Robert Charlton, pictured above, is the subject of the story below. He was a member of Greyfrairs Lodge in Leicester, Kingsland Lodge in London, and a member of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute.
They say diamonds are a girl's best friend but in the case of cheating Robert Charlton they were a bargaining tool to excuse his philandering ways.
A stunning collection of jewellery that the guilty but very wealthy businessman gave his long-suffering wife when ever he cheated on her has sold for nearly 300,000 pounds.
Millionaire Mr Charlton regularly presented wife Elizabeth with new and expensive charms to ease his guilty conscience.
And although she knew all about his infidelity, the luxury items made it easier to forgive him.
The bizarre arrangement kept their marriage alive until Mr Charlton died aged 63 in 1974.
His widow cherished the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings for the rest of her life until she passed away in 2006, aged 90.
The jewellery, some of which would make Victoria Beckham green with envy, was passed down to their only child Marie and has now been sold for 286,000 pounds.
The most expensive item was a beautiful riviere necklace made up of 54 diamonds, totalling 32 carats, which was auctioned for 50,000 pounds - the equivalent of about 5,500 pounds in the 1960s.
A large pendant in the shape of a diamond went for 44,000 pounds and a chunky diamond solitaire ring sold for 19,000 pounds.
A pair of drop earrings went for 18,000 pounds while a gold bangle with nine diamonds on fetched 20,000 pounds.
Clare Durham, of auctioneers Woolley and Wallis of Salisbury, Wilts, said: "It is a beautiful collection of fine diamond jewellery.
"There were 43 items in total and most of it dates back to the late Victorian and early Edwardian period.
"It would have been antique when it was bought in the 1950s and 1960s.
"The stand out piece is definitely the riviere necklace which is just beautiful.
"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.
"Certainly the best, most expensive pieces were bought when he played away.
"They married in 1948, and Elizabeth took in Robert's 11-year-old daughter Marie as her own.
"He died 30 years ago and his widow, Elizabeth, has only just recently died.
"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.
"As well as his other businesses, he also ran two nightclubs in Leicester: theMayfair and the Continental.
"The affairs were certainly linked with these and a lot of them were with womenwho worked for him there.
"They could have been bar staff and there were probably even a few dancinggirls, back in the 50s.
"It is perfectly possible that his other affairs happened through hisbusinesses and he succumbed to the stereotype of an affair with his secretary,but we can't know for sure.
"He was quite high up in the freemasons and a prominent member of a golf club.
"All this would make it seem like he was an upstanding member of the community,but he was doing the dirty all along.
"He also launched a company called Marpak Graphic, which specialised inpackaging for the hosiery industry.
"It seems quite telling in the circumstances - he even brought women'sunderwear into his business decisions."
Mr Charlton, from Leicester, was a rich businessman, chairman of a large building company and he also ran a printing firm.
He was a well-known freemason and honorary member of Kibworth Golf Club in Leicester.
A stunning collection of jewellery that the guilty but very wealthy businessman gave his long-suffering wife when ever he cheated on her has sold for nearly 300,000 pounds.
Millionaire Mr Charlton regularly presented wife Elizabeth with new and expensive charms to ease his guilty conscience.
And although she knew all about his infidelity, the luxury items made it easier to forgive him.
The bizarre arrangement kept their marriage alive until Mr Charlton died aged 63 in 1974.
His widow cherished the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings for the rest of her life until she passed away in 2006, aged 90.
The jewellery, some of which would make Victoria Beckham green with envy, was passed down to their only child Marie and has now been sold for 286,000 pounds.
The most expensive item was a beautiful riviere necklace made up of 54 diamonds, totalling 32 carats, which was auctioned for 50,000 pounds - the equivalent of about 5,500 pounds in the 1960s.
A large pendant in the shape of a diamond went for 44,000 pounds and a chunky diamond solitaire ring sold for 19,000 pounds.
A pair of drop earrings went for 18,000 pounds while a gold bangle with nine diamonds on fetched 20,000 pounds.
Clare Durham, of auctioneers Woolley and Wallis of Salisbury, Wilts, said: "It is a beautiful collection of fine diamond jewellery.
"There were 43 items in total and most of it dates back to the late Victorian and early Edwardian period.
"It would have been antique when it was bought in the 1950s and 1960s.
"The stand out piece is definitely the riviere necklace which is just beautiful.
"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.
"Certainly the best, most expensive pieces were bought when he played away.
"They married in 1948, and Elizabeth took in Robert's 11-year-old daughter Marie as her own.
"He died 30 years ago and his widow, Elizabeth, has only just recently died.
"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.
"As well as his other businesses, he also ran two nightclubs in Leicester: theMayfair and the Continental.
"The affairs were certainly linked with these and a lot of them were with womenwho worked for him there.
"They could have been bar staff and there were probably even a few dancinggirls, back in the 50s.
"It is perfectly possible that his other affairs happened through hisbusinesses and he succumbed to the stereotype of an affair with his secretary,but we can't know for sure.
"He was quite high up in the freemasons and a prominent member of a golf club.
"All this would make it seem like he was an upstanding member of the community,but he was doing the dirty all along.
"He also launched a company called Marpak Graphic, which specialised inpackaging for the hosiery industry.
"It seems quite telling in the circumstances - he even brought women'sunderwear into his business decisions."
Mr Charlton, from Leicester, was a rich businessman, chairman of a large building company and he also ran a printing firm.
He was a well-known freemason and honorary member of Kibworth Golf Club in Leicester.
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