An auction celebrating the Jacobites which saw items including a locket containing some of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair going under the hammer has made almost £500,000.

The sale was devoted to the Jacobite risings, and marked the 300th anniversary of the 1715 rebellion.

A rare Four Peers Ring was one of the lots, with a buyer paying £31,500 for the mid-18th century gold and enamel ring at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh today.

Described as one of the most iconic and romantic examples of Jacobite jewellery, the ring was created as a commemorative memorial for the Peers and high-ranking officers in the Jacobite cause.

It is one of only four recorded examples and the only one in private hands, the auctioneers said.

Colin Fraser, Scottish Silver and Jacobite Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said: "It is arguably the finest of the Four Peers Rings in survival and has excellent provenance coming from the James Graham of Arith Collection.

"Three others are known to survive, all within institutional collections including the National Museums Scotland and two within the British Museum."

A total of £499,800 was made from the sale, with Bonnie Prince Charlie's pocket watch also selling for £31,500.

The buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "I wanted to ensure that a piece of significant Scottish history will not be leaving UK shores and I am delighted to say that it will join Robert Burns' pocket watch, which I recently bought at Lyon & Turnbull."

An 18th-century locket with a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair made £5,250 while a lock of Flora MacDonald's hair made £937.

Other items in the sale included jewellery, glassware, paintings, armour, manuscripts and letters.

Mr Fraser added: "This was a tremendous result, we had a full saleroom and bidders on the phone and internet from around the world.

"The allure of Charles Edward Stuart, the Bonnie Prince Charlie of legend, and his romantic but ill-starred campaigns continues to this day."

The Jacobite risings were a series of rebellions between 1688 and 1746.

The rebellion of 1715/16 was known as the ''Fifteen'' while in the ''Forty-Five'' (1745/46) rising, Charles Edward Stuart - Bonnie Prince Charlie - led a Scots army against the Hanoverian dynasty, but was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Culloden.