Andrew Grima
He transformed modern jewellery by treating precious stones as raw geological specimens set in bold, textured gold.
1921–2007 (age 86)·Anglo-Italian designer·Birthday: May 31·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Andrew Grima made jewellery that felt discovered, not manufactured. Born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father in 1921, he found his calling after World War II in London. Rejecting the polished, symmetrical conventions of mid-century jewellery, Grima looked to the natural world. He prized rough, uncut crystals and set them in gold he hammered and textured to look like tree bark, frozen lava, or wind-swept sand. His pieces were architectural, dramatic, and unmistakably modern. This radical approach captivated a jet-set clientele, from European royalty to Hollywood stars, and earned him an international reputation. He opened a boutique on London's Jermyn Street that became a destination for the avant-garde. Grima's work didn't just accessorize an outfit; it made a statement about seeing beauty in irregularity and power in organic form, permanently expanding the vocabulary of wearable art.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Andrew was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2007Died at 86
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- He won a De Beers Diamonds International Award a record 14 times.
- He was granted a Royal Warrant as a jeweller to Queen Elizabeth II in 1970.
- His work was featured in a landmark solo exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Did You Know?
Before focusing on jewellery, he worked in his father-in-law's jewellery firm, starting in the watch department.
His 1966 'About Time' collection featured watches as sculptural art objects.
A significant collection of his work is held by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
“I want to make jewels that look as if they have been dug up, not manufactured.”
