The shortlisted applicants of the JNA Awards are referred to as Honourees. The chosen leading company or individual of a category among the “Honourees” is referred to as Recipient.
About Anoop Mehta: Anoop Mehta, a highly respected diamantaire, has contributed tremendously to the development of the diamond industry for more than 40 years. Born into a family of diamantaires, he joined the family business when he was still in his teens. Mehta’s passion for the industry is in his blood as his father and uncle were pioneers in the diamond business in India, having founded diamond distribution company Mohanlal Raichard & Sons in 1916. Today, Mehta is a partner at Mohanlal Raichard & Sons, chairman and managing director of Mohit Group, and the proud president of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB). Under Mehta’s leadership, BDB is working towards promoting India as a leading diamond trading hub.
About Ahmed Bin Sulayem: Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), has more than a decade of experience when it comes to commodities as demonstrated in his strong leadership and passion in positioning Dubai as the global hub for trade and enterprise that it is today. He is renowned for his tenacity and nous for fostering collaboration among international trading partners, which has led to DMCC’s unrivalled growth and trade facilitation activities across a range of sectors including gold, diamonds, pearls, precious metals and tea. Through his work at DMCC, the flow of diamonds passing through Dubai is now at a staggering value of US$39 billion. Under Bin Sulayem’s strong leadership, Dubai has become one of the leading diamond trading centers in the world, serving a pivotal role as the “New Silk Road.”
About Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd is the world’s largest jewellery retailer by market value. Having a long-standing history of 85 years, the group has built goodwill and has extended to over 2,100 points-of-sales in more than 470 cities in Greater China, Singapore and Malaysia. The core business is manufacturing and selling a diversity of jewellery including gem-set products, gold products, platinum/karat gold products as well as watches. In recent years, the company also developed e-commerce in order to control the entire operation chain tightly and effectively.
About Jewelmer Joaillerie: Established in 1979, Philippines-based Jewelmer International Corporation virtually created the golden South Sea pearl category and has become of one of the top three pearl producers in the world in value terms. They take pride as an environmentally-sustainable company by growing their pearls via ecologically friendly practices in its farms in Palawan. It has also grown its staff from only 150 in the 1980s to over 1,000 skilled individuals, some of whom are second-generation employees. Jewelmer over the years expanded into a fully integrated enterprise that embraces the entire supply chain, from pearl production and jewellery design and production to a dynamic wholesale and retail operation that positions Jewelmer Joaillerie as a luxury brand.
About Paspaley: Being in the market for more than 75 years, Paspaley has been a luxury Australian brand dedicated to providing highest-quality Australian South Sea pearls. It has and remains its commitment in protecting the pristine and natural oceans of Northern Australia. Moreover, through a specialised invisible knotting technique, a Paspaley finished strand is unsullied by visible knots. Furthermore, in order to enrich knowledge of the customers, Paspaley has launched an educating programme that aims to deliver reliable information in the pearl market which uses different media platforms to teach the world about the pearling industry.
About Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd: Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd became one of the most trusted suppliers of polished diamonds in India for many reasons. Since its founding in 1992, the company has been offering a fixed- and fair-price policy for all its customers – the first diamond manufacturer in India to do so, according to the company. Hari Krishna has more than 6,000 employees, with US$875 million in revenue in 2015.
About Kiran Gems Pvt Ltd: The Indian-based Kiran Gems Pvt Ltd is the world’s largest manufacturers of diamonds with 138 specialised manufacturing units across India. The production of polished diamonds has reached to nearly 1.6 million carats and the diamonds are selling to clients in 30 countries. Established in 1992, the company envisions itself to be the world’s most preferred manufacturer and supplier of diamonds.
About Luk Fook Holdings (International) Ltd: Founded in 1991, Hong Kong-listed Luk Fook Holdings (International) Ltd has a retail network spanning Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, the US and Canada. The company engages in the sourcing, designing, wholesaling and retailing of gold and platinum jewellery, gem-set and natural jadeite jewellery, gold ornaments, gemstones and other accessory items. The group also provides a variety of services to its customers. Lukfook Jewellery’s retail outlets are equipped with gem-examination microscopes that allow buyers to inspect the goods prior to purchase. Its after-sales services include jewellery maintenance and laser-engraving. The retailer also offers complimentary gift cards, certificates of authentication for jadeite and diamond products, as well as a comprehensive checklist and product photo on sales invoices.
