A gold pocket watch that belonged to a first-class passenger who perished on the RMS Titanic has been sold at a British auction for a world record sum, cementing the enduring global fascination with the 1912 maritime disaster.
The Record-Breaking Sale
The 18-carat gold pocket watch, made by Jules Jurgensen, achieved an astounding £1.78 million at an auction held by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire. This sale sets a new record for the highest amount ever paid for an item of Titanic memorabilia.
The timepiece was a gift to its owner, Isidor Straus, on his 43rd birthday in 1888. Straus, aged 67 at the time of the sinking, was a renowned businessman and a partner in the famed New York department store, Macy's.
A Tale of Tragedy and Sacrifice
Isidor Straus and his wife of 41 years, Ida, were among the more than 1,500 people who lost their lives when the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. Their story is one of the most poignant to emerge from the tragedy.
As the ship foundered, the elderly couple were offered places on a lifeboat due to their age. However, Isidor refused to board before other men, and Ida, in a final act of devotion, chose to remain with her husband. They were last seen alive together, sitting calmly in deck chairs as the ship went down.
Their sacrifice was immortalised in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic, which depicted the couple lying together in a loving embrace as water filled their stateroom. After the disaster, Isidor's watch was recovered from the wreckage and returned to his family.
Enduring Legacy and Auction Highlights
The watch was the star lot in a dedicated auction of Titanic artefacts that realised a total of £3 million. Other notable items sold included:
- A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which sold for £100,000.
- A Titanic passenger list that fetched £104,000.
- A gold medal awarded to the crew of the rescue ship RMS Carpathia, which went for £86,000.
Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer, commented on the historic sale, stating, "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."
He added, "The Strauses were the ultimate love story, Ida refusing to leave her husband of 41 years as the Titanic sank, and this world record price is testament to the respect that they are held in."
The previous record for a Titanic artefact was held by a gold watch presented to the captain of the Carpathia, which sold for £1.56 million in 2023.
