Organised by UBM Asia with Jewellery News Asia and CJNA, the JNA Awards announced the lists of finalists across 10 categories on 22nd June 2017, also the first day of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
With a focus on advancing the trade in Asia by celebrating excellence in the jewellery and gemstone industry, the JNA Awards is now in its 6th year.
This year, close to 100 entries from 13 countries and regions, namely China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, were received.
The categories that drew the most number of entries were the Industry Innovation of the Year, Brand of the Year – Retail and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The original E-tailer Award was changed to eSupplier to include wholesale suppliers.
Letitia Chow, chairperson of the JNA Awards and director of business development – jewellery group at UBM Asia, remarked, “It is very motivating to see another year with record-breaking entry numbers, with first-time entrants accounting for 22 percent of the applications. Nowadays, companies have to innovate, not only to thrive, but to survive. The impact of innovation is evident in different aspects of production, including marketing, supply chain management, gem and metal technologies, product development and business strategies.”
The 2017 independent judging panel consists of industry experts namely Albert Cheng, Advisor to the World Gold Council(WGC), Far East; James Courage, former chief executive of Platinum Guild International(PGI) and former chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE); Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in India and the Middle East; Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc of Japan; and Mark Lee, research director of Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy (APIFS).
List of honourees:
Brand of the Year – Retail
eSupplier of the Year
Industry Innovation of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Greater China
Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)
Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)
The winners will be announced at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner scheduled for 14 September during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
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