About PANDORA Production Co Ltd: Over the years, leading international jewellery brand PANDORA has successfully evolved into more than just a company offering charming handcrafted and contemporary pieces of jewellery. PANDORA counts business ethics as its driving force. Inspired by its stature in the jewellery industry as a reliable global brand, the company established its own Business Integrity Policy. For its own employees, the company regularly holds a Code of Ethics training where relevant topics such as human rights, working conditions, data privacy, information security and anti-bribery are tackled. In 2016, over 600,000 online Code of Ethics training sessions have been conducted company-wide.
About Frank Wu Design: Frank Wu Design is a professional jewellery design and development institution, an information resource for the industry, and a provider of business-to-business services including design production, and wholesale and retail of jewellery. The man behind the institution is Frank Wu, dubbed as China’s “Father of Rose Gold,” a title given to him for solving the problem related to the easy cracking and colour-chaning of rose gold during the manufacturing process. As one of the first graduates of China Gold College, Wu has made his mark as a promoter of Chinese design and craftsmanship to the world through his retail brand ttf Haute Joaillerie.
About WCJ (Holdings) Co Ltd: WCJ (Holdings) Co Ltd has been a leading jewellery wholesaler and exporter in Hong Kong since the 1980’s. The company has great expertise in diamond and South Sea Pearl jewellery and believes as much in the finest quality as in great customer service at its offices in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Dubai.
About China Stone Co Ltd: China Stone Co Ltd is well known in the global jewellery and luxury watch industry as a trusted supplier that provides instant and consistent access to over 20 million melee-sized, natural coloured gemstones in a strictly uniformed and perfectly calibrated array of colours, proportions and sizes. In 1999, China Stone launched its first e-commerce website, becoming a pioneer in electronic retailing of loose gemstones. The company developed its own sophisticated e-commerce system to enhance customer experience. China Stone‘s believes that offering products and services that are customized according to their clients’ individual needs and preferences increase trust and strengthens brand loyalty. The company is constantly upgrading its technologies and systems to provide its customer fast, reliable and quality services.
About Diamond Services Ltd: Diamond Services Ltd is an independent gemmological laboratory and grading services provider which aims to provide specially-developed tools that answer the needs of diamond professionals on a daily basis and improve their abilities to ease the business process. To make the screening of diamonds easier, Diamond Services developed innovative instruments that did not require procurement of expensive equipment and space. Their innovative products, the DiamaPen, and the DiamaTest, are designed to be affordable, cost-effective.
About Fukui Shell Nucleus Factory: Having 20 years of experience in the industry, Fukui Shell Nucleus Factory has been positioned as a pearl expert manufacturing cultured pearl nuclei, and supplies them to variety of pearl farms around the world. On top of its core business, Fukui Shell has been doing research and developing solutions to improve the authentication of pearls, so that pearls could be easily tracked, traced and authenticated without affecting the quality of the pearl. The company provides services like customized design, expert advice, pricing, pearl operation tools supply and more. It also imports and exports various types of pearls including Mabe pearls, South Sea pearls and Akoya pearls.
About Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd: Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd has found a creative way to break into China’s trendy gold jewellery market. Capturing the attention of fashion-conscious consumers who are looking for gold jewellery collections that are elegant and simple but with a contemporary feel, Shenzhen United BlueOcean relies on its human-centred approach to innovation to design and produce fine-quality lightweight 24-karat gold jewellery. Established in 2010, the company knew that its research and development capabilities would make it a game changer in China’s gold jewellery market. It built a fully-fledged R&D centre, and invested in manufacturing processes for 24-karat gold that will resolve issues related to producing pieces with high customer appeal. To achieve this goal, the company instilled a culture of innovation throughout its business. Staff were motivated and offered incentives to innovate while a core team of talented technicians under the leadership of company chairman Tong Wang developed manufacturing techniques and products “with the style and appeal of 18-karat gold jewellery.”
About Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd: Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd grows fast with the sales of polished diamonds in 46 countries and US$ 720 million turnover in the past two decades. Providing diamonds for a number of jewellery brands including De Beers, Rio Tinto and Alrosa, Hari Krishna commits to supply rough diamond to clients directly.
About Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd: Shree Ramkrishna Exports’ emphasis on quality has earned the diamond manufacturer numerous awards and accolades, among them the prestigious distinction as a De Beers Sightholder. This Indian-based company is also a recognised Forevermark diamond manufacturer and exporter. At present, SRK is a leading manufacturer of polished goods weighing 3 carats or higher, thanks to the company’s superior craftsmanship and expertise in producing a consistent supply of quality polished diamonds in all shapes and sizes. Customer satisfaction and retention are important factors in SRK’s success, which is why maintaining long-term relationships with its existing clientele as well as its new customers has always been one of its main priorities through the years.
