A gold pocket watch that once belonged to an elderly couple who tragically perished aboard the RMS Titanic has been sold at auction for a staggering £1.78 million, setting a new world record for Titanic memorabilia.
The sale, conducted by Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, dramatically surpassed pre-auction estimates and eclipsed the previous record of £1.56 million, set just last year for a watch belonging to the captain of the rescue ship Carpathia.
The Tragic Love Story of the Strauses
The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen timepiece was owned by Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger and co-owner of the famed New York department store, Macy's. The watch's story is inextricably linked to one of the most poignant legends of the 1912 disaster, which claimed over 1,500 lives.
On the night of the sinking, Isidor and his wife of 41 years, Ida, made their way to the boat deck. Mr Straus, however, refused a place on a lifeboat, insisting he would not leave while younger men remained onboard. In a final act of devotion, Ida Straus famously declined to leave her husband, choosing to remain with him. The couple were last seen sitting together in deckchairs as the ship descended into the icy Atlantic.
Their heartbreaking final moments were immortalised in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic. Mrs Straus's body was never recovered, while Mr Straus's was found. The gold pocket watch was recovered from his body along with other personal effects and returned to his family.
A Watch Steeped in History
The engraved watch holds significance beyond the disaster. Isidor Straus originally received it as a gift for his 43rd birthday in 1888 – the very same year he became a partner in Macy's. The timepiece remained within the family for generations before being sold.
The auction also featured other remarkable items, including a letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which fetched £100,000. In the letter, she marvelled at the ship's luxury, describing their rooms as 'furnished in the best of taste and most luxurious.' She also referenced the 'New York' incident, where the Titanic nearly collided with another liner upon leaving Southampton.
Other notable sales included a passenger list for £104,000 and a gold medal awarded to an RMS Carpathia crew member for £86,000. In total, the auction of Titanic-related items reached an impressive £3 million.
An Enduring Legacy
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge commented on the historic sale, stating, 'The world record price illustrates the enduring interest in the Titanic story. Every man, woman and child passenger or crew had a story to tell and they are told 113 years later through the memorabilia.'
He added, 'The Strauses were the ultimate love story, Ida refusing to leave her husband of 41 years as the Titanic sank, and this world record price is testament to the respect that they are held in.' The sale confirms the undiminished global fascination with the Titanic and the personal stories of those who sailed on her fateful maiden voyage.
