Press release

"The royal endorsement of the fair and of the Bella Nordic Jewellery Award is a tremendous acknowledgement in itself. And the jewellery designers will undoubtedly be even more motivated to produce their absolutely best work," says Arne Bang Mikkelsen, CEO, Bella Center.

At Denmark Jewellers' Association, Director, Christoffer Ritzau, is very pleased with the support the Princess, as a patroness, can give to the jewellery industry:

"Copenhagen Jewellery Fair is the industry's Scandinavian window to the rest of the world and the presence of HRH Princess Marie will highlight the fantastic growth Danish jewellery businesses are experiencing. Overall we have managed to remain strong during the recession and have rounded an annual turnover of six billion Kroner," says Christoffer Ritzau.

A 50,000 Kroner cheque accompanies the Bella Nordic Jewellery Award. Last year, Ulrik Ahrenfeldt from jeweller, Kirsten Lind in Horsens, won the competition in which participants from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark had three days to produce a piece of jewellery.

The trade fair will also present the Brand New Award to a contemporary skilled, young designer. The award, which went to Austrian Alja Neuner last year, is instituted by Denmark Jewellers' Association.

Copenhagen Jewellery Fair is Scandinavia's largest trade fair for jewellery and watches and has been held in Bella Center since 2002. This year's fair offers more than 160 different exhibitors from Denmark, the Nordic countries and a number of European and overseas countries.

Bella Center A/S is Scandinavia's leading fair and congress venue with 230 employees. BC organises and houses everything from fairs for fashion, gastronomy, cars, boats and holidays to large events such as the MTV Awards, the UN summit COP 15 and the     Olympic IOC Congress.    Bella Center also houses Copenhagen Fashion House and BC Design Center with permanent showrooms for fashion and furniture; the office hotel, International House, and Bella Center Services. BC also runs the subsidiary, Forum Copenhagen, a venue for concerts, exhibitions and parties. The next expansion will be in 2011 with Bella Sky Comwell Hotel, Scandinavia's largest hotel with 814 rooms distributed between two 76.5 metre tall towers.

Contact:  Managing Director, Arne Bang Mikkelsen, on +45 3247 2001; Director, Christoffer Ritzau on +45 2332 2033 or Sales and Marketing Manager, Bolette Hvalsøe Olesen on +45 3347 2301.