June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair Opens With Record Number Of Exhibitors

The 29th edition of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair opened Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Occupying more than 70,000 square meters of exhibition space, the four-day fair runs until June 26. USM Asia, organizers of the annual fair, said the fair attracted a record number of exhibitors—in excess of 2,200 companies from 41 countries and regions.

“During an economic slowdown, companies choose to exhibit in reputable trade events that attract quality buyers. This edition of the June Fair is seeing many repeat exhibitors. This shows the June Fair offers genuine benefits to them,” said Celine Lau, director of jewelry fairs at UBM Asia.

The Fair features 16 specialty themed pavilions, including the Diamond Pavilion, one of the largest diamond pavilions in the world, with about 500 local and overseas diamantaires. The Gemstone Pavilion meanwhile has more than 500 international gemstone suppliers.

The top 10 sources of pre-registered visitors are: Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Taiwan, the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Japan, Korea and Thailand, which account for 86 percent of the total pre-registered visitors. 

GRS Lab and the Gemmological Association of Hong Kong will host seminars on timely industry topics. On 25 June, the GRS Lab will discuss its new book, “Pigeon Blood Valley” and share the latest market intelligence about rubies from the city of Mogok, Myanmar. The Gemmological Association of Hong Kong will discuss the technology for identifying laboratory-grown diamonds. 

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Nearly 2,200 Exhibitors Prepare For June Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

A total of 2,198 exhibitors from 41 countries and regions will occupy 70,000 square meters of exhibition space at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, being held June 23 – 26 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. This year, the fair is divided into 16 specialty zones, making sourcing easier for buyers.

The June Fair features 17 participating group pavilions from Australia, Antwerp, Brazil, mainland China, Colombia, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan region, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and the International Colored Gemstone Association. Group pavilions are known for showcasing their respective country specialties. 

“The strong participation of group pavilions confirms the importance of the fair in this industry,” said Sunny Chan, deputy fair Manager, Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. “Buyers can expect to see a range of quality opals from the Australia pavilion, emeralds from the Colombia pavilion, and akoya pearls from Japan pavilion.”

The Diamond Pavilion, one of the world’s largest, is in Halls 3B, C, D & E. It gathers 480 diamantaires from around the world representing the Antwerp World Diamond Council and the Israel Diamond Institute. The Gemstone Pavilion is located in Halls 5E, F & G and concourses. It hosts 501 gemstone suppliers.

In addition to the June fair, there will be a separate event, “Mineral, Gem and Fossil Asia,” being held concurrently at the Convention Center. This all-in-one marketplace gives buyers the opportunity to source a wide range of the world’s rare mineral specimens, rough gemstones and fossils. Buyers at the June Fair can enjoy free entry to the mineral show. 

Other features of the June fair include:

* The Hong Kong Premier Pavilion featuring the latest collections from 30 avant-garde jewelry brands from Hong Kong; and 

* The Fine Design Pavilion & Fine Gem Pavilion with 80 globally renowned exhibitors showcasing mater jewels, top-quality loose diamonds, gemstones, pearls and other exclusive one-offs.

* The JNA Awards 2016 Press Conference, hosted by Jewellery News Asia, will be held June 23. The annual awards program recognizes innovation and excellence in the jewelry and gemstone industry, honoring companies and individuals for their contributions to the advancement of the trade and achievements made in Asia.

* A diamond Auction by PJSC Alrosa will be held June 23 – 26.

* A seminar program led by Dr. Joe C.C. Yuan from the Gemmological Association of Hong Kong who will discuss the comprehensive identification technology and market assessment of “laboratory-grown diamonds.” Also, GRS Lab (HK) Limited will present its new book “Pigeon Blood Valley,” featuring the history of Mogok’s world record rubies. Both events will be held June 25.

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Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe Planned For March 19

Buyers entering 2015 Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe

The third edition of Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe will be held March 19 – 22, 2016, in Freiburg, Germany. The show is positioned as a mid- to high-end jewelry sourcing event for continental Europe, says UBM Asia, which owns and operates the show.

In 2016, JGF Europe will occupy all the exhibition halls and the central concourse of the 19,000sqm Messe Freiburg. About 400 international and local vendors are expected to exhibit. They will be organized by product category. German exhibitors include: Arnoldi Carl Friedrich GmbH, Hammer J. E. + Soehne GmbH - Hammer Group and Gerstner August GmbH & Co KG. 

