LONDON.- A stunning series of historic pieces ranging from a bracelet made from the mane of Copenhagen – the Duke of Wellington’s charger at the Battle of Waterloo – to a desk seal used by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during their exile following the 1936 abdication crisis will be offered for sale in the auction of Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu to be held by international experts Dix Noonan Webb in Mayfair on 26 June 2018.

Jewellery highlights in the auction will include a private collection of pieces by the talented contemporary British goldsmith Mark Byles, a diamond necklace and accompanying ear pendants with a total diamond weight of 22.6 carats, a pearl collar necklace with a diamond clasp that belonged to the family of a Viceroy of India, and a 19th century golden topaz and diamond necklace. Watches to be auctioned will include a superb private collection of pocket watches, one of which was given to a doctor by the Rothschild family.

The memorial plaited hair bracelet for Copenhagen with an inscribed gold panel clasp is expected to fetch £800 to £1,200. The famous war horse which Wellington rode in a number of battles, most notably Waterloo, lived from 1808 to 1836 and was retired to the Duke’s estate at Stratfield Saye where he is buried. The 19th century gold mounted bloodstone desk seal which belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during their years in Paris following his brief reign as Edward VIII is estimated at £5,000 to £7,000.

Other historic items in the auction include an 18th century memorial ring dedicated to a sailor who died in one of Britain’s worst naval catastrophes when H.M.S. Victory sank with the loss of all 1,400 men aboard in 1744. This is expected to fetch £1,500 to £2,000.

The highlight of a private collection of five pieces by Mark Byles is a 22 carat gold spiral collar necklace with date letter for London 2017 which is estimated at £11,000 to £12,000. Based in Ashford, Kent, Byles is a highly talented self-taught goldsmith who draws inspiration from the simplicity and grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman designs.

Two pieces from the collection of Lord Curzon (1859 - 1925), who was Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905 are in the auction. A six row cultured pearl collar necklace with a diamond clasp is estimated at £2,500 to £3,500 while a Georgian green/blue paste suite is expected to fetch £1,000 to £1,500.