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TRANSPORTED We were thunderstruck when we eyed newly minted Tiffany & Co. design director Francesca Amfitheatrof's first collection for the legendary Tiffany Blue Book, the Holy Writ of haute joaillerie. Blue Book is an august publication that accompanies an annual collection of gems and jewelry of the highest order. The book alone is coveted by those who recognize the world's most important jewels and has been delivered to clients by carriage or Internet since 1845. This year's collection is undeniably special, taking a step away from the traditional and moving in a more daring direction. Bold, yes, but the sheer magnitude of exquisite stones, workmanship and design grace has launched Amfitheatrof into the jewel stratosphere. She titled her collection The Art of the Sea, and as a collective, the pieces are linked by this force of nature; they flow and ebb and whirl, but each stands alone as a totem to glamour. The pebble ring hugs 400 exquisite blue diamonds — a rarity to acquire such stones in such number. South Sea white, golden and Tahitian cultured pearls are lustrous orbs perched in a nest of diamonds. A robin's-egg-sized 21-carat chrysocolla sits in a whorl of ebbing blue sapphires. The sensational group has us yearning for a lavish seaside villa, to swan about in the company of earrings with blue tourmalines shimmering like sea spray. The collection conscientiously represents the Tiffany & Co. Foundation's support of coral conservation and its commitment to responsibly sourcing diamonds. Debuting this month, the avant-garde assemblage of 200 one-of-a-kind jewels ranges from $100,000 to $6 million. Linden Wilson Ring with 21.66-carat chrysocolla and sapphires in platinum Whirlpools of round and baguette diamonds in platinum, designed to flow around the neckline Three-ball ring with South Sea white cul- tured pearl and round diamonds in platinum From top: Francesca Amfitheatrof in her design studio Rings with South Sea white, golden and Tahitian cultured pearls and rose-cut diamonds Francesca Amfitheatrof APRIL | PAGE 20 | 2015 BLUE BLOODS AND Ruby-Red Roses BY ANNE LEE PHILLIPS. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON. I n celebration of the 15th anniversary of the annual Rienzi Society Dinner, the grand house museum was swathed in ruby-red roses and crystal. Patrons contemplated exquisite items available for acquisition — at this affair, members vote to either acquire a new piece or pad the fund for future expenses. After much admiration of a George II hall bench designed by William Kent, members voted to contribute $215,000 towards the Rienzi Accessions Endowment Fund. It turned out to be the best of both worlds: MFAH director Gary Tinterow later announced that the bench would be purchased by the museum on Rienzi's behalf. In the ballroom, Jackson and Company served a seated dinner followed by Masterson chocolate cake, in honor of the house's original owners, Harris and Carroll Masterson. For chairs Isla and Tommy Reckling, it was a family affair (her parents, the late Carroll and Harris, donated the John Staub-designed River Oaks manse to the MFAH, along with their impressive European decorative arts collection), as they were joined by children Carroll Goodman, James Reckling with wife Elise, John Reckling with wife Angie, Stephen Reckling with wife Galen, Thomas Reckling, Cliffe Reckling, and grandson John Luke McConn with wife Rachel. Casting blue-blood ballots: Judy Margolis, Margaret Williams, Pat Breen, Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff, and Susan and Bill Finnegan. Angie Reckling Susie McGee Barbara Tartt Wally Wilson Jeanie Kilroy Wilson Courtnay Tartt Elias Eric Anyah Claire Anyah Christopher Laquer Galen Reckling Stephen Reckling Christopher Winters George II Hall Bench, William Kent Cliffe Reckling Elise Reckling Ann Wilde Annie Amante Marilyn Winters Celina Hellmund Carroll Goodman Mike Bonini John Luke McConn Rachel McConn Margaret Williams Thomas Reckling Chair Tommy Reckling Pat Breen Chair Isla Reckling Christopher Gardner Gary Tinterow