It belonged to a millionaire
Titanic passenger’s golden pocket watch auctioned for record sum
“Titanic” passenger John Jacob Astor’s pocket watch has now gone under the hammer in Great Britain
© Henry Aldridge & Son / DPA
The gold pocket watch of a passenger on the “Titanic” was sold at auction for around 1.4 million euros. It was once owned by millionaire John Jacob Astor. At that time he was considered one of the richest people in the world.
According to the auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, based in the English county of Wiltshire, the watch is the most valuable “Titanic” souvenir ever auctioned: the piece that once belonged to the millionaire John Jacob Astor went under the hammer on Saturday for 1.175 million pounds (around 1.4 million euros). The highest bidder was a private collector from the USA.
At the time of the accident, Astor, then 47, was considered one of the richest people in the world. His wife Madeleine survived the sinking. He had helped her into the rescue boat and was last seen smoking a cigarette as the ship began to sink in the North Atlantic after colliding with an iceberg.
According to Geige, pocket watch is the most valuable “Titanic” souvenir auctioned
Astor’s body was found in the Atlantic a week after the Titanic sank. The watch with his initials engraved was among the personal items. According to the auction house, the watch was fully restored after it was returned to the family and worn by Astor’s son.
The most valuable piece of the “Titanic” auctioned to date was a violin that was played during the sinking, which changed hands at the same auction house in 2013 for £1.1 million.
John Jacob Astor was on board the “Titanic” with his wife Madeleine at the time.
© Imago Images
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the prices that were paid for “Titanic” –The souvenirs achieved were “absolutely incredible”, as he told the British news agency PA. They reflected not only the significance of the objects themselves, but also an ongoing fascination with the ship that sank in 1912.
The Titanic sank in April 1912 while traveling from Southampton, England, to New York after colliding with an iceberg. 1,500 people died in the accident.
Watch the video above: In the 1997 film “Titanic,” Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, dances below deck with a little girl. The then nine-year-old is called Alex Owens-Sarno and is now 35 years old. She likes to remember the time with nostalgic posts on Instagram.