The inaugural ceremony of the JNA Awards hosted an attendance of over 450 personalities of the gem and jewellery industry. The JNA Awards is an industry-wide event that honours and recognises excellence and achievement in the jewellery trade. The Awards ceremony was held on September 20, 2012 during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and the Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel, said: "The success of the inaugural JNA Awards ceremony and gala dinner has been tremendous. I am proud to announce that we have achieved our main goal to provide the industry with a benchmark for excellence and achievement. I would like to thank you all that helped us to make it possible. We are looking forward to the same success at the JNA Awards 2013."

Awards recipients were announced in 10 categories: Lifetime Achievement Award – (JNA’s highest accolade) was awarded to Nicky Oppenheimer - for his outstanding contribution to the world diamond industry over 44 years.

3 Decades of Excellence – this was won by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd

Brand of the Year was awarded to Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd

The Employer of the Year award was given to Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd

Industry Innovation of the Year – Manufacturing – This was won by TTF High Jewellery

Industry Innovation of the Year – Retail was awarded to Plukka (HK) Ltd

Manufacturer of the Year was awarded to Pranda Group

Retailer of the Year was awarded to Luk Fook Holdings (International) Ltd

Sustainability Initiative of the Year was awarded to Jewelmer International Corporation

Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below) was awarded to Chris Benham (The Inspired Collection)

Honourees of the inaugural JNA Awards 2012 - this was awarded to two companies -

Wonder of the World category: Vitalit, Thailand, ( with two entries) - Vivid Orange Natural Mandarin Garnet in finest cut cushion shape or Natural Spessartite (-Garnet); Pinkish Red Spinel of Pamir Mountains origin

Makhni Enterprises, Thailand, (one entry) - A pair of 8 carats rare unheated ruby

The JNA Awards 2012 featured Rio Tinto and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Israel Diamond Institute, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Robert Wan Tahiti and the KARP Group as Honoured Partners.

The awards ceremony was mixed with entertainment segments, with Bollywood performance by Xin Wang Prestige and another performance by world-renowned tenor Warren Mok accompanied by young American soprano Corinne Winters.