In December 1712, Wickes was apprenticed for seven years to Samuel Wastell, who worked in the Britannia standard of silver (958 parts per 1,000) set into place by Parliament on 25 March 1697.

It was during this period that he began royal commissions and was appointed Goldsmith to Frederick, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne.

The Garrard & Co location on Albemarle Street held an auction sale for the fittings, furniture and books.

It was during this auction viewing that Norman Penzer, an expert of Paul Storr, stumbled across the Garrard & Co ledgers going back to George Wickes and the founding of the firm in 1735.

Penzer along with Arthur Grimwade, Reginald Eyles and John Hayward reacted quickly to save the volumes from being destroyed.