“Buyers can expect to see jewelry products with fine craftsmanship from Germany. The return of the leading jewelry companies reconfirms the importance of JGF Europe in the industry,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia.

Group pavilions from ACODES of Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy and Thailand are returning. These group pavilions display distinct market specialties, such as emeralds from the ACODES pavilion and coral products from the Italian pavilion. German and Hong Kong pavilions will showcase a range of fine finished jewelry and gemstones, while Thailand will exhibit silver jewelry. 

New additions to the fair include the “LOVE” pavilion, which will showcase branded bridal jewelry collections and the “DESIGN” pavilion, which serves as an international networking platform for young European designers. The Packaging, Tools & Equipment pavilion will be 25 percent larger than the previous year, UBM Asia said.

More than 6,500 industry professionals from 87 countries and regions attended the fair in 2015 during its four-day run. 

Preregistration for the fair is now available by visiting www.jgf-europe.com/pre-registration. Pre-registration allows buyers to avoid long lines at registration counters and save the admission fee of €30.

UBM Asia is offering a free shuttle bus service to Messe Freiburg. For updates, go to www.jgf-europe.com/shuttlebus. In addition, Deutschen Bahn AG is offering a special concession on train tickets (from €99 and up) for visitors travelling from any German city to JGF Europe in Freiburg. Visit www.jgf-europe.com/train for booking details. 

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Registration Is Open For 2016 Jewellery & Gem Fair Europe

Registration is now open for the third edition of Jewellery & Gem Fair Europe. The jewelry tradeshow will be held in Messe Freiburg, Germany, from March 19 to 22, 2016. 

The show is “positioned as an effective trading platform for mid- to high-end jewelry” that enables those in the jewelry trade to “source conveniently from global suppliers, without having to travel to overseas fairs,” according to UBM Asia, which owns and operates the trade fair.

In 2015, the fair attracted more 6,500 jewelry professionals from 87 countries and regions, and 440 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions.

Buyers have the opportunity to source products that include diamonds, gemstones, pearls, fine jewelry, and packaging, tools & equipment.

Group pavilions include Antwerp, ACODES, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mauritius, Turkey, Thailand and the United States. Packaging, Tools & Equipment vendors will gather in a theme pavilion.

UBM Asia also owns and operates the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, the world’s largest fine jewelry trade fair. 

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Finalists Named For The 2015 JNA Awards

(From Left) Representatives from Guangdong Land, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Rio Tinto Diamonds, UBM Asia, UBM Asia, Chow Tai Fook, Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute

Jewellery News Asia, organizer of the JNA Awards, has announced the finalists across 15 categories for 2015. A total of 49 honorees representing 31 companies from 10 countries/regions have been shortlisted.

The awards promote and encourage the sharing of best practices and innovative ideas for the international jewelry and gemstone industry, with a particular focus on Asia. In its fourth year, it continues to draw interest among companies across key markets in the trade, including enterprises from South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Taiwan that have been shortlisted for the first time. Other countries represented include Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Thailand.

The judging panel consists of five industry experts, namely James Courage, chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Albert Cheng, managing director of the World Gold Council, Far East; Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange; Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of GIA India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc.

“It is indeed very exciting for us to see such positive and enthusiastic response from the trade both in terms of entrants and quality of entries,” said Wolfram Diener, senior VP of UBM Asia.

“I continue to observe the high level of energy and zeal to excel and advance among the participating companies and individuals,” said Letitia Chow, chair of the JNA Awards 2015 judging panel, founder of JNA and director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia. “This year, we have added a couple of criteria in the entry rules, which made room for smaller-sized enterprises and newcomers to be qualified as honorees. It is also encouraging to see past recipients entering and being shortlisted for categories new to them.”

The JNA Awards is supported by “Headline Partners” Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, together with “Honoured Partners” Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd.

