Giles Deacon crowns Palladium jewellery winner (31/03/11)

Fashion designer Giles Deacon led a judging panel to decide on the winner of the Central Saint Martins Palladium Jewellery Design competition.

Leigh Cameron was crowned overall winner at a ceremony at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.

Ms Cameron, a furniture student, said: "Working with palladium has been fantastic and I look forward to working with it again in the future."

The event was part of a joint effort between Palladium Alliance International and students specialising jewellery, ceramics and furniture at the Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design.

Vivienne Westwood Designs a new Palladium Jewels Collection & Debuts in Los Angeles (31/03/11)

Dame Vivienne Westwood launched her new palladium jewellery collection at her flagship store in West Hollywood.

Already unveiled to the press a few weeks prior, the pieces form the first stage of the Palladium Alliance's two-year campaign to promote the precious white metal.

Celebrities including Marilyn Manson, Dita Von Teese and Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, the collection's official spokeswoman, were on hand for the launch party.

Reese Witherspoon Flashes Her Wedding Ring (01/04/11)

Reese Witherspoon has been spotted wearing her new platinum wedding ring after she married Jim Toth at the actress's estate in Ojai, California.

The large platinum ring sits with a four-carat diamond engagement ring she received from Mr Toth last year.

Big Blue: A $1.5 Million Sapphire and Platinum Ring (05/04/11)

A new $1.5 million (£900,000) platinum and sapphire ring is considered to most expensive Kate Middleton-inspired piece yet.

The ring, made by New York's Natural Sapphire Company, is one of several designs created to resemble the ring given to Ms Middleton by Prince William and worn by his mother Diana.

It features an unheated 69.35 carat natural blue sapphire, set in a platinum mounting with eight carat (total weight) colourless diamonds.

Certified by four international gem laboratories, the ring comes from Sri Lankan mines.

Natural Sapphire Company chief executive officer Michael Arnstein said the ring is "the finest … we've ever created in our 72-year history".

Jewelry Information Center Launches Online Search for Ultimate Proposal Story (05/04/11)

Couples are being invited to share their engagement stories to win platinum and diamond rings by MaeVona, courtesy of Platinum Guild International.

The Ultimate Proposal Contest is being run by the Jewelry Information Center (JIC) in the US, with submissions accepted until May 23rd.

"Engagement rings and proposals embody hope, promise, love and commitment," said Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for the JIC.

"Last year's contest resulted in more than 1,200 story submissions that ranged from humorous to sentimental to adventurous. We are looking forward to receiving even more special stories at JIC's website this year."

Penelope Cruz dazzles in platinum on Hollywood Walk of Fame (06/04/11)

Penelope Cruz wowed onlookers are she was inducted onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 1st.

The actress wore a pair of platinum and ten carat diamond drop earrings and a platinum and nine carat diamond eternity band, both created by Chopard.

Her husband Javier Bardem and co-star in the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Johnny Depp were on hand at the event.

Depp said: "She's as loyal and true a friend as anyone could ever dream of and I'm very privileged to have her in my life."

Hallmarking figures drop 20.3 percent March (07/04/11)

The number of items hallmarked by the UK's four Assay Offices fell by over a fifth in March.

A total of 893,362 items were hallmarked, marking a 20.3 per cent drop on the same month last year.

Only palladium managed to buck the trend, maintaining a level similar to 2010.

Palladium of 950 parts saw a slight fall of 8.8 per cent to 11,873 items hallmarked, while 500 parts palladium continued its upward trend with 801 articles hallmarked - a 540.8 per cent increase compared to March 2010.

Meanwhile, platinum fell 14.7 per cent from 28,690 items in March 2010 to 24,468 last month.

Palladium Alliance International Retains Fruchtman Marketing (08/04/11)

Palladium Alliance International is launching a new $8 million (£4.85 million) marketing campaign to promote the intrinsic qualities of the metal.

The organisation has hired Fruchtman Marketing to lead the efforts to show why palladium is attractive to consumers and to designers and craftsmen.

Ellen Fruchtman, the agency's president, said: "We are delighted to assist Palladium Alliance International in launching their brand.

"We are currently developing plans to raise awareness of palladium as a precious metal to both trade and consumer audiences."

Palladium, which is hypoallergenic and naturally white, is lightweight, allowing designers to create large and intricate pieces that are still wearable.

Kate Middleton has her wedding ring 'shrunk' (13/04/11)

Kate Middleton has had her famous engagement ring shrunk to prevent it slipping off her finger.

The £32 million sapphire band, worn by Princess Diana on her wedding day, has been made slightly smaller to fit her size H finger.

Crown jewellers G Collins and Sons were asked to attach two tiny platinum beads to the inside of the bottom of the ring. 

© Adfero Ltd