Historic Titanic Artefact Sells for £1.78 Million
A rare gold pocket watch linked to a couple who tragically perished during the sinking of the Titanic has fetched a remarkable £1.78 million at auction. The timepiece, an 18-carat engraved watch belonging to Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger, was sold at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Wiltshire, setting a new record for Titanic memorabilia.
The Story Behind the Watch
The watch was owned by Isidor Straus, who, along with his wife, Ida, decided to remain together as the Titanic sank in April 1912. Their poignant story was highlighted in the acclaimed film *Titanic*, where they were depicted embracing each other as the ship met its fate. Despite his age granting him a place on a lifeboat, Isidor declined, insisting that he would not leave before other men. His wife Ida chose to stay with him, and they were last seen sitting together on deckchairs, resolute in their shared destiny.
The watch was recovered from Mr. Straus’s body alongside other personal belongings and later returned to his family. It was presented to him as a gift for his 43rd birthday in 1888, the same year he became a partner in Macy’s, a well-known New York department store.
A Record-Breaking Auction
This watch has now set the highest price ever for a piece of Titanic memorabilia, according to auctioneers. The previous record was established just last year, when another gold pocket watch given to a rescue captain sold for £1.56 million. Also up for auction was a letter written by Mrs. Straus on Titanic stationery, which sold for an impressive £100,000.
Background
The Titanic tragedy, which resulted in the loss of over 1,500 lives, remains one of the most significant maritime disasters in history and continues to capture public interest over a century later. Artefacts from the Titanic, such as the watch, offer poignant reminders of the human stories intertwined with this infamous event.
