A gold, citrine and diamond brooch/pendant, by Andrew Grima, 1965


Set with a central pear-shaped citrine issuing a radiating 18 carat gold spray, scattered with brilliant-cut diamonds, signed Grima, maker's mark HJCo, London hallmark, width 5.6cm
|Of all the jewellers working in London from the 1960s, it is Andrew Grima who is the most well-known and who is considered the leading proponent of modern British jewellery.In 1946, Grima joined Haller Jewellery Company Limited (HJ Co) that belonged to his then father-in-law and experienced his 'epiphany' in 1948 when two stone dealers arrived at his office with what Grima recalled 'a suitcase of large Brazilian stones – aquamarines, citrines, tourmalines and rough crystals in quantities I have never seen before'. Grima persuaded his father in law to purchase the entire stock and, untrained, he set to work designing these stones into jewellery.This was the beginning of his incredibly successful career as a jewellery designer, which would earn him international fame and numerous awards (including thirteen prestigious De Beers Diamond International Awards). Amongst others, his jewels were greatly admired by the likes of Jackie Onassis, Ursula Andress, Peter Sellers, Estee Lauder, and Queen Elizabeth II. Andrew Grima today is regarded as one of Britain's most prominent artists of the Twentieth Century.