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 price, cementing the enduring fascination with the 1912 maritime disaster.
The Ultimate Love Story
The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch belonged to Isidor Straus, a co-owner of the Macy's department store in New York. He was travelling on the Titanic's ill-fated maiden voyage with his wife, Ida. The couple were immortalised in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic, as the elderly pair seen holding one another as the ship sank.
On the night of the sinking in April 1912, which claimed over 1,500 lives, the Strauses made their way to the boat deck. When offered a place on a lifeboat due to his age, Isidor Straus refused, stating he would not go before other men. In a powerful act of devotion, his wife Ida refused to leave her husband of 41 years. They were last seen alive sitting together on deck chairs, facing their fate side-by-side.
A Record-Breaking Sale
The watch was sold by auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, for an astonishing £1.78 million. This sum shatters the previous record for Titanic memorabilia, which was set last year at £1.56 million for a gold pocket watch presented to the captain of a rescue ship.
The timepiece had been a gift for Mr Straus's 43rd birthday in 1888 – the very same year he became a partner in Macy's. It was recovered from his body along with other personal effects and had remained with the family until this landmark sale.
Enduring Legacy and Further Items
The auction on Saturday saw strong interest in other Titanic-related items. A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery and posted from the ship 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. In total, the auction of memorabilia reached an impressive £3 million.
Born in Bavaria in 1845, Isidor Straus emigrated to the United States as a child. He and his wife were returning from a trip to Jerusalem via Southampton when they boarded the Titanic. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge commented on the historic sale, stating, "The world record price illustrates the enduring interest in the Titanic story. The Strauses were the ultimate love story... this world record price is testament to the respect that they are held in."
