The sale of a gold watch discovered on the body of the wealthiest passenger aboard the Titanic broke records for an item associated with the tragic 1912 shipwreck, as reported by AFP on April 27. The watch, which bore the initials JJA, belonged to American tycoon John Jacob Astor.
The auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son, announced that a buyer from the United States emerged victorious in the bidding war, surpassing the estimated price of £100,000 to £150,000 set by the auctioneers. Astor’s body was located a week following the tragedy and among his effects was this remarkable timepiece. Madeleine survived the catastrophe while her husband perished after assisting her onto one of the lifeboats.
This gold watch had been fully restored after being returned to Colonel Astor’s family and worn by his son before being sold at auction for £1.17 million ($1.46 million). This sale sets a new record for items associated with the Titanic disaster.
