Titanic passenger’s watch sets record at UK auction
A gold pocket watch rescued from an elderly couple who drowned during the sinking of the Titanic was sold at auction for a record-breaking Stg 1.78 million (AU$3.61 million).
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 that rescued more than 700 passengers from the ship, which sold for Stg 1.56 million ($3.16 million).
The 18-carat watch with Jules Jurgensen engraving belonged to first-class passenger Isidor Straus, who drowned in April 1912 when the ship sank on its maiden voyage from England to New York, claiming the lives of 1,500 people.
Isidor Straus and his wife Ida were portrayed as a couple embracing each other as the Titanic sank in James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster movie Titanic.
The watch was removed from Isidor Straus’ body along with other personal belongings and handed over to his family.
The watch was given to him as a 43rd birthday present in 1888; In the same year, he became a partner of Macy’s store in New York.
The wealthy couple headed to the Titanic’s boat deck on the night of the sinking.
When Isidor Straus was offered a place on the lifeboat because of his age, he said he would not go before the other men.
Ida Straus refused to leave her husband, and they were last seen alive, sitting on deck chairs, facing fate next to each other.
They were among a very small number of first class passengers who lost their lives in the disaster.
The watch, which remained in the family, was sold at auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire.
A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery and mailed while on board fetched Stg100,000 ($A202,846).
The Titanic passenger list was purchased for Stg 104,000 ($210,960) and the gold medal was sold by rescued survivors to the crew of RMS Carpathia for Stg 86,000 ($174,448).
The auction of Titanic-related memorabilia reached a total of Stg3 million (A$6.1 million) on Saturday.
Born to a Jewish family in Otterberg, Bavaria, in 1845, Isidor Straus immigrated to the United States with his family in 1854.
In January 1912 he and his wife sailed to Jerusalem on the RMS Caronia before returning to the USA via Southampton on the Titanic.
“The world record price shows continued interest in the Titanic story,” said auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.
“The Strauses were the ultimate love story, with Ida refusing to leave her husband of 41 years as the Titanic sank, and this world record price is a testament to their respect.”
