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Titanic Pocket Watch Sells for £1.78 Million at Auction

Source: Titanic passenger's pocket watch fetches £1.78m at auction (2025-11-23)

A rare 18-carat gold pocket watch belonging to Titanic passenger Isidor Straus has shattered auction records, selling for an astonishing £1.78 million. This historic timepiece, recovered from Straus's body after the sinking in 1912, stopped at the exact moment the Titanic disappeared beneath the Atlantic waves. The auction, held by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, highlights the enduring fascination with Titanic memorabilia, which collectively fetched over £3 million. Straus, a prominent businessman and co-owner of Macy’s, was known for his unwavering devotion to his wife, Ida, who famously refused a lifeboat to stay by his side; her body was never recovered. The auction also included a handwritten letter from Ida Straus, sold for £100,000, and a Titanic passenger list for £104,000, reflecting the deep historical and emotional significance of Titanic artifacts. Recent discoveries have shed new light on the Titanic’s final hours, including the recent unearthing of previously unknown survivor accounts and the discovery of additional wreckage, which has provided new insights into the ship’s sinking. Advances in underwater archaeology have led to the identification of more personal belongings from the Titanic, some of which are expected to fetch high prices at future auctions. Experts believe that the record-breaking sale of Straus’s pocket watch underscores the growing collector interest in Titanic memorabilia, driven by a combination of historical curiosity and the ship’s enduring cultural impact. As the 113th anniversary of the sinking approaches, museums worldwide are planning special exhibitions to showcase newly recovered artifacts, and researchers continue to explore the ship’s final moments using cutting-edge technology. The story of the Titanic remains a poignant reminder of human tragedy and resilience, inspiring ongoing fascination and scholarly investigation into one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.

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