A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of one of the richest passengers on the Titanic has sold for a record-breaking £1.78 million at auction, underscoring the enduring global fascination with the 1912 maritime disaster. The timepiece, which stopped at the moment the ship sank, was auctioned on Saturday and set a new world record for Titanic memorabilia.
The watch belonged to Isidor Straus, a Bavarian-born American businessman and co-owner of Macy’s department store, who perished with his wife Ida when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 14, 1912. His body was recovered from the Atlantic days after the disaster, and the 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch was among his personal effects. The watch face remains frozen at 2:20 a.m., the exact time the vessel disappeared beneath the waves, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragedy.
Isidor and Ida Straus were known for their devotion; on the night of the sinking, Ida reportedly refused a place in a lifeboat, choosing to remain with her husband of 41 years. Her body was never recovered, amplifying the emotional weight of the artifact. The watch is believed to have been a 43rd birthday gift from Ida to Isidor in 1888 and is engraved with his initials, adding a layer of personal history to its significance.
After being returned to the Straus family, the watch was passed down through generations before undergoing repairs and restoration by Kenneth Hollister Straus, Isidor’s great-grandson. Its sale represents a key moment in the ongoing preservation and commercial interest in Titanic-related items, highlighting how personal stories from the disaster continue to captivate audiences over a century later.
The auction, held by Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, also featured other Titanic memorabilia that fetched substantial sums. A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery sold for £100,000, while a passenger list from the voyage was purchased for £104,000. Additionally, a gold medal awarded to the crew of the RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued over 700 survivors, sold for £86,000, contributing to a total auction proceeds of £3 million.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge remarked that the record price for the watch illustrates the unwavering public interest in the Titanic saga. He noted that every artifact tells a unique story of the passengers and crew, with the Strauses embodying ‘the ultimate love story’ due to Ida’s selfless decision to stay with her husband. Aldridge emphasized that such sales help keep the memories of those aboard alive for future generations.
This auction result surpasses the previous record for Titanic memorabilia, set last year when a gold pocket watch presented to the captain of the Carpathia sold for £1.56 million. The rising values reflect a broader trend of increased demand for historical items connected to the disaster, driven by both collectors and cultural enthusiasts seeking to own a piece of this iconic narrative.
The sale not only achieves a financial milestone but also reinforces the Titanic’s legacy as a source of historical reflection and human interest. As memorabilia like the Straus watch continue to command high prices, they ensure that the personal sacrifices and stories from the disaster remain relevant and accessible, fostering ongoing education and remembrance.
