The 15 winners of the JNA Awards 2018 as well as the others among the 44 honourees were felicitated at a grand evening of celebration in a star-studded ceremony witnessed by prominent industry leaders and influencers at Hong Kong yesterday.

Organised by UBM Asia, the JNA Awards is dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of excellence, leadership, innovation and best business practices in the jewellery and gemstone community.

The special Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest accolade conferred by the JNA Awards was bestowed on Prida Tiasuwan, Chairman of Pranda Jewelry Public Co Ltd. Well-known for his tireless effort in bringing Thailand-made jewellery to the forefront of the global market, Prida’s bold vision and revolutionary ideas not only contributed to the success of PRANDA Group, but also benefited the jewellery industry as a whole.

The 15 Award Recipients across 12 categories are:

Brand of the Year
RetailLuk Fook Holdings (International) Limited -- Hong Kong

eSupplier of the Year
Kiran Gems Private Limited -- India

Industry Innovation of the Year

a. Business Model
Shenzhen MOVER Jewellery Co Ltd -- China

b. Diamond Testing Technology
IIDGR (UK) Ltd -- United Kingdom

c. Manufacturing Process
PANDORA Production Co Ltd -- Thailand

Manufacturer of the Year -- Cutting & Polishing
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd -- Hong Kong

Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery
Kuwayama Corporation -- Japan

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- ASEAN, Japan & Korea
Poh Kong Jewellers -- Malaysia

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- Greater China
Shenzhen Sunfeel Jewelry Co Ltd -- China

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
KGK Diajewels Private Limited -- India

Retailer of the Year (500 outlets and below)
PT Central Mega Kencana -- Indonesia

Retailer of the Year (501 outlets and above)
HIERSUN -- China

Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Jewelmer (KARAMAR CORPORATION) -- Philippines

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)
XU Xiao, Zbird / Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd -- China
Zulu GHEVRIYA, Prism Group -- Hong Kong

Letitia Chow, Chairperson of the JNA Awards, Founder of JNA, and Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said, "Our industry is facing some challenging times, but we should not be discouraged. Instead, this is the time to be innovative. This is the time to seek business opportunities with a different light and angle, and form alliances and collaborations to create win-win situations. Our Honouree companies and individuals embrace this mindset to drive their businesses forward. Once again, I would like to express my deep appreciation and sincere congratulations to all companies and individuals who took part in this year's Awards. Together, we can make this industry flourish."

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, remarked, "Having been a JNA Awards Headline Partner for seven consecutive years, we are thrilled to witness the continuous pursuit of breakthroughs and accomplishments by our peers. Through our concerted efforts, I believe we can drive the development of the jewellery industry and let it shine for generations to come."

Lin Qiang, President & Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), added, "The Honourees for Industry Innovation of the Year were extremely impressive this year and nicely represented the entrepreneurial spirit of the jewellery industry. All the companies are blazing trails in their respective sectors, but it is only through innovation that one can truly stand out. I love reading about success stories stemming from innovation -- be it in the context of technology, business models and product development. What those inspiring stories tell us is that change can be a positive thing, and that taking risks can lead to tremendous growth."

Kenneth Scarratt, CEO of the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT), shared, "The JNA Awards in exemplifying excellence provides a vital avenue for talented professionals to show the world that the gem and jewellery industry is truly innovative, diverse and transparent. The Recipients this year, as in previous years, are great global trade ambassadors and we should all be grateful for their contributions and support in setting the standards to which we should all aspire."

In addition to Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook, SDE and DANAT, the JNA Awards is supported by Honoured Partners KGK Group, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND).

Pic caption: Winners and industry leaders at the JNA Awards nite