AuctionsJun 30, 2023
Princess Diana’s ‘Swan Lake Suite’ Sold to Private Buyer AuctionsJul 05, 2023
A Medallion With Locks of Hair from King George III, Queen Charlotte Is Going to Auction
Queen Charlotte originally commissioned the piece on occasion of the king’s recovery from illness.
This medallion Queen Charlotte commissioned to commemorate King George III’s return from illness, later refashioned into a locket on the reverse with a lock of King George and Queen Charlotte’s hair, is headed to the auction lock at Christie’s London this week.
London—This week, amid an auction of silver and gold boxes, a jewel with royal provenance stands out.
Part of Christie’s London’s “Bayreuth: A Connoisseur’s Collection of English Silver and Gold Boxes” collection is a pendant incorporating a medallion Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) commissioned on occasion of King George III’s (1738-1820) recovery from illness in 1789.
Queen Charlotte presented the medallions to close friends who were loyal during the king’s illness.
George III became king in 1760 at age 22, succeeding his grandfather, George II, upon his death
George III’s father died in 1751, never having held the throne.
George III married Charlotte in 1761. They had 15 children, 13 of whom reached adulthood.
Best remembered as the king during the American Revolutionary War, George III’s legacy surrounding his mental health is foggy.
He suffered from bouts of mental illness from 1788-1789 and in 1801. In the last decade of his life, he was said to have completely lost his mental faculties, and from 1811-1829, his eldest son, who would eventually become King George IV, took over royal duties as Prince Regent.
Experts have theorized the king’s mental issues were a result of the hereditary disorder porphyria, which may have caused mania, or bipolar disorder.
After the king’s first significant period of mental illness, the British Parliament officially congratulated King George on his return to royal duties on March 10, 1789. The date is commemorated on the medallion’s enamel face.
The medallion was later converted into a locket pendant featuring an enamel crown, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds circa 1820, the year the king died. Queen Charlotte died in 1818.
On the reverse, a compartment holds a lock of the king and queen’s hair.
The reverse of the pendant features a compartment with a lock of Queen Charlotte and King George’s hair. Their dates of death are depicted in enamel.
The locket pendant’s pre-sale estimate is a modest £3,000-£5,000, or approximately $3,807-$6,345 per current exchange rates.
It’s on offer alongside more than 200 decorative objects such as tableware and snuff boxes amassed over 40 years comprising the Bayreuth collection.
The sale is happening as part of Christie’s “Classic Week,” which includes several auctions in London and online offering art from antiquity to the 20th century.
The pendant is on view through July 6 and will hit the auction block on July 7.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
MajorsApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
Weekly QuizApr 16, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
MajorsApr 15, 2026
Spark Creations’ Randy McKenzie Dies at 72 McKenzie spent 45 years with Spark Creations and is remembered for being kind, dedicated, and hardworking.
WatchesApr 15, 2026
These Are the New Rolex Watches for 2026Rolex focused exclusively on the Oyster Perpetual this year, as the model is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
