Pocket watch belonging to couple who died together on the Titanic sells
A rare piece of Titanic history has set a new world record after a gold pocket watch belonging to Isidor Straus sold for £1.78 million at auction. The sale marks the highest price ever paid for an item connected to the ill-fated RMS Titanic, reflecting the enduring global fascination with the ship and its passengers.
A Historic Watch With a Powerful Story
The engraved 18-carat Jules Jurgensen pocket watch was originally gifted to Straus on his 43rd birthday in 1888. Straus—co-owner of the iconic New York department store Macy’s—was among the more than 1,500 passengers who lost their lives when the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912.
Born in 1845 in Otterberg, Bavaria, Straus emigrated to the United States with his family in 1854 and rose to prominence in American retail. He and his wife, Ida Straus, were travelling first class when disaster struck. Despite being offered seats in the lifeboats due to their age, Isidor refused to board before other men. Ida chose to remain with her husband, and the couple were last seen sitting together on deckchairs as the ship went down.
Their devotion was later immortalised in James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic, where they appear in one of the movie’s most memorable scenes.
Recovered Treasure and Record Sale
Straus’s pocket watch was recovered from the wreckage and eventually returned to his family. At the weekend auction held by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, the watch surpassed the previous Titanic memorabilia record of £1.56m, set in 2023 for another historic pocket watch.
Other Highlights From the £3 Million Auction
The Titanic auction featured a range of significant artefacts, including:
A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery – sold for £100,000
An original passenger list – sold for £104,000
A gold medal awarded to RMS Carpathia crew members – sold for £86,000
In total, the auction achieved an impressive £3 million.
Enduring Interest in the Titanic Legacy
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge emphasised the global appeal of Titanic history, noting:
“Every man, woman and child passenger or crew had a story to tell, and they are told 113 years later through the memorabilia. The Strauses were the ultimate love story… and this world-record price is testament to the respect they are held in.”
Why This Story Continues to Captivate the World
The record-breaking sale demonstrates how the human stories behind the Titanic continue to resonate more than a century later. Items like Straus’s pocket watch not only hold historical value but also serve as emotional reminders of courage, love, and loss.
