THE season of balls (as in banquets and balls, that is) is upon us. And white tuxed jeweller Phillip Charriol and his wife Annicke - fourth from left in our line-up of ball-goers - got things started by hosting the annual charity auction ball of the Philippe Charriol Foundation at the Grand Hyatt ballroom.
Held to raise funds to send budding Hong Kong artists on overseas scholarships to pursue their art, the works that came under the hammer were by artists who receive support from the foundation.
Having opened up his exclusive watch boutiques in most parts of Asia, Charriol was telling us that soon after the ball he was off to Bombay, which is still unconquered territory for him.
The social illuminati were out in bejewelled force, led as always by Cristal Li, who was adorned with enough trinkets to help settle the debts of some Third World country.
We also met Renata Coleman, who is in town mixing business with pleasure. Now making her home in a 12th century Irish castle with 30 bedrooms outside of Dublin, Renata used to live here with her late husband Cecil, who was in business with Jardine's.