Office; Nishit Parikh, director of Diarough Group; Wolfram Diener, senior vice president of UBM Asia

There will be 16 categories this year, including a new category that spotlights the ASEAN region. The full list of JNA Awards 2014 categories is as follows:

  • –  Lifetime Achievement Award
  • –  Outstanding Contribution of the Year
  • –  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 & Polishing
  • –  Manufacturer of the Year – Gem-Set Jewellery
  • –  Manufacturer of the Year – Precious Metals-Only Jewellery
  • –  Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN Countries
  • –  Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
  • –  Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Mainland China
  • –  Retailer of the Year
  • –  E-tailer of the Year
  • –  Sustainability Initiative of the Year
  • –  Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)

Entries will be judged from May to June by a highly respected international panel of judges representing key sectors of the jewellery industry. The Honourees or shortlisted candidates will be revealed on June 19, and will be feted together with the Recipients at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on Tuesday, September 16, at the InterContinental Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2014.

Speaking at today’s launch event, Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said “Since its launch, the JNA Awards has been widely recognised as one of the most prestigious accolades one could aspire for in the jewellery and gemstone industry. With this year’s categories, we continue to deliver an awards programme that is tune with the industry’s evolution. With our new category, we recognise the growing importance of the ASEAN region in the jewellery and gemstone industry. We are looking forward to seeing a wider range and more exceptional entries this year.”

Wolfram Diener, senior vice president of UBM Asia, added “UBM Asia is proud to organise a platform that inspires the jewellery and gemstone industry to continuously strive for excellence and growth. With the tireless efforts of our organising team and outstanding support from our partners, I believe that the JNA Awards will be even more successful this year.”

Rita Maltez, manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds’ Greater China Representative Office, said “Rio Tinto is honoured to be the headline partner of JNA Awards, together with Chow Tai Fook. Since its inception, we believed the JNA Awards would become the most important event of its kind and in 2013 this was reflected in the increased diversity of entries. We are delighted to see the expansion of award categories and the addition of new honoured partners in 2014, which is further testament to the importance of this platform.”

Kent Wong, managing director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group said, “JNA Awards proudly marks its third edition this year. As a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for three years in a row, we will definitely continue to offer the best of our support to the organiser. The JNA Awards has achieved resounding success in the previous two years. Their triumph encourages and motivates us to do better year after year.

“With the announcement of this year’s award categories, I strongly encourage industry players to submit their entries. It is only with your strong support, comprehensive representation and industry-wide reception that the JNA Awards could flourish. I look forward to seeing old and new faces in the award presentation ceremony,” Wong added.

Now on its third year, JNA Awards 2014 is organised by JNA (Jewellery News Asia) and is led by Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, the Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Paspaley Pearling Company and Shanghai Diamond Exchange as Honoured Partners.