Andrew Grima

Grima was renowned for his unconventional use of textured, matte-finished gold and his incorporation of large, rough-cut, and cabochon gemstones rather than traditional faceted diamonds. His sculptural, organic designs drew inspiration from natural forms—branches, leaves, and water—creating pieces that looked more like wearable art than conventional fine jewelry.

Yes, Grima was a favored jeweler of the British royal family, and Queen Elizabeth II owned several of his pieces, including a distinctive scarab brooch. Prince Philip also commissioned Grima to create jewelry as gifts, and Princess Margaret was known to be an enthusiastic collector of his work.

Grima received the Duke of Edinburgh Prize for Elegant Design in 1966, an unusual honor for a jeweler in what was primarily an industrial design award. He also won the Diamonds International Award multiple times during the 1960s and 1970s, which helped establish his international reputation among collectors and museums.

Grima's work is held in several major institutional collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Royal Collection Trust. Pieces also periodically appear at auction houses such as Sotheby's and Bonhams, where they command significant prices from collectors of mid-century modern and contemporary jewelry.