Palladium is the metal that is making a big name for itself in the jewellery world.

It is also fast becoming my favourite metal; this is mostly due to the fabulous parties that get put on in the metals honour. I was at one such party last night, as the throbbing in my head can contest to. Yes, last night saw me chucking a few glasses of bubbly back, but perhaps more importantly; it was the announcement and celebration of the Central Saint Martin’s palladium jewellery design competition winner. Masters Design students specialising in Jewellery, Ceramics and Furniture at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design were selected to work with the palladium alliance to create beautiful new pieces. The very snazzy event took place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

I was suitably impressed with the surroundings that party took place in. The building which houses the ICA is both grand and elegant, even the smoking area was classier than most, as it looks out across the Mall. I don’t smoke but that’s were the cool kids were hanging out. I’m sure you understand…

The crowd itself was incrusted with a sparkle of showbiz here and there, including the likes of actor Matt Horne, TV Presenters Georgie Okell and Gemma Cairney and the tasty TV chef Gizzi Erskine. There were of course beautiful models in attendance, who managed to navigate the room with far more grace than my dyspraxic self did.

It was a well put together evening that managed to provide a measure of fabulousness without at any point stealing focus from the jewellery and their respective designers.

The competition’s judgment panel was fronted by fashion designer Giles Deacon and jewellery designer Hannah Martin. I strongly suggest giving her website a visit if funky jewellery is your thing as her collections are very striking and original.

The eventual winner of the night was Leigh Cameron, which I think may have surprised some, particular as his specialism is not in jewellery but rather furniture. I got chatting with him not long after his win. Very calm and collected, the designer who towered over me, explained that he came at his designs from a structural point of view. He was interested in exploring the empty spaces besides and within physical shapes and working that way of thinking into his work as well as taking inspiration from large architectural shapes.  As such, his designs really stood out from the others on display that night, in as much as his work had very strong and dynamic lines and had a slightly more constructed sense to it. That is not without saying the other entries were any thing short of being amazingly cool. Unlike Leigh’s the other designer’s pieces were made using moulds and results were really interesting and different, each design had its own character and notion behind its inspiration.

His prize is being given the opportunity to have a work placement with none other than Vivienne Westwood. Westwood kicked started this year’s London Fashion Week with an amazing do at the Wallace collection, where she unveiled her collection of Palladium jewellery ‘Get A Life’.

Much like palladium itself, I wouldn’t mind betting that the careers of Leigh Cameron and the other entrants will be long lasting and very shiny indeed.