Wealthiest Titanic passenger’s gold watch fetches $1.46 million at auction | Global News

The gold watch found on the body of the richest passenger on the Titanic, John Jacob Astor, was auctioned in England for a staggering £1.17 million ($1.46 million) on Saturday. This record-breaking sum for an object linked to the infamous 1912 shipping disaster surpassed the auctioneer’s pre-sale estimate by a significant margin.

The watch, engraved with the initials JJA, belonged to the US business magnate Astor, who tragically perished at the age of 47 as the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Astor, known as one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time, had gallantly helped his wife, Madeleine, onto a lifeboat before meeting his untimely demise.

A week after the disaster, Astor’s body was found with the watch among his personal belongings. The timepiece was later restored and worn by his son, carrying on the legacy of the Astor family.

The bidding war for this historic artifact was won by a US buyer, highlighting the enduring fascination with the Titanic and its passengers. The auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son, expressed their delight at the outcome of the auction, which far exceeded their initial expectations.

The sale of Astor’s gold watch serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful night over a century ago, immortalizing the memory of one of the Titanic’s most prominent passengers.