Betrayed Wife Amasses Jewellery Haul

Published on 18/08/09

Robert Charlton, a millionaire businessman and philanderer, regularly presented his wife Elizabeth with new diamond jewellery every time he cheated on her.

Although she knew all about his infidelity, the beautiful items made it easier to forgive him.

The odd arrangement kept their marriage alive until Mr Charlton died in 1979, aged 63.

Mrs Charlton cherished the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings for the rest of her life until she passed away in 2006, aged 90.

The jewellery was passed down to their only child, Marie, who put 43 items up for sale, raising £286,000.

Clare Durham, of auctioneers Woolley and Wallis of Salisbury, Wilts, said: "It would seem that anytime Mr Charlton was naughty and played away he bought his wife a nice bit of jewellery to keep her sweet.

"She was well aware of what was going on - he cheated on her a lot.

"It may have been more than 43 times, because the family have kept some of the pieces, or it may have been less.

"His daughter was fully aware of what was going on at the time and the family have told us the story - it was no secret to anyone."

She said the collection mostly dated back to the late Victorian and early Edwardian period and would have been antique when it was bought in the 1950s and 1960s.