Who was the owner of gold pocket watch sold at Titanic auction?
In a highly anticipated auction hosted by esteemed auction house Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, a collection of remarkable artifacts from the RMS Titanic, the iconic ocean liner that met its tragic fate in 1912, garnered substantial attention and impressive bids on Saturday.
Who was the owner of gold pocket watch sold at Titanic auction?
Among the standout items was a 14-carat gold pocket watch that once belonged to none other than John Jacob Astor IV, widely recognized as the wealthiest passenger aboard the ill-fated vessel.
Astor, a prominent New York businessman and real estate magnate, tragically perished in the Titanic disaster after gallantly assisting his pregnant wife, Madeleine, onto a lifeboat.
Also read: Historic Titanic dinner menu fetches £83,000 at auction in England
The exquisite timepiece, bearing Astor’s initials “JJA” and originally estimated to fetch approximately $189,000, surpassed all expectations by selling for an astonishing sum of nearly $1.5 million—a record-breaking achievement that underscored the enduring allure of Titanic memorabilia.
In addition to Astor’s prestigious watch, another significant item up for grabs was a meticulously detailed plan of the Titanic’s layout, once owned by Astor himself.
The plan, offering intricate insights into the design and structure of the legendary ocean liner, fetched a respectable sum of $37,912 at the auction, further attesting to the enduring fascination with the Titanic’s storied history.
One of the most poignant relics offered at the auction was a leather violin bag that once belonged to Wallace Hartley, the Titanic’s courageous bandmaster.
Found strapped to Hartley’s body when recovered, the bag held the iconic Titanic violin, which Hartley famously played in an effort to comfort passengers as the ship met its tragic end.
Initially anticipated to sell for around $150,000, the violin bag surpassed expectations by commanding a remarkable price of $454,949—a testament to the enduring legacy of Hartley’s bravery and the haunting allure of Titanic artifacts
