Andrew Grima
Andrew Grima was born in Rome in 1921 to a Maltese father and Italian mother. He moved to London with his family when he was five years old and schooled at St Joseph’s College before studying mechanical engineering at Nottingham University. He became an army engineer with the 7th Indian Division in Burma during World War II. When he returned from the war he signed up for a secretarial course which is where he met his wife Helène who showed him the jewelry business. Grima joined his father-in-law’s business, H.J. Company Ltd, in 1946 working in the accounts department. Two years later he witnessed two dealer brothers show a suitcase of large Brazilian stones. He subsequently persuaded his father-in-law to buy the collection. With these stones he started designing with no formal training in jewelry or design. The designs proved successful and Grima found the love for jewelry. His father-in-law passed away in 1951. Grima continued in his role as designer In 1966 Grima opened his shop on Jermyn Street in central London. The building itself, designed by his two brothers, was as interested and contained a Perspex spiral staircase. That same year Prince Phillip bought a brooch for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth thereby sealing Grima’s place in jewelry history. He married for a second time in 1977 before business difficulties resulted in a move to Switzerland with his wife JoJo and their daughter Francesca in 1986. The family settled in Lugano and then moved to Gstaad where they lived and received clients focusing on personal service. Andrew Grima passed away in 2007.