This year’s JNA Awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held Sept. 20, at the Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. It is a ticketed event by application only. Interested parties may submit their request by logging on to www.JNAawards.com

The following individuals and companies have been shortlisted as Honourees for the JNA Awards 2015:

Three Decades of Excellence  
Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association – Hong Kong
Jewelmer Joaillerie – Philippines
Paspaley – Australia
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Brand of the Year – Retail  
Chii Lih Coral Co Ltd – Taiwan
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
The Genuine Gemstone Company – United Kingdom

Employer of the Year  
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam
Pranda Jewelry Plc – Thailand

Industry Innovation of the Year  
China Stone Ltd – Thailand
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Coloured Gemstone Cutting & Polishing  
Lorenzo Jewelry Ltd – Hong Kong
RMC Gems India Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Diamond Cutting & Polishing  
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India
J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Gem-Set Jewellery  
KGK Jewellery Mfg Ltd – Hong Kong
Lorenzo Jewelry Ltd – Hong Kong
MKS Jewelry International Co Ltd – Thailand
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd – China

Manufacturer of the Year – Precious Metals-Only Jewellery  
Guangzhou Cuilu Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN Countries  
China Stone Ltd – Thailand
PANDORA Production Co Ltd – Thailand
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India  
J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd – India
Kashi Jewellers – India
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Mainland China  
KGK Diamonds (Shanghai) Ltd – China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China

Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)  
Golden Dew Co Ltd – South Korea
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam

E-tailer of the Year  
KELA – China
The Genuine Gemstone Company – United Kingdom
Vaibhav Global Ltd – India

Sustainability Initiative of the Year  
Kiran Gems Private Ltd – India
Shenzhen 3D-KET Jewellery Company Ltd – China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)  
Kwan Sit, Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Lei Xu, Zbird China – China

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be nominated by the organizer, and the announcement will be made at a later date. 

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Buyers From 99 Countries Attended Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair

More than 5,400 unique visitors from 99 countries and regions attended Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair – March. Sixty percent of the buyers came from overseas, while 21 percent and 19 percent of visitors came from mainland China and the Hong Kong region, respectively.

The four-day event was held March 3 – 6 in Halls 3, 6 & 8 of the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.

The top 10 visiting countries and regions outside of China and Hong Kong are India, USA, Korea, Italy, Japan, Taiwan region, Australia, Spain, Thailand, and the UK. The Top 10 altogether accounted for roughly 34 percent of the total number of visitors.

“Sixty percent of visitors are from overseas, a fact that reflects the fair’s renowned status as an international trading platform for fashion jewelry and accessories,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at UBM Asia Ltd. 

The fair gathered 448 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions. Some exhibits were under the four theme zones: “Fashion Accessories Zone”, “Stainless Steel Jewellery Pavilion”, “Sense Zone” and “Fashion Jewellery Atelier”, and six group pavilions representing mainland China, India, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan region. 

“The newly launched pavilion – 'Fashion Jewellery Atelier' – received warm feedback from buyers and exhibitors alike. We are glad to see that local talents have gained valuable experiences and industry insights at the fair; it will help the industry to grow,” Lau said.

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China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shenzhen opens

The China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shenzhen opened Monday at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center. The 13th edition of the fair is will run till Wednesday.

The Fair occupies 22,500 square meters of gross exhibition space and features more than 400 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions. These include mainland China, Germany, Hong Kong region, India, Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan region, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Russian Federation and Singapore.

Jewelry brands participating, include: CHQ GmbH, Fancy Gem House, KGE Rough & Gems HK Co Ltd, S. T. Trading STS Gems Ltd, Sunny Gem Co, Fai Dee Gems Co Ltd, Zhejiang Angeperle Co Ltd, Fai Po Group, and Shanghai Kimberlite Diamond Co Ltd.

This year’s edition also features specialized pavilions to global buyers, including the China Gold Association Pavilion, the Baolin Pavilion, the Korea Pavilion, and the Designer Pavilion.

Meanwhile, the China Jewellery Market Summit returns from its successful launch last year. “The inaugural edition of the China Jewellery Market Summit in 2014 was welcomed warmly by participants. The summit returns this year with even more informative topics that are sure to engage everyone,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia Ltd. “We have also allocated more resources to provide a bespoke platform for jewelry companies to launch new products.”

The China Jewellery Market Summit 2015 will be held Tuesday at the New Product Launch and Forum Area in Hall 9 and starts at 2:30 pm. Co-organizer is Jewellery News Asia. The Summit is divided into two main parts: 2015 New Products Launch - Jewellery Parade, and Dialogue with China Jewellery Brands and Retailers.

