The Record-Breaking Sale of a Gold Watch Worn by the Richest Passenger Aboard Titanic
A gold watch worn by John Jacob Astor IV, a member of the wealthy Astor family and the richest man aboard the Titanic, has sold for a record-breaking £1.175 million ($1.485 million) at auction on Saturday. The timepiece exceeded its expected auction price of between £100,000 and £150,000, selling for ten times that amount. This sale has set a new world record for Titanic memorabilia, according to Andrew Aldridge, the managing director of auction house Henry Aldridge and Son.
Astor’s Tragic Fate and the Discovery of the Watch
John Jacob Astor IV was one of the approximately 1,500 people who lost their lives when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. His pregnant wife, Madeleine, survived the disaster. The gold watch was among the personal effects found with Astor’s body after the tragedy, as stated by the auction house. Alongside the watch, Astor had gold cufflinks, a diamond ring, money, and a pocketbook, among other items.
Astor’s Watch: A Journey Through Time
After the recovery of Astor’s body, his possessions were sent to his son, Vincent Astor, who meticulously restored the watch to working condition. In 1935, Vincent presented the watch as a christening gift to the infant son of William Dobbyn IV, John Jacob Astor’s executive secretary, according to the auction house. The watch remained in the Dobbyn family’s possession until the late 1990s when it was sold at auction to an unnamed collector in the United States. Subsequently, the watch has been displayed in several museums, attracting millions of viewers over the years.
The sale of this historic timepiece is a testament to its significance and the enduring interest in the Titanic story and the memory of its passengers and crew. The high prices achieved for these unique pieces of history, including the watch, the valise that held the violin played by the band leader as the ship sank, and the pocketbook documenting the Titanic’s voyages, reflect the ongoing fascination with the Titanic’s tragic tale.
The valise was sold for £360,000, while the violin itself was sold for £1.1 million (nearly $1.7 million at the time) through the same auction house in 2013. Prior to the sale of Astor’s pocket watch, the violin held the title as the highest-selling item from the Titanic.
Andrew Aldridge, the managing director of Henry Aldridge and Son, expressed his thoughts on the significance of these prices and the items themselves. He stated, “These prices for these unique pieces of history reflect not only their importance but also the ongoing interest into the Titanic story and the memory of her passengers and crew.”
The sale of Astor’s gold watch highlights the enduring allure of the Titanic’s history and the emotional connection people feel to the passengers and crew. As the watch changes hands once again, it continues to serve as a tangible link to a tragic event that has captivated the world for over a century.
