Titanic First-Class Passenger's Pocket Watch Fetches Record-Breaking $2.3 Million at Auction

A significant piece of maritime history has just been sold, setting a new benchmark for Titanic-related memorabilia. The gold pocket watch belonging to Isidor Straus, co-owner of the prominent New York department store Macy's and a first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic, commanded a staggering price at auction. The timepiece realized 1.78 million British pounds, which converts to approximately 2.3 million US dollars.

The sale took place at the Henry Aldridge & Son auction house, situated in Devizes, Wiltshire. This successful bid officially cemented the watch's status as the most expensive artifact ever sold that is directly connected to the Titanic disaster. The watch is a Jules Jurgensen model, crafted from 18-karat gold, and held deep personal significance for its original owner.

This heirloom was originally presented to Isidor Straus by his wife, Ida Straus, to commemorate his 43rd birthday back in 1888. The watch’s connection to the tragedy is chillingly precise: its hands are frozen exactly at 2:20 AM, the moment the massive liner slipped beneath the icy North Atlantic waters following its collision with an iceberg on April 14, 1912. The story of Isidor and Ida Straus remains an enduring testament to devotion.

Isidor famously refused a seat in a lifeboat, adhering to the principle that he would not leave the sinking vessel before the women and children were safe. His wife, Ida, demonstrated equal resolve, choosing to remain by his side rather than accepting safe passage alone. While Isidor’s body was eventually recovered by search teams and the watch was returned to his family, Ida’s body was never found.

Adding another layer of cultural resonance, the couple served as the inspiration for background characters in James Cameron’s blockbuster film, Titanic. Their unwavering commitment has become an iconic element of the disaster's narrative.

This recent auction result officially surpasses the previous high-water mark for Titanic relics, which was set just this year, in 2024. That prior record was held by another gold pocket watch, this one belonging to Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, the rescue vessel that brought over 700 survivors ashore. Captain Rostron’s watch sold in 2024 for 1.56 million British pounds.

Andrew Aldridge, manager at Henry Aldridge & Son, commented that this new record clearly illustrates the public's unwavering fascination with the Titanic saga and the personal stories of those aboard, even 113 years after the event. The auction in Wiltshire saw robust demand across the board for Titanic-related lots, contributing to a total revenue of 3 million pounds sterling for the day. Among other notable items that found new owners were a letter penned by Ida Straus on the ship’s stationery shortly after departing Southampton on April 10, 1912, which sold for 100,000 pounds, and a passenger manifest that fetched 104,000 pounds at the hammer.