The summit includes fashion shows and a series of forums on a range of industry-related topics, particularly the opportunities and challenges in China's jewellry retail market. Chan Sai Cheong, executive director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd is the keynote speaker. 

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Jewellery & Gem Fair - Europe To Divide Products Into Three Sections

UBM Asia will implement what it calls a product “sectorisation” concept for the tradeshow Jewellery & Gem Fair-Europe. Under the concept, the fair will be divided into three sections—loose materials, fine jewelry and packaging, tools & equipment—with of the goal of making it easier for buyers to locate exhibitors and products. It's the same concept it uses for its other trade fairs.

The second annual JGF Europe will be held March 22 – 25 at Messe Freiburg, Germany. 

“The product sectorisation concept received a warm welcome from exhibitors and visitors at the world’s number one fine jewelry event—the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. We are bringing this idea to JGF Europe,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. 

JGF Europe is positioned as a B2B mid-end jewelry sourcing platform for continental Europe. This year’s fair will expand from three halls to four halls and will include the central foyer. The exhibition area totals 25,000sqm, 47 percent larger than the first edition.

Most exhibitors expanded their booths, according to Lau. At the fine jewelry section, there will also be a wider range of products and product categories with associations and group pavilions from India, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Fine jewelry companies that have confirmed their participation include Friedrich Binder GmbH & Co KG, DiamondGroup GmbH, Euro Gems Srl, Herbert Giloy & Soehne GmbH & Co KG – bellaluce, HN Jewelry Group, Lenti Srl, Lorenzo Jewelry Limited, Rio Pearl, Pranda Group, Su-Raj Inter Gold Pvt Ltd and Thien Po Ltd.

As of now, more than 60 percent of exhibitors are from Europe. The remaining suppliers are from around the world with the larger contingents from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Visitor pre-registration for the fair is now open online. More than 1,200 buyers pre-registered, UBM Asia said.

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UBM to Launch Jewelry Fair in Germany during Baselworld 2014

Does Baselworld have competition? Hong Kong-based tradeshow and publishing company, UBM Asia, has been coy about this but its new jewelry show in Europe will butt heads with Baselworld in 2014.

This new tradeshow called, “Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe,” will be held April 1 – 4, 2014, in Freiburg, Germany. The dates and location line up nicely with Baselworld 2014, which will be held March 27 – April 3, 2014. Freiburg is less than an hour away from Basel, Switzerland. In fact, it’s so close that when I attended Baselworld two years ago, I stayed in Freiburg

This announcement of a new tradeshow comes after the world’s largest watch and jewelry tradeshow finished a $454.5-million upgrade to the Messe Basel complex that came with several upset vendors. In fact, the 1,460 companies who exhibited at the recently concluded Baselworld 2013 was 355 fewer than those who exhibited the prior year.

The biggest player to exit Baselworld this year was David Yurman, after what was described as “‘exasperating’ back-and-forth with the powers that be at Baselworld.” People from several companies expressed their dissatisfaction to me with their booth placement, the substantial increase in the cost of participating this year, and the pressure to construct newer, larger and more expensive booths for the show. One company, which was one of the few companies to both remain in the same space and not expand their booth, told me they still had to pay 30 percent more than the prior year.

UBM Asia is refusing to acknowledge that they are creating a competing show, calling this new fair “a comprehensive sourcing fair offering a wide range of jewelry products.” It is being positioned “as a high-efficiency, high-level face-to-face jewelry business platform to create real business value for international suppliers and buyers.”

UBM says that more than 260 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions have reserved exhibition space a year ahead of its launch. “This figure represents more than 50 percent of the expected number of exhibitors and represents 60 percent of the total exhibition space which indicates the market’s enthusiasm for this new fair in Europe,” UBM said.

Exhibitors that have signed up are from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong region, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia.

The fair is open to the jewelry trade, business professionals and members of the media. Free admission to save €30 will be granted to preregistered visitors and online preregistration opens in June 2013. 

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Nominations Being Accepted for JNA Awards

2012 JNA award winners

Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the second annual JNA Awards, which honors and recognizes excellence and innovation in the jewelry industry with a focus on the Asian trade. Individuals or organizations interested in participating can fill out an enrollment form on the JNA Awards website. The deadline is May 15.

