At the heart of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) and JNA this year is the Extraordinary 40 (E40) awards programme.

Exclusive to JGW’s milestone edition, E40 is a prestigious tribute that honours 40 individuals who have made a profound impact on the jewellery sector over the past decades and whose transformative journeys are an integral part of the fair’s legacy.

JGW 2023’s Master Insights series of panel discussions from September 20 to 22 shine the spotlight on the recipients of the E40 awards. The sessions revolve around five topics: Diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls, jewellery retail and the Greater China market.

Today’s session, “From Rough To Brilliant: Charting A Course For An Exciting Future,” features Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre); David Block, CEO of Sarine Technology Group; Dilip Mehta, chairman emeritus of Rosy Blue Alliance; and Lawrence Ma, founding president of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China (DFHK).

Tomorrow, the morning session, “The Future Of Coloured Gemstones: Opportunities And Challenges,” will be graced by Clement Sabbagh, director of Ben Sabbagh Bros and former president of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA); Damien Cody, director of Cody Opal Australia and president of ICA; Richard W. Hughes, world-renowned gemmologist, author of the “Ruby & Sapphire” books and founder of Lotus Gemology; and world-class gemstone artist, Victor Tuzlukov.

In the afternoon, Le Tri Thong, vice chairperson and CEO of Vietnam’s Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – PNJ; Prida Tiasuwan, founding chairman of Thailand’s Pranda Jewelry PCL; Daniel Nyfeler, managing director of Gübelin Gem Lab; and Ghanshyam Dholakia, managing director of Hari Krishna Exports will share innovative approaches to retail in the session titled “Bold Retailers, Challenging Markets: Lessons In Success From The Jewellery Industry.”

On September 22, Jacques Christophe Branellec, CEO of Jewelmer; Jonathan Cheng, director of Rio Pearl; Robert Wan, founder of Robert Wan Group; Thomas M. Moses, executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA); Yoshihiro Shimizu, CEO of Hosei and former chairman of the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association (JPEA); and Zhan Weijian, chairman and general manager of Grace Pearl (HK) Co Ltd will discuss “Pearls Of Wisdom: Trends, Opportunities And Challenges Ahead.”

And that afternoon, “The Power Of Storytelling: Winning Over China’s New Generation Of Jewellery Consumers” will feature Kent Wong, managing director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and chairman of The Jewellers’ and Goldsmiths’ Association of Hong Kong Ltd (JGAHK); Dong Bo, president of Kimberlite Diamonds Group; Chrisyta Lin, brand director of CHJ Jewellery; and Mimi Ou Yang, jadeite expert and founder of the Hong Kong Gems Laboratory and HK Institute of Gemmology.

See jwawards.com for full list of E40 awardees.