HONG KONG, April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gubelin Group, known for its three areas of expertise -- fine jewellery that merges Swiss goldsmith craftsmanship with rare gemstones, a world-renowned scientific gemstone laboratory and the Gubelin Academy for gemmological education -- is returning as an Honoured Partner of the JNA Awards for the third consecutive year, awards organiser JNA (Jewellery News Asia) has announced.

Raphael Gubelin, CEO and Board Member of the Gubelin Group, Switzerland

The Switzerland-based company joins Headline Partners Rio Tinto and Chow Tai Fook, and fellow Honoured Partners Diarough Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI), Shanghai Diamond Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND) in supporting one of the industry's most prestigious and widely respected awards initiatives.

The JNA Awards recognises and honours outstanding companies from around the world whose business practices have had a positive impact on the Asian region and the gemstone and jewellery industry. These companies have shown exceptional leadership, embraced innovation and demonstrated a commitment to sustainability.

Raphael Gubelin, CEO and Board Member of the Gubelin Group, said, "We are very delighted to support JNA Awards 2015, probably the most important event of the year for the jewellery industry. It is an occasion to catch up with old friends, strengthen relationships, and discuss recent innovations and new ideas or products. For our part, we are pleased to announce this year that the Gubelin Gem Lab will introduce redesigned Gem Reports, improving their readability. In addition, in September during the fair, we are proud to be launching our new Level 2 classes at the Gubelin Academy, providing an even deeper insight into coloured gemstones."

"Gubelin has long been recognised as a company that consistently strives for excellence and has a deep commitment to the highest standards -- values that the JNA Awards is set out to promote in the jewellery and gemstone industry.  We are most honoured to join hands with such a respectable global partner in building synergy among industry stakeholders and supporting best business practices within the trade," added Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia.

Established in 1854, Gubelin is a family-owned business now led by sixth-generation members with operations covering jewellery manufacturing, retail, gemstone testing, and most recently, a gemstone education academy. Headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland, Gubelin has nine boutiques in key locations across Switzerland, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. In 2013, Gubelin further grew its presence in Asia, with the inauguration of its VIP Salon and the opening of the Gubelin Academy in Hong Kong, which offers courses aimed at trade professionals, private clients and connoisseurs of coloured gemstones.

The group also operates its world-renowned Gubelin Gem Lab, one of the world's oldest and most respected institutions of its kind, which is widely trusted by gemstone dealers, jewellery retailers, auction houses, royal families and private collectors since the 1920s.

JNA Awards 2015 is now accepting entries until 30 April, 24:00 Hong Kong time. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, 20 September, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2015, at the Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong, where the Recipients in 16 award categories will be announced.

For more information about the JNA Awards, including the full list of 2015 award categories, visit www.JNAawards.com  or contact:

JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong
+852 2516-1683
marketing@jnaawards.com

Notes for Editors:

1. About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com)

JNA is the flagship magazine of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. First published in 1983, the title is the leader in providing up-to-date international jewellery trade news with an Asian insight. It features original, in-depth reports by experienced journalists covering the latest developments in the diamond, pearl, gemstone, jewellery manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.

2. About the Headline Partners

2.1 Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotinto.com/diamondsandminerals)

Rio Tinto operates a fully integrated diamonds business from exploration through to sales and marketing. It is one of the world's major diamond producers through its 100 percent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 percent interest in Diavik mine in Canada, 78 percent interest in the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe and 100 percent interest in the Bunder project in India. 

Rio Tinto's share of the production from its three operating diamond mines is sold through its sales and marketing office in Antwerp, with representative offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and New York. It also operates a niche cutting and polishing factory in Perth for the rare pink diamonds from its Argyle mine. Rio Tinto is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process, as well as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

2.2 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com)

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, one of the world's leading jeweller and the largest in terms of sales, was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. Chow Tai Fook is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng China 50 Index and the Hang Seng Mainland 100 Index.

The iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" of the Group has been widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for product design, quality and value. The recent acquisition of Hearts On Fire, an internationally acclaimed luxury jewellery brand, has further underpinned the Group's stature as a diamond expert in the industry.