The 2013 JNA Awards award categories are as follows:

* Brand of the Year Award: Retail
* Employer of the Year Award
* Innovator of the Year Award: Manufacturing - business operations
* Innovator of the Year Award: Manufacturing - Technology Application
* Manufacturer of the Year Award: colored gemstone cutting and processing
* Manufacturer of the Year Award: diamond cutting and processing
* Manufacturer of the Year Award: precious stones inlaid jewelry
* Manufacturer of the Year Award: prime precious metal jewelry
* Outstanding Contribution Award
* Outstanding Business of the Year Award: India
* Outstanding Business of the Year Award: China Mainland
* Annual retailer awards
* Annual networking platform for retailers Awards
* The annual jewelry store Excellent Interior Design Awards
* Sustainable development awards
* Outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (40 years old or less)

Companies and individuals may submit entries on behalf of themselves or others from mid-March to mid-May. The first stage of the judging process will begin in mid-May and end in mid-June. On June 20 the honorees or shortlisted candidates will be announced. The honorees and recipients will be feted at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on September 12 during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2013.

Awards ceremony and dinner tickets are now available at the JNA Awards website.

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B2C Jewelry Show in Eastern China Attracts Wealthy Buyers

About a thousand high-net-worth consumers attended the Treasures Hangzhou jewelry fair, held October 24 - 26 at the Hyatt Regency Hangzhou, according to Hong Kong based Asian exhibition and publishing company, UBM Asia. 

The jewelry show, held at the second-tier city of Hangzhou, about 150 km from Shanghai, was aimed at China’s "sophisticated jewelry consumers, private collectors and high-end jewelry retailers," UBM Asia said in a statement.

The jewelry show was UBM Asia’s first attempt at producing a business-to-consumer jewelry fair in China. The company said second-tier cities is where the jewelry market in China is showing strong potential.

“The rapid growth of China’s economy is producing a lot of high-end consumers here that are eager to enjoy a better lifestyle by snapping up luxury goods including exquisite jewelry,” said Joe Ho, UBM Asia’s deputy Jewellery Fairs manager for China.

The new show featured over 30 high-end jewelry exhibitors from five countries and regions (China, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Taiwan), who brought with them a variety of jewelry, diamonds, gemstones, lustrous pearls and jadeite jewelry.

Ho said promotion activities for the show included going directly to financial institutions and private clubs.

“We invited their VIP customers and organized tailor-made seminars on topics that cover the essentials in collecting and investing in high-end jewelry products, which they undoubtedly found attractive,” he said.

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UBM Asia Provides Scholarships and Grants for Jewelry Education in China

UBM Asia recently held an award ceremony for 26 students who received scholarships and grant money to further their jewelry education.

The tradeshow organization provided renminbi 50,000 yuan ($8,000) for the first ever UBM Asia Scholarship and 30,000 yuan ($4,800) for the annual UBM Asia Grant.

The UBM Asia Scholarship awards were presented to 13 students by Wolfram Diener, Senior VP of UBM Asia. The UBM Asia Grant was presented to 13 underprivileged students by Meng Yuanbei, party secretary of Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic.

“Through the collaboration with the Jewelry Institute of Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic, we hope to provide more practical learning experience to the students, and groom them to become jewelry professionals with international mindedness, thereby contributing to the development of jewelry industry in China,” Diener said.

UBM Asia will arrange its management teams to give lectures at the Jewelry Institute, and invite teachers and students to its jewelry fairs. In addition, UBM Asia will launch a special incentive program. Students winning awards in international and national jewelry competitions will be fully funded to visit the world's largest jewelry fair, the September Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair organized by UBM Asia.

Taiwan to Host International Jewelry Fair in 2013

Taipei World Trade Center, home of the new Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair.

UBM Asia, the Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association and the Taipei Jeweler’s Association will join together to launch the first Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair, which will be held Nov. 15-18, 2013, at the Taipei World Trade Center.

Described as “a high-end, professional jewelry event that aims to provide an opportunity for international jewelry suppliers to meet with local buyers,” the November timing of the exhibition was chosen because it is the time of year when jewelry retailers in Taiwan purchase inventory ahead of the busy Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day jewelry buying seasons.

