ANDREW GRIMA: AN OPAL AND DIAMOND PENDANT, 1979 The boulder...
ANDREW GRIMA: AN OPAL AND DIAMOND PENDANT, 1979 The boulder opal held by a pavé-set brilliant and single-cut diamond frond, surmount and base, diamonds approximately 1.20cts total, signed Grima, with maker's mark 'AGLtd', English hallmarks for London 1979, with later ropetwist 18K gold chain, with maker's case, pendant length 6.5cm, chain length 50.2cm
Born in Rome to a Maltese-Italian family in 1921 and raised in London from 1926, Andrew Grima became one of the most distinctive jewellery designers of the 20th century.
He studied engineering at the University of Nottingham, and in 1951, Grima began designing his own jewellery pieces, after assisting in his wife's family workshop.
Without formal artistic training, Grima considered himself a "pure designer", believing that this gave him the freedom to follow his imagination. His fascination with raw materials and organic forms set him apart from his contemporaries. He embraced textured gold, uncut gemstones and asymmetrical shapes, allowing stones to remain in their rough or be transformed into several forms rather than being confined by conventional cuts. His designs drew inspiration from rocks, leaves and shells, combining organic forms with traditional production methods.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Grima had become a familiar figure at London's glittering parties and events, and his glamorous showroom on Jermyn Street was almost as alluring as the man himself. His unconventional designs, balancing simplicity, wearability and innovation, brought him wide recognition. He won thirteen De Beers Diamonds International Awards, the Duke of Edinburgh's Prize for Elegant Design, and the Queen's Award for Export Achievement in 1966.
That same year, Grima opened his showroom at 80 Jermyn Street, designed by his architect brothers, Godfrey and George Grima. Through his flamboyant and unconventional approach, Grima helped revolutionise 20th-century jewellery design, turning raw materials and unexpected forms into jewellery that was as imaginative as it was wearable, a legacy that endures in today's jewellery scene.
More Information
White opal: with orange, green and blue play-of-colour, minor crazing visible under a bright light source
Diamonds: bight and lively
Normal signs of wear, overall in good condition
Total gross weight approx. 44.6g
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
ANDREW GRIMA: AN OPAL AND DIAMOND PENDANT, 1979 The boulder opal held by a pavé-set brilliant and single-cut diamond frond, surmount and base, diamonds approximately 1.20cts total, signed Grima, with maker's mark 'AGLtd', English hallmarks for London 1979, with later ropetwist 18K gold chain, with maker's case, pendant length 6.5cm, chain length 50.2cm
Born in Rome to a Maltese-Italian family in 1921 and raised in London from 1926, Andrew Grima became one of the most distinctive jewellery designers of the 20th century.
He studied engineering at the University of Nottingham, and in 1951, Grima began designing his own jewellery pieces, after assisting in his wife's family workshop.
Without formal artistic training, Grima considered himself a "pure designer", believing that this gave him the freedom to follow his imagination. His fascination with raw materials and organic forms set him apart from his contemporaries. He embraced textured gold, uncut gemstones and asymmetrical shapes, allowing stones to remain in their rough or be transformed into several forms rather than being confined by conventional cuts. His designs drew inspiration from rocks, leaves and shells, combining organic forms with traditional production methods.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Grima had become a familiar figure at London's glittering parties and events, and his glamorous showroom on Jermyn Street was almost as alluring as the man himself. His unconventional designs, balancing simplicity, wearability and innovation, brought him wide recognition. He won thirteen De Beers Diamonds International Awards, the Duke of Edinburgh's Prize for Elegant Design, and the Queen's Award for Export Achievement in 1966.
That same year, Grima opened his showroom at 80 Jermyn Street, designed by his architect brothers, Godfrey and George Grima. Through his flamboyant and unconventional approach, Grima helped revolutionise 20th-century jewellery design, turning raw materials and unexpected forms into jewellery that was as imaginative as it was wearable, a legacy that endures in today's jewellery scene.
More Information
White opal: with orange, green and blue play-of-colour, minor crazing visible under a bright light source
Diamonds: bight and lively
Normal signs of wear, overall in good condition
Total gross weight approx. 44.6g
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
