Gold watch frozen in time from Titanic sinking up for auction
A watch recovered from the body of a wealthy businessman who drowned in the sinking of the Titanic is expected to fetch up to £80,000 at auction.
Frederick Sutton, 61, a first-class passenger, was among the 1,500 people who died when the ship sank in April 1912.
The Suffolk-born businessman amassed a fortune as a property owner after settling in New Jersey with his family. He was returning to the USA on the Titanic after traveling to England for health reasons.
Although his body was buried at sea, Mr. Sutton’s belongings, including his watch, were placed in a white camping bag (number 46) and transported to Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the MacKay Bennett.
His family collected these items, which have remained with his grandchildren ever since.
The watch is part of the second collection to be offered for sale, following the first auction at Mr Sutton’s estate last year.
The watch, which will go on sale at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, on April 18, is expected to sell for between £50,000 and £80,000.
The face of the 18-carat gold-cased pocket watch bears traces of sting trauma and is heavily dented.
The hour and minute hands are missing, but the second hand is frozen in time by the cold waters of the North Atlantic.
The piece is accompanied by the original Albert watch chain, which has never been separated.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: “The significance of this watch is that it was on the Titanic and, most importantly, its seconds hand is frozen in time at the point where its owner, Frederick Sutton, crashed into the cold North Atlantic waters 114 years ago.
“Titanic passengers’ watches are particularly appreciated by collectors and historians, and having the Titanic on board takes it to another level.”
A gold pocket watch recovered from an elderly couple who drowned during the sinking of the Titanic in November 2025 sold for a record-breaking £1.78 million at auction.
Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers said it was the highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia.
The previous record was set last year by another gold pocket watch gifted to the captain of a boat who rescued more than 700 passengers from the ship, which sold for £1.56 million.
The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch belonged to first-class passenger Isidor Straus, who drowned when the ship sank in April 1912, costing the lives of 1,500 people.