The event will be held in Exhibition Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center, located adjacent to the Taipei 101 Tower, the Grand Hyatt Taipei Hotel and situated in the Xinyi commercial district of central Taipei.

Taiwan has a strong jewelry manufacturing and processing industry that exports products around the world. Recently, there’s been a surge in tourists from Mainland China fueling an expansion of the domestic market. Chinese tourists are avid buyers of coral and jadeite jewelry. This has created strong demand from Taiwan’s jewelry manufacturers for loose stones, mountings and materials; and from retailers for finished jewelry, according to the organizers. This led to people calling for an international, professional jewelry exhibition in Taiwan.

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Shortlist for the JNA Awards Announced

The shortlisted honorees in nine categories for the inaugural JNA Awards were announced at a press conference held on the first day of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“"The caliber of entries submitted to the inaugural JNA Awards was remarkable. Making the honoree list is a fantastic achievement for all the companies involved,” said Letitia Chow, founder of Jewellery News Asia and director of Business Development—Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and chair of the JNA Awards judging panel.

The following individuals and companies have been selected for the honoree list of the inaugural JNA Awards 2012:

Three Decades of Excellence Award:

* Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd from Hong Kong
* Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd from India
* Kashi Jewellers from India
* Nelson Jewellery Arts Co Ltd from Hong Kong

Brand of the Year:

* Cartier from Switzerland
* Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd from Hong Kong
* TTF from mainland China

Employer of the Year:

* Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd from Hong Kong
* Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd from India

Industry Innovation of the Year -- Manufacturing:

* K.S. Jewelry International Co Ltd from Thailand
* Kiran Exports Hong Kong Ltd from Hong Kong
* Nelson Jewellery Arts Co Ltd from Hong Kong
* TTF from mainland China

Industry Innovation of the Year -- Retail:

* Plukka (HK) Ltd from Hong Kong

Manufacturer of the Year:

* Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd from India
* KGK Jewellery Manufacturing Limited from Hong Kong
* Kiran Exports Hong Kong Ltd from Hong Kong
* Pranda Group from Thailand

Retailer of the Year:

* Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co, Ltd from Hong Kong
* Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited from Hong Kong
* Sterling Jewelers Inc from the USA

Sustainability Initiative of the Year:

* Jewelmer International Corporation from the Philippines

Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below):

* L' Dezen Jewellery Co Ltd from Hong Kong
* Leibish & Co Ltd from Israel
* The Inspired Collection from New Zealand

The Wonder of the World category, which is open only to AsiaWorld-Expo exhibitors during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2012, will be accepting entries until July 27. The recipient of the award will be announced during the JNA Awards ceremony on September 20.

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be selected by the main organizers and will be announced at a later date.

Rio Tinto, Chow Tai Fook, Robert Wan Tahiti, Israel Diamond Institute and the Shanghai Diamond Exchange are leading the event as JNA Awards 2012 (www.JNAawards.com) partners.

The JNA Awards is an industry-wide event that honors and recognizes excellence and achievement in the global jewellery trade with an Asian focus. The Awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held on 20 September 2012, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The event, the first of its kind in Asia, is organized by Jewellery News Asia of UBM Asia in collaboration with the UBM Awards.

Call for Entries for Inaugural JNA Awards

The inaugural JNA Awards, which honors and recognizes excellence and achievements in the jewelry trade with a focus on contribution and advancement in the Asian region, will be held during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair (September 19 – 25).

Award winners will be honored at a ceremony and gala dinner on September 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The awards are organized by Jewellery News Asia, a subsidiary of UBM Asia, in collaboration with UBM Awards.

The event is calling for entries until May 4. Companies and individuals interested in submitting an application can visit www.JNAawards.com for entry forms and to obtain details on the awards categories, rules of entry, judging criteria and judging process.

JNA Awards Categories include:

* Manufacturer of the Year

* Retailer of the Year

* Employer of the Year

* Brand of the Year

* Industry Innovation of the Year—Manufacturing

* Industry Innovation of the Year—Retail

* Sustainability Initiative of the Year

* Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below)

* 3 Decades of Excellence Award

* Outstanding Contribution to the Industry of the Year

* Lifetime Achievement Award

* Wonder of the World Award