Titanic Gold Watch Creates History at Wiltshire Auction
A historic gold pocket watch that belonged to a victim of the Titanic disaster has shattered all previous records by selling for an astonishing 1.78 million pounds (approximately ₹18.7 crore) at an auction in Wiltshire. This remarkable price makes it the most expensive piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold at auction.
The auction house Henry Aldridge & Son confirmed that the Saturday sale established a new benchmark for artifacts from the legendary ship. The previous record was held by a pocket watch connected to the Carpathia's captain, which sold for $1.9 million earlier in 2024.
The Story Behind the Historic Timepiece
The 18-karat gold watch carried a profound historical significance as it belonged to Isidor Straus, the co-owner of the famous Macy's department store. He was traveling first class on the Titanic's maiden voyage in 1912 with his wife Ida when the tragic sinking occurred.
What makes this timepiece particularly poignant is that it had stopped working at 2:20 a.m. - the exact moment when the Titanic disappeared beneath the Atlantic Ocean's surface. The watch, a Jules Jurgensen model gifted to Straus in 1888, bears his initials and the date of his 43rd birthday.
According to The New York Times, the final sale price reached $2.3 million, significantly surpassing the auction house's expectations. The BBC reported that the watch had been carefully preserved within the Straus family for generations before being restored by Straus's great-grandson, Kenneth Hollister Straus.
The Tragic Love Story That Captivated the World
The Strauses' final moments have become one of the most enduring love stories from the Titanic disaster. Survivors recounted how the elderly couple refused to be separated as lifeboats were being loaded. They were last seen sitting together on deck chairs, choosing to face their fate side by side rather than be parted.
This powerful moment was later immortalized in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, where the couple was depicted lying together peacefully as water flooded their cabin. The Guardian also documented this touching final scene from their lives.
Tragically, while Isidor Straus's body was recovered approximately two weeks after the disaster, Ida Straus's remains were never found, adding to the poignant nature of their story.
Additional Titanic Artifacts Fetch High Prices
The auction featured several other significant Titanic-related items that attracted substantial bids. A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery while she was aboard the ship sold for 100,000 pounds (approximately $131,000). In her correspondence, she marveled at the ship's grandeur, writing: "What a ship! So huge and so magnificently appointed … they really are rooms."
Other notable items included an original Titanic passenger list that fetched 104,000 pounds and a gold medal awarded to the crew of RMS Carpathia, which sold for 86,000 pounds. The total auction proceeds reached an impressive 3 million pounds.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told the BBC that the record-breaking price demonstrates the enduring power of the Titanic story in public consciousness. He described the Strauses as representing "the ultimate love story" and noted that their legacy continues to command profound respect more than a century after their tragic deaths.
