NAMES TO KNOW (That You May Not Know Yet)
Andrew Grima is widely known as the FATHER OF MODERN JEWELLERY because he shattered the old rules of haute joaillerie.
He saw GEMS AS ART, not just sparkle. He paired polished diamonds with rough quartz. He shaped gold into raw, organic forms. Grima preferred TEXTURE over perfect symmetry, making his designs felt alive, bold and otherwordly.
IMAGE CREDITS: TAKEN FROM 'ANDREW GRIMA, THE FATHER OF MODERN JEWELLERY' (WILLIAM GRANT, ED.; ACC ART BOOKS, PUBL.)
Born in Rome in 1921, GRIMA moved to London after World War II and opened his Bond Street studio in the late 1950s. The Swinging Sixties saw him blossom, and ROYALS & STARS lined up to wear his jewels.
Grima won the De Beers award in 1965 and kept innovating through the Eighties. His pieces now command top prices at auction.
In London, the Victoria & Albert Museum holds a selection of his pieces —rings, brooches and sketches— that exemplify his sculptural approach to gem-setting and textured gold.
Across the Atlantic, the Cincinnati Art Museum features a 1975 necklace-and-earrings set, with rough quartz and polished gems. Entwined in shredded gold, it underscores Grima’s enduring impact on modern jewellery.
FROM 'ANDREW GRIMA, THE FATHER OF MODERN JEWELLERY' (WILLIAM GRANT, ED.; ACC ART BOOKS, PUBL.)
We are honoured to offer a GRIMA bracelet in hammered 18k yellow gold, available from a dealer specialising in top quality preowned fine jewels.
Entirely faithful to the design aesthetic conceived by Andrew Grima, this CUFF is a highly wearable representation of the British craftsmanship that still captivates the imagination of seasoned COLLECTORS around the world.