About KGK Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd: KGK Group, a multinational corporation founded in 1905 involving in the mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery, has mastered the art of balancing its business. One of the main reasons behind KGK’s success is its implementation of guidelines that promote good business ethics and best practices. The group makes it a point to work with responsible parties, making it the preferred buyer of three of the world’s leading diamond miners – De Beers, Alrosa and Rio Tinto. KGK is Best Practice Principles-compliant and Responsible Jewellery Council-certified. The company also places importance on data privacy with most of the computer data for inventory and logistics maintained through software that was developed in-house by its IT teams in China and India. All information exchanges are monitored carefully at regular intervals.
About Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd: Founded in 1997, Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd is exploring ways of expanding into international markets. Thus far, it has maintained strategic partnerships with global promotional agencies including the Asia Fancy Color Diamond Association, Platinum Guild International and the World Gold Council. Xingguangda has opened 3,000 business outlets and have over 1,000 professional technicians, senior management personnel and staff. Each and every employee espouses the culture of innovation that made the company a frontrunner for innovation and sustainability within the industry. At Xingguangda, employees are encouraged and nurtured to participate in all aspects of the company’s operations, to actively contribute to the innovation of the business. The management continues to focus in bringing innovation in all phases of the business, including the manufacturing process, operations, product research and development, and service.
About Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd: Since the establishment of Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd in 1989, innovation has been part of its core and culture. Under the leadership of Sit Kwan, CEO of Shenzhen Bohengda Group Co Ltd and chairman of Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd, every employee is encouraged to innovate and develop solutions that will benefit not only themselves, but also the whole community.
About Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd: Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry continues to make inroads in the global jewellery market. To date, more than a hundred top jewellery retail brands from China have given their trust in the company by recognising it as their appointed supplier. It is now well on its way to worldwide acclaim as it is supplying jewellery to customers and partners from more than 30 countries and regions. Wholesalers and consignment stores have also formed strategic partnerships with the manufacturer in creating a win-win business model. Shenzhen Ganlu prides itself for employing the “one-to-one” model for its VIP customers both locally and abroad. Through this personalisation process, the company prepares its design, production and marketing tools according to customers’ specific preferences – be it 18-karat gold, platinum, diamond or jade.
About Pranda SCL Indonesia: Based in Indonesia, PT. Sumberkreasi CiptaLogam (Pranda SCL) is a leading manufacturer and distributor in gold and silver jewellery with diamonds, gemstones and cubic zirconia. Its products are sold in chain stores, department stores and individual stores domestically and exported to other part of the world such as Europe, North America, Australia, etc.
About Tomei Consolidated Berhad: Tomei Consolidated Berhad has just celebrated their 45 years in the industry. The company dominates the share of the Malaysia jewellery market with 71 retail outlets under five different brands. It has further expanded their footprint to Asia, with a total of 13 retail stores in China and Vietnam.
About J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd: Renowned as a manufacturer and exporter of cut and polished diamonds, and a top rough diamond importer, J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd has its global headquarters in the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai and operates state-of-the-art diamond polishing factory in Surat, India. Together with its corporate offices in Belgium, Hong Kong, Dubai and Israel, and affiliates in the US and Canada, the company has built an exemplary global business with sales concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.
About KGK Diamonds (Shanghai) Ltd: KGK Group, a multinational corporation founded in 1905 involving in the mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery, has mastered the art of balancing its business. One of the main reasons behind KGK’s success is its implementation of guidelines that promote good business ethics and best practices. The group makes it a point to work with responsible parties, making it the preferred buyer of three of the world’s leading diamond miners – De Beers, Alrosa and Rio Tinto. KGK is Best Practice Principles-compliant and Responsible Jewellery Council-certified. The company also places importance on data privacy with most of the computer data for inventory and logistics maintained through software that was developed in-house by its IT teams in China and India. All information exchanges are monitored carefully at regular intervals.
About Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd: Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry continues to make inroads in the global jewellery market. To date, more than a hundred top jewellery retail brands from China have given their trust in the company by recognising it as their appointed supplier. It is now well on its way to worldwide acclaim as it is supplying jewellery to customers and partners from more than 30 countries and regions. Wholesalers and consignment stores have also formed strategic partnerships with the manufacturer in creating a win-win business model. Shenzhen Ganlu prides itself for employing the “one-to-one” model for its VIP customers both locally and abroad. Through this personalisation process, the company prepares its design, production and marketing tools according to customers’ specific preferences – be it 18-karat gold, platinum, diamond or jade.
