The centrepiece at this year’s Sterling Jewellers exhibition celebrates the historic adoption of the euro on 1 January, 2008. It is an imitation of the one euro coin, down to the minutest details, crafted by a team led by Kevin Ellul and Carmel Gatt.

“We create something different every year and whatever idea we present the team with, they always manage to rise to the challenge,” Chairman Alfred Fenech said. “We were very excited to do this as there is a real sense that taking on the euro will be a national project.

These centre-pieces are never done for profit – it took the equivalent of 160 man days – but always out of a patriotic pride in our team’s craftsmanship.” The coin measures 50cm across and weighs 10kg. Its surfaces are made of 6mm brass, turned on a lathe, with a 3mm strip around the outside. “Had we used solid brass, you would not have been able to pick it up,” Mr Ellul said.

The central part of the coin is made of silver with the details cut out separately from a very fine sheet and stuck on. The map of Europe has been indented by hand and the edge of the coin has three groups of 29 ridges, all to scale, filed down by hand. After the exhibition, the euro coin will be on display at Sterling’s museum in Republic Street, Valletta.

This is not the only thing that Sterling is doing in connection with the euro: it is also making “euro” cufflinks on behalf of the National Euro Changeover Committee, which will be given to dignitaries.

They will be on display at the exhibition and will also be available on order in the New Year. As in previous years, the exhibition will be held at the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana but in the foyer, rather than the restaurant. “This exhibition is usually where the thousands of visitors do their Christmas shopping so we always make sure that we have something for everyone, from young to old,” Mr Fenech said. A separate room is being dedicated to Bulgari, the new, prestigious brand taken up by Sterling this year.

“There will also be a more private space set aside for investment diamonds, while a workshop will be set up on site to clean and value jewellery, to mount diamonds or to trade in old gold. The exhibition started yesterday and is being held till November 25. Opening times are daily from 10am to 10pm.