The Group has an extensive retail network comprising over 2,250 Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire points of sale spanning nearly 500 cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States, as well as a strong and fast growing e-tail network through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-Shop and various e-tail accounts on other online shopping platforms.

The Group's sophisticated vertically integrated business model provides an effective and tight control over the entire operation chain from raw material procurement, design, production, to marketing and sales through its extensive POS and e-tail channels.

3. About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Diarough Group (www.diarough.com)

Diarough Group was established in Antwerp in 1975 and owns diamond polishing factories in China, India, Thailand and Botswana, with a network of sales offices around the world. Diarough is known among the most professional and respected names in the international diamond industry.

Diarough believes in building and nurturing long-term business relationships based on mutual trust, finding solutions to business and marketing problems, creating marketable opportunities through innovative products and providing excellent client services.

Its jewellery manufacturing unit Uni-Design has produced many award-winning jewellery pieces, which have been proudly worn by celebrities on the red carpet over the years.

The Group employs over 3,500 people and is engaged in a wide range of diamond business activities like rough trading, cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing and marketing to retailers, chain stores, global brands and private labels worldwide. Diarough employs advanced technology and modern work speed with traditional ethical business practices upon which the Company was founded.

3.2 Gubelin Group (www.gubelin.com)

Since 1854, the name Gubelin has stood for the very highest standards in gemstones, jewellery and watches. With its selection of the most sought-after timepieces and jewellery of its own design, the family-run business is represented at all the prime locations in Switzerland: Lucerne, Zurich, Basel, Bern, St. Moritz, Lugano and Geneva. Last November, Gubelin Jewellery established its presence in Hong Kong.

Besides the jewellery boutiques and the Gubelin Ateliers, the group has a newly-established Academy and a world-renowned Gemmological Laboratory. The Gubelin Gem Lab is one of the oldest and most respected institutions of its kind, relied on by dealers, auction houses, royal families and collectors since the 1920s.

3.3 Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (www.israelidiamond.co.il)

The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) is a non-profit, public interest company representing all institutions involved in the Israeli Diamond Industry. Israel is one of the world's leading diamond centres and IDI works to enhance Israel's position as a major trading and manufacturing hub.

IDI works to benefit Israel's diamond industry in a variety of areas including:  marketing and PR, technological innovation, encouraging local manufacturing, training, and security consulting. IDI seeks out new markets for Israeli diamonds and develops existing ones.  As part of this effort, IDI organizes industry participation in major trade fairs around the world, establishing Israeli Diamond Pavilions and sponsoring events at these shows.

IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters trade relations with Asian markets.

3.4 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange in China and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.

Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

3.5 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (www.gdland.com.hk)

The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarters in Hong Kong, is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and is a subsidiary of GDH Limited, which is Guangdong Province's largest conglomerate operating outside Mainland China.

The principal business of GDLAND is property development and investment, including but not limited to the development and operational management of the innovative commercial real estate, urban complex and industrial business complex. As the strategic arm of GDH Limited, GDLAND engages in the business development of commercial real estate, as well as the projects of urban and industrial complex.

GDLAND's flagship project, namely the "Buxin Project", is planned to become the biggest and most advanced jewellery mart in the world, including a large-scale jewellery trading and exhibition centre along with other facilities, with a lot size of over 87,000 square metres and the construction scale (floor area) is expected to be more than 700,000 square metres. The Buxin Project, which is located in the Buxin area of Luohu district in Central Shenzhen, close to the Shuibei Gold and Jewellery Base, is expected to develop the area into one of the most influential gold and jewellery trading and exchange platforms in China and around the world.

4. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities with 30 offices and 1,300 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 20 market sectors with 230 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions and high-level professional conferences, 23 targeted trade publications, 20 round-the-clock online products for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 40 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise 40 exhibitions and conferences every year across the country.

Logo

 

Logo

 

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150306/179971LOGO
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121014/HK92339LOGO-d
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150417/199299

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gubelin-group-renews-commitment-to-jna-awards-300067698.html

SOURCE JNA

Copyright 2015 PR Newswire