Titanic gold pocket watch sells for £1.17 million

NEW DELHI: A gold watch discovered on the wealthiest passenger aboard the ill-fated Titanic was sold for an astonishing £1.17 million ($1.46 million) at an auction in England. Henry Aldridge & Son, the auctioneers, declared this to be the highest amount ever fetched by an item associated with the infamous 1912 tragedy.

The winning bid, placed by an American buyer, far surpassed the auctioneer's initial estimate, which ranged between £100,000 and £150,000. The watch, bearing the engraved initials "JJA," once belonged to the prominent American businessman John Jacob Astor.

Astor, who was 47 years old at the time of his death on the Titanic, was considered one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. He died after ensuring his wife, Madeleine, was safely aboard a lifeboat. She ultimately survived the catastrophe.

A week following the tragedy, Astor's body was recovered, and the watch was found among his personal effects. According to a statement from the auction house, "The watch itself was completely restored after being returned to Colonel Astor's family and worn by his son."

The auction, which took place in Devizes, showcased more than 280 lots related to ocean liners, including two items from the Titanic's tragic history. One of these was a violin case that belonged to the orchestra leader who continued to play on the deck as the ship sank in 1912. The case sold for £290,000, which increased to £366,000 when taxes and fees were included, BBC reported.

The Titanic's voyage commenced in Southampton, with New York as its intended destination. Tragically, on the night of April 14, 1912, the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, leading to its sinking and the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

(With inputs from agencies)