It is the largest collection of Andrew Grima jewels ever to come to auction. And it will be going under the hammer at Bonhams, come September.

 Andrew Grima, an Anglo-Italian jeweller was regarded “as one of the 20th century's most daring and imaginative designers”, Bonhams said.

“He was the go-to society jeweller for royals, celebrities, socialites and artists throughout the Swinging Sixties and Seventies and his earliest clients included HM The Queen, The Princess Margaret, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Bond Girl Ursula Andress,” Bonhams recounted. “Today, collectors of his work include fashion designers Marc Jacobs and Miuccia Prada.”

The jeweller’s designs, considered by many to be path breaking, drew inspiration from art, sculpture and the natural world. He “injected desperately needed originality and glamour into what had become a stagnant jewellery scene in post-war Britain”, Bonhams explains. And what is more heartening, his jewellery commanded its price for its aesthetic value rather than just the carat weight of expensive diamonds and precious gems used.  

Andrew Grima’s collection, will be sold as part of Bonhams’ Fine Jewelry sale on September 20th, and includes 55 pieces of jewellery.  “Highlights include pieces from his admired About Time watch collection for Omega, one of the most innovative collections of watches ever made, as well as works from the Rock Revival collection that incorporated large, uncut and unusual gemstone crystals,” Bonhams said.

Emily Barber, Department Director, Bonhams Jewelry, commented: "Andrew Grima's work is distinct in terms of its design, quality and originality. He was essentially an artist whose medium happened to be jewellery. His designs capture the spirit of each era in which he worked, yet are still immensely wearable and contemporary today. Each lot in this sale reveals the diversity and creativity of his work."

Some of the singular pieces are described by Bonhams as under: 

•  A gold, citrine and diamond watch/bangle, 'Cerini', no 80 from the "About Time" collection by Andrew Grima, 1969, pre-sale estimate £15,000-£20,000
•  A gold, pink tourmaline watch bangle, 'Greenland', no 15 from the "About Time" collection by Andrew Grima, 1970, pre-sale estimate £20,000-£30,000
• A gold, dioptase and diamond pendant by Andrew Grima, 1973, pre-sale estimate £12,000-£18,000
• Part of the "Rock Revival" collection, the necklace features four citrine crystals and one brilliant cut diamond. The stones are set in yellow gold textured to simulate the roughness of the crystals.
• A gold and diamond 'pencil shavings' brooch by Andrew Grima, 1968, pre-sale estimate £4,000-£6,000. This brooch of real pencil shavings was formed as a rosette and then cast in yellow gold and scattered with brilliant-cut diamonds.
• A gold, boulder opal and diamond pendant/necklace by Andrew Grima, 1972, pre-sale estimate £20,000-£30,000