A widely respected postwar British-Italian jewelry designer, Andrew Grima is often regarded as the father of modern jewelry. Grima was entirely self-taught and unafraid to take bold risks. His pioneering designs of the 1960s — set with amethysts, emeralds and other vibrantly colored stones — included cocktail rings, pendant necklaces and clip-on earrings in sculptural and eye-catching styles that sharply contrasted with the adornments of the era.
Grima was born in Rome in 1921, but he grew up in London. Though he came from an artistic family, he initially studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham and served in the Royal Engineers during World War II. Upon returning from the war, in 1946, Grima joined his father-in-law's London jewelry business. He started as an accountant but quickly began experimenting with jewelry design.
By the mid-1960s, Grima's innovative techniques and abstract designs had catapulted him to fame, and his creations were in high demand. He opened his own exclusive gallery in London's West End, which featured an opulent spiral staircase. Candy-colored gems had captivated magazine editors and jewelry lovers everywhere, and Grima's prestigious clientele included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, artist Barbara Hepworth and the British Royal family. In the 1970s, Grima also expanded into watchmaking, creating the "About Time" collection for Omega and a line of gold watches for Pulsar.
Grima received numerous awards over his career for his contributions to jewelry design. He was the winner of the De Beers Diamonds International Award a record number of 11 times and he was the only jeweler to win the Duke of Edinburgh Prize for Elegant Design. Today, his high-profile collectors include the likes of Miuccia Prada and Marc Jacobs, and his work is held in the collections of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Grima passed away in 2007, but his wife and his daughter carried on his legacy. Every year, they enlist a team of specially selected goldsmiths to produce a small collection of original jewelry in his unique style.
Today's designers and collectors recognize the importance of Grima's work and its impact on the jewelry industry. In 2018, New York jewelry dealer Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos featured Grima's groundbreaking designs in her "London Originals: The Jeweler’s Art in Radical Times" exhibit.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Andrew Grima rings, brooches and earrings.
Vintage Andrew Grima Diamond and Gold Bombé Ring, 1969
By Andrew Grima
Located in London, GB
A vintage Andrew Grima diamond and gold bombé ring, composed of an openwork dome of hearts, squares, drops, triangles and circles, randomly set with marquise, oval, baguette, pear an...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage Diamond Bombe Ring in 18k Yellow and White Gold
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage diamond bombe ring set in 18k yellow and white gold. This spectacular piece is composed in a bombe design and is completely pave set to the front with round bril...
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Fred Paris Diamond Bombe Ring Set in 18k White Gold
By Fred Paris
Located in London, England
An extremely beautiful vintage Fred Paris diamond cocktail ring, set in 18k white gold. This striking piece is pave set throughout with round brilliant cut diamonds which altogether...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Circa 1960 Enamel and Diamond Bombé Ring
Located in Wheaton, IL
Cool, fun and funky are the perfect words to describe this Circa 1960 18kt yellow gold, diamond, blue, and green enamel dome-shaped bombe ring. This delightful, colorful ring is set ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Vintage Cartier Panthere 18k Gold Enamel Bombe Dome Ring
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage Cartier Panthère ring from the 1980s is crafted in solid 18k yellow gold and features the unmistakable Panthère pattern in black enamel across its domed surface. The rep...
18k Gold, Enamel
David Webb Black Bombe and White Diamond Enamel Platinum Gold Ring
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
The bombe ring features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 0.50 carat, set in platinum, atop an 18k gold ring having black and white enamel accents, marked Webb. Gro...
White Diamond, Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Cartier Panthere Vintage Bombe Cocktail Yellow Gold Ring
By Cartier
Located in Feasterville, PA
An incredible Cartier cocktail ring from the Panthere collection circa 1990s' featuring a Bombe design adorned white black enamel spots in shimmering 18k y...
Yellow Gold
Andrew Grima Diamond Sapphire and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring 1977
By Andrew Grima
Located in New York, NY
A brilliant-cut diamond, baguette-cut sapphire, and 18-karat gold ring by Andrew Grima, 1977. This stylish ring, which is a size 07¼, would make a perfect non-traditional engagement ...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold Cabochon Ruby and Diamond Bombe' Band Ring
By Campanelli & Pear
Located in Troy, MI
The timeless Bombe' style of this ring will never go out of style! Comprised of 18 karat yellow gold centered around a gemmy oval cabochon ruby = 5.22 Carat & 64 rbc diamonds pave' s...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
De Beers White Gold Diamond Flower Bombe Ring
By De Beers
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A unique 18k white gold diamond dress ring by De Beers. The ring features an openwork flower design set with round brilliant cut diamonds. The ring sits at 9mm above the finger and m...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Piaget - Interchangeable Tangra ring - 18 karat gold - Vintage bombé - diamonds
By Piaget
Located in Antwerp, BE
For sale is this wonderful and timeless Piaget ring. This bulky shaped ring is from the Piaget 'Tanagra' collection. This 18 karat yellow gold ring is set with ten lovely brilliant c...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 18k Gold Bombe Ring with Single Cut Diamonds, Circa 1980
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage diamond bombe ring is a confident expression of sculptural design and classic glamour. Its softly domed silhouette is set with an array of single cut diamonds, creating ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Cartier Paris 18K Gold and Diamond "Maillon Panthère" Bombé Ring
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Created in France by Cartier, Paris, this "Maillon Panthère" bombé ring is composed of 18K gold and diamonds. The broad, bombé form is design as three rows of oblong sections flanked...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Grima Stylish Vintage Amethyst Diamond Gold Ring, 1971
By Andrew Grima
Located in London, GB
A stylish vintage amethyst and diamond ring by Grima 1971, centred with a fantasy cut amethyst of rectangular cushion shape set point to point up the finger and held on either side by a row of three single cut diamonds grain set within a platinum channel to an 18ct yellow gold mount with triangular profile and a heavily textured and patterned finish. This funky and fabulous ring is instantly recognisable as both 1970s and as Andrw Grima. Grima jewellery...
Amethyst, 18k Gold
ANDREW GRIMA, 18k Gold and Garnet Demi Parure, 1978
By Andrew Grima
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A massive carbuncle ring, necklace and ear-clips by Andrew Grima,
The ring, a deep red cabochon garnet measuring 1 1/4" x 1" with a "Grima" modified triangular ring...