JNA Awards 2012 Jewellery Industry Best Practices

17 JNA AWARDS 2012 The Robert Wan Group is a global brand focusing on the culture of Tahitian pearls. Based in Papeete, Tahiti, it has presence in Europe, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, the Middle East and Oceania. The Robert Wan Tahiti brand embodies the vision of Founder and Chairman Robert Wan to create lasting jewellery pieces that embody elegance, grace and sophistication. The brand produces high-end jewellery designs, chokers and sautoirs of superb-quality pearls from Wan’s farms in South Marutea, Polynesia. Wan has been dubbed “Emperor of the Pearl” for being the first Tahitian pearl producer to conquer international markets. He started exploring possibilities in cultured pearls in the early 1970s and sold his first harvest to Mikimoto in 1977. MESSAGE FROM ROBERT WAN Ladies and gentlemen, dear fellows of the jewellery industry, It is quite a thrill to be one of the Honoured Partners of the first edition of the JNA Awards. From the very beginning, when Letitia Chow – the charming and amazingly active Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia – first mentioned her new initiative to me, I wanted to be part of it! Indeed, the time has come to recognise excellence and achievement in our industry in Asia where business is so dynamic. The time has also come to honour the innovators and leaders, not only in manufacturing, branding and retailing, but also in very important and strategic areas such as sustainability, innovation and quality. I also wanted the pearl to be a highlight of the event because it is such a special gem, one to which I have dedicated my whole life. The pearl industry has always been going strong in Asia but I know there is so much more we can do. We want to spread this message to the world. At the Cannes Film Festival in France and the Academy Awards in Hollywood, we see celebrities wear stunning jewellery. This time around, the attention is on the JNA Awards in Hong Kong, where jewellery, gemstones and, of course, pearls will be the stars of the show. Let’s celebrate! MR ROBERT WAN Founder and Chairman Robert Wan Tahiti Honoured Partner