An archival photo c.1969 survives of Grima, pipe in mouth at his home in Sonning-on-Thames, designing watches for the collection that ultimately consisted of 55 different timepieces.
All display the ‘signature’ elements of the Grima style - the use of textured gold and unconventional stones - and feature the novel use of a gemstone as the watch ‘glass’. Launched in 1970 at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London, within days half the watches were sold out.
Pair of matching Grima earrings and a ring sold for SFr7500 (£6800) each at Piguet.
Exceptional work
An exceptional example was offered by Piguet (25% buyer’s premium) in Geneva on December 7: a gold bracelet watch with a dial concealed below a faceted pale sapphire lens and a diamond surround. Sold well above hopes for SFr50,000 (£45,600), it was followed to the rostrum by a pair of matching Grima earrings and a ring sold for SFr7500 (£6800) each.
Pair of matching Grima earrings and a ring sold for SFr7500 (£6800) each at Piguet.
A number of watches from the About Time series have come to market in recent years. A single-owner collection of Grima jewels offered by Bonhams in September 2017 included both a Cerini watch set with a large oval-cut citrine ‘glass’ within a bezel of gold ‘matchsticks’ and baguette-cut diamonds and Greenland, a gold and pink tourmaline watch bangle. These sold for £28,000 and £36,000 respectively.
In 2016 Sworders in Essex sold a ‘Pinkerton’ bracelet watch for £19,500. Bought by the consignor at the Grima store in Jermyn Street in 1970, it included a tourmaline lens, baguette cut diamond highlights and an 18ct bracelet with a bark finish.
