A piece of Titanic history has once again captivated the world, as a gold watch owned by John Jacob Astor IV sold for an astonishing £1.175 million ($1.485 million) at auction. This remarkable sale, hosted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, shattered previous records, setting a new benchmark for Titanic memorabilia.

The timepiece far exceeded its estimated auction price of between £100,000 and £150,000, selling for ten times the expected amount. This extraordinary outcome highlights the enduring fascination with the Titanic and its ill-fated passengers.

John Jacob Astor IV, a member of the illustrious Astor family and the wealthiest man aboard the Titanic, perished when the ship tragically sank on April 15, 1912. His pregnant wife, Madeleine, survived the disaster. The watch was among the personal effects recovered with Astor’s body, which also included gold cufflinks, a diamond ring, money, and a pocketbook.

Andrew Aldridge, the managing director of Henry Aldridge and Son, commented on the significance of the sale: "These prices for these unique pieces of history reflect not only their importance but also the ongoing interest in the Titanic story and the memory of her passengers and crew."

The auction also featured other notable Titanic artifacts, such as the valise that held the violin played by bandleader Wallace Hartley as the ship sank. The valise sold for £360,000, while the violin itself fetched nearly $1.7 million in a 2013 auction by the same house, holding the previous record for Titanic memorabilia until Astor's watch surpassed it.

The valise belonging to Titanic bandmember and orchestra leader Wallace Hartley, which held the violin he played as the Titanic sank, was also sold. Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd 

Astor’s watch has a storied history beyond the Titanic. After his body was recovered, his possessions were sent to his son, Vincent Astor, who restored the watch to working order. In 1935, Vincent gifted the watch as a christening present to the infant son of William Dobbyn IV, John Jacob Astor’s executive secretary. The Dobbyn family kept the watch until the late 1990s, when it went to auction and was acquired by an unnamed U.S. collector. Since then, it has been displayed in several museums, drawing the attention of millions.

The enduring allure of Titanic artifacts like Astor’s watch underscores the timeless intrigue surrounding the ship's tragic voyage and its passengers. As these relics change hands, they continue to tell the poignant stories of those who sailed on the most famous ship in history.

Source: CNN