British jewellery designer Simon Wilson dazzled the guests on Thursday - and it wasn't just his ultra-blingy accessories or his eye-catching fuchsia jacket. Rather, it was his charming personality that warmed the mostly female gathering - although Wilson did get a request for cufflinks from one gentleman - at the launch cocktails for the Butler & Wilson collection, which included a 40 years retrospective of his work, at the Joyce boutique. 'The older I get the more things I want to do,' Wilson said. 'It's so hard to find something different and unique. Like when I walk around outside, it's the same label and shops everywhere. I'm more daring now. I try more new things.'

Perhaps the other reason Wilson is so relaxed about life and work is that after 40 years, he's seen the ebb and flow of trends and fashions, and it doesn't hurt that his style of chunky, funky, colourfully bedazzling jewels is in again. 'I was at a market in England and this lady - she was a real character - was selling a whole table of my [old] jewellery. She was telling me they're designer made and I said, 'Oh really'. Then she added, 'Yeah, they're over 100 years old'. That made me laugh.'