About Primo Japan Inc: Primo Japan Inc is one of the leading retail chain stores for bridal jewellery in Asia. Established in 1999, Primo Japan specialises in wedding and engagement rings under the brand “I-PRIMO”. The company is now operating 60 I-PRIMO stores in Japan and has expanded their market overseas, mainly targeted at Taiwan and Hong Kong. Primo Japan has also partnered with New York diamond brand Lazare and operates 13 Lazare Diamond Boutiques which sells gem-quality diamond.
About Leibish & Co: Leibish & Co is a respected seller and expertise for more than three decades in natural coloured loose diamonds and own-design jewellery. Based in the Israel Diamond Exchange, Leibish & Co has offices around the globe such as New York and Hong Kong but using the Internet as the main platform for business transaction. The company has recently taken a large step forward in creating a tailored mobile application, which allows clients to search through its collections conveniently.
About Plukka (HK) Ltd: Established in 2011, Plukk (HK) Ltd is an e-commerce and online design fine jewellery brand. Plukka provides an innovative made-to-order business model, which eliminates the customary middlemen and therefore offering lower price to clients. Plukka has added two new markets-Taiwan and the UAE into their total 10 markets that products would be shipped to. Other markets include the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.
About Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd (Zbird) : Before the establishment of Taobao and other popular online retailers in China, Shanghai Wisdom Jewelry Trading Co Ltd, which is also called Zbird, was already selling diamonds online. Zbrid is now a leading e-tailer specialised in the diamond and bridal jewellery market with the spirit of innovation. It has been rated the AAA-class by the Internet Society of China Enterprise Credit Evaluation Center and ranked no. 5 among the China’s 24 main brands. Zdbird’s business model not only focuses on online channels but also uses offline sales channels.
About Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd: Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd (DDPL) has developed from five staff and two polishing wheels into a world’s leading diamond and jewellery manufacturing companies with 4,000 people and about 25,000 international customers. DDPL’s sustainability programme involves employee welfare and development, environmental protection and community support.
About Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd: Founded in 1997, Xingguangda is exploring ways of expanding into international markets. Thus far, it has maintained strategic partnerships with global promotional agencies including the Asia Fancy Color Diamond Association, Platinum Guild International and the World Gold Council. Xingguangda has 800 employees and 3,000 sales outlets spread across China, which serve thousands of customers every day. Each and every employee espouses the culture of innovation that made the company a frontrunner for innovation and sustainability within the industry. At Xingguangda, employees are encouraged and nurtured to participate in all aspects of the company’s operations, to actively contribute to the innovation of the business. The management continues to focus in bringing innovation in all phases of the business, including the manufacturing process, operations, product research and development, and service.
About Shreyansh Kapoor: Shreyansh Kapoor, vice president of Kashi Jewellers, joined the family business of Kashi Jewellers after graduating from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. At a later year, he went back to the US to train as a certified gemmologist at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Under his leadership, Kashi Jewellers broke traditions and stereotypes in the industry. He also pursued aggressive marketing strategies, revitalised the brand and made it contemporary. In the future, Shreyansh will lead Kashi Jewellers towards an expansion of its retail business and strengthening of its manufacturing capability.
About Payal Shah: Payal Shah started L’Dezen Jewellery Co in 2011. In a short period of time, L’Dezen has become an international jewellery brand recognised for its haute couture and exotic jewellery collections.
About Sit Kwan: Six years ago, a young man, fresh from his graduate studies in the US, returned to China and took over the leadership of his family’s business. Driven by a spirit of pioneering entrepreneurship, he instantly set to work to implement revolutionary practices into the 20–year–old company, propelling it to outstanding success while at the same time pushing China’s jewellery industry to a new level of innovation, design and practice. The young man is Sit Kwan and the company he chartered to new heights is Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd, China’s top platinum jewellery manufacturer. His efforts bore fruit in August 2014 when he initiated and founded the China Youth Jewellery Entrepreneur Association. Sit is also a founding director of the Overseas Chinese Young Merchants Association of Longgang District, Shenzhen which is focused on modernising the sector’s distribution methods.
About Zheng Huanjian: As general manager, Shenzen Ganlu Jewellery’s Zheng Huanjian, is fused in the Chinese entrepreneurial culture and Western performance management models with Enterprise Resource Planning systems to make a unique management style. Under Zheng’s leadership, the company enjoyed enduring, profitable growth. The company knew to shift the competition away by producing specialised precious metal jewellery and accessories that are made with great skill and mastery.