A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of a first-class passenger who perished on the RMS Titanic has been sold for a world-record sum, cementing the enduring fascination with the 1912 maritime disaster.
The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch, owned by Isidor Straus, fetched an astonishing £1.78 million at an auction held by Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire. Auctioneers confirmed this is the highest amount ever paid for an item of Titanic memorabilia.
The Story Behind the Record-Breaking Timepiece
The watch carries the weight of a profound human tragedy. It was recovered from the body of Isidor Straus, who, along with his wife Ida, drowned when the Titanic sank in April 1912, claiming over 1,500 lives. The wealthy couple, who were first-class passengers, were immortalised in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film Titanic as the elderly pair seen embracing on deck as the ship foundered.
Their story is one of unwavering devotion. On the night of the sinking, the Strauses made their way to the boat deck. When Mr Straus, then 67, was offered a place on a lifeboat due to his age, he refused, stating he would not go before other men. In an act of ultimate loyalty, Ida Straus refused to leave her husband of 41 years. They were last seen alive sitting together in deck chairs, calmly facing their fate side-by-side.
From a Birthday Gift to a Historical Artefact
The gold watch itself has a rich history separate from the disaster. Isidor Straus received it as a gift for his 43rd birthday in 1888 – the very same year he became a partner in the renowned New York department store, Macy's. After the sinking, the watch and other personal effects were recovered from his body and returned to his family, with whom it remained until this landmark sale.
The previous record for Titanic memorabilia was set just last year, when a gold pocket watch belonging to the captain of the rescue ship Carpathia sold for £1.56 million.
A Multi-Million Pound Auction of History
The sale of the pocket watch was the centrepiece of a larger auction of Titanic-related items that collectively reached £3 million on Saturday. Other notable lots included a letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which was posted while she was onboard and fetched £100,000. A Titanic passenger list was bought for £104,000, and a gold medal awarded to the crew of the RMS Carpathia sold for £86,000.
Born in Bavaria in 1845, Isidor Straus emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. In early 1912, he and his wife had been travelling in Europe and the Middle East before boarding the Titanic in Southampton for their return journey to America.
Commenting on the historic sale, auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "The world record price illustrates the enduring interest in the Titanic story. Every man, woman and child passenger or crew had a story to tell and they are told 113 years later through the memorabilia. The Strauses were the ultimate love story, and this world record price is testament to the respect that they are held in."
