Fast car and hot timepieces — who could argue with that as the ultimate luxury focus? More than 50 lucky guests experienced the best of both of those worlds when Bulgari teamed with Maserati to show off its Grandes Complications watches in the Maserati of Houston showroom.

Bulgari's North America president Alberto Festa flew in for the evening that saw the car dealership showroom transformed into a stylish showroom with plenty of enticements for aficionados of both Italian fine cars and fine watches. Italian Consul General Fabrizio Nava and wife Monserrat Montez were among those admiring the cars and the watch collection that included the special edition Octo Maserati watch.

The chichi group included Maria and Giorgio Bassa, Scott Brogan, Nadia and Nicki Tajalli, Dr. Roland Maldonado and Joel Bickley, Ameer Jumabhoy,Chaden and Dr. Michael Yaffi and Bulgari's Karen Turner-Smith.

A night for the ladies

More than 50 past Women of Distinction honorees and the 2013 class gathered at Saks Fifth Avenue 10022 Shoe on One to try the glam footwear and view portraits of the women who will be presented at the Winter Ball on Jan. 26. Saks GM Terry Zmyslo hosted the group that included 2013 ball chairs Danielle Ellis and Mary Ann McKeithan.

Swooning over the Jimmy Choos were Betty Tudor, Shawn Stephens, Susan Hansen, Philamena Baird, Ellie Francisco, Merhnaz Gill and Nidhika Mehta.

New Orleans honors

The ever-popular Joanne King Herring takes the spotlight at the grand reopening preview reception of New Orleans Auction Galleries on Nov. 29. She is among a coterie of Houstonians expected to attend the gala reception and participate in the three-day auction that runs Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

Houstonian Susan Krohn bought the auction house last spring and has been doing a bang-up job of transforming the venerable auction house into a showplace.

Palette pleaser

Chaine des Rotisseurs members and guests took over the ballroom of the Hotel Sonesta for a divine wine tasting sponsored by California's Howell Mountain Vintners. Sixteen vintners, including Pina, Red Cap, Cakebread and Aloft, poured their prized wines for 150 guests.

Among those sampling the vino were Kay Palacious, Mary Dee Holtzapple, Don Eastveld, Mary and Tyler Moore, Debbie and Dr. Tom Woehler and Chaine de Rotisseurs baillis (leaders) from chapters in the area — Robyn Wood, Cherly Kenny, Jan Pozzi and Franelle Rogers — hosted the evening.

Sight 'ems

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas lunching with Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack and State Appeals Court Judge Sherry Radack at Tony's . . .

Allison Bagley, Yvonne Boustany, Lauren Levicki and designer Cheryl Schulke making the rounds at Sparrow Bar + Cookshop . . .

Gallerist John Muir Lockhart and husband/ wife retailing team Adrian and Brian Kreps celebrating over cocktails at Bistro Alex the successful openings of their new CityCentre ventures – Muir Fine Art Gallery and upscale men’s retailer Dryden Kreps . . .

Volunteer Houston board members Mike Gustafson, Danya Bogart, Dawn Rawson and Jerome Gray sampling dishes at Hotel ICON with chef David Luna for the second annual Taste-ful fundraiser set for Nov. 29 . . .

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson dining at Sullivan's Steakhouse where they supped on oysters Rockefeller, chili-crusted rib-eye, mac and cheese, creamed corn and more . . .

The lovely Faith Majors and her Six Million Dollar Man hubby Lee Majors having dinner at Tony Mandola's with former Houston Rockets owner and big-time auto dealer Charlie Thomas and wife, Kittsie, and their daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Danny Klaes.