World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Sydney jeweller ordered to pay former partner over MAFS deal
Sydney jeweller Pierre Germani was ordered to pay his former business partner more than $800,000, including interest, by the NSW Supreme Court.
The dispute involves Valtimo Holdings, controlled by Fred Grotte, who once owned 40 per cent of two companies running Germani’s Pierre Jewellery shop.
A judge found Germani secretly set up a new company called Prodiamonds in 2022 and traded from the same Sydney shop without telling Grotte.
Producers had selected Pierre Jewellery as the exclusive jeweller for the 2023 season of Married At First Sight, but Germani gave them the new company’s name and trading name.
The judge said Germani concealed the new company’s sales while the old businesses fell into administration and liquidation, and described his conduct as dishonest.
The court ordered Germani and his company to pay $690,000 plus interest, estimated at more than $800,000; the sources do not say what happens next.
A Sydney jeweller has been ordered to pay his former business partner more than $800,000 over a sponsorship deal involving Married At First Sight.
The NSW Supreme Court found Pierre Germani breached his duties by secretly steering the deal to a new company.
Justice Scott Nixon ordered Germani and his company to pay $690,000 plus interest to Valtimo Holdings, controlled by former partner Fred Grotte.
Grotte once held 40 per cent of two companies that ran Pierre Jewellery in Sydney’s Strand Arcade.
Germani told the court he had not lied to Grotte.
- Who
- Sydney jeweller Pierre Germani and his company were ordered to pay Valtimo Holdings, controlled by his former partner Fred Grotte.
- What
- The court ordered payment of $690,000 plus interest, estimated to exceed $800,000, after finding Germani breached his duties.
- When
- The article was published on 27 October 2026. The events described took place in 2022.
- Where
- The case was heard in the NSW Supreme Court and concerned a jewellery shop in Sydney’s Strand Arcade.
- Why
- The judge found Germani secretly moved a Married At First Sight sponsorship deal to a new company and concealed that company from Grotte.
Fred Grotte / Valtimo Holdings
Pierre Germani
Disclosure
Fred Grotte / Valtimo Holdings
The court found Germani concealed the new company and its sales from Grotte.
Pierre Germani
Germani told the court he had not lied to Grotte.
Conduct
Fred Grotte / Valtimo Holdings
Justice Scott Nixon found Germani breached his duties as a director and fiduciary and described the scheme as dishonest.
Pierre Germani
Germani denied lying to his former partner.
Germani and Grotte had fallen out, and Grotte refused offers to sell his stake to Germani.
Germani set up Prodiamonds, trading as Pierre Diamonds, and began operating from the same shop without telling Grotte, the court heard.
MAFS producers told Germani that Pierre Jewellery had been selected as the show’s exclusive jeweller for the 2023 season.
The landlord issued a breach notice over $233,000 in unpaid rent.
Germani allegedly negotiated a new lease for Pierre Diamonds after agreeing to repay the rent arrears personally.
- Court
- NSW Supreme Court
- Payment ordered
- $690,000 plus interest, estimated at more than $800,000
- Recipient
- Valtimo Holdings, controlled by Fred Grotte
- Former ownership stake
- Grotte held 40 per cent of two companies that ran Pierre Jewellery
- Show deal
- Exclusive jeweller for Married At First Sight’s 2023 season
What people are saying
very excited and proud
dishonest
deliberately concealed