Tiffany to a T

IT'S difficult to meet the doe-eyed, effortlessly stylish Francesca Amfitheatrof without hating her, just a little. Not only is the 46-year-old the design director of arguably the world's best known jewellery brand, she is on track for adding sex appeal to a rarefied house - her minimalist first collection for Tiffany & Co is set to be a commercial hit, thanks to her ability to strike a fine balance between being on-trend and timeless.

Named Tiffany T, the collection is a riff on the stark lines of the letter - not unlike the initial "H" that has marked some iconic designs from Hermes. Taking the design inspiration further, the British-born Ms Amfitheatrof has translated the letter "T" into minimalist, sleek creations that could easily be assimilated into any woman's wardrobe.

"My criteria for the first collection was that it had to be about a new beginning," articulates the jeweller and trained silversmith. "It has to feel kind of contemporary, modern, like things have changed. Choosing the letter T, it's quite obvious. It's always been there. It's a classic, but it's also new."