Titanic’s richest passengers watch
A gold watch worn by John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest passenger aboard the Titanic, is set to be auctioned along with other memorabilia from the ill-fated ship.
Astor, who tragically perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, left behind a legacy of luxury and wealth. His gold watch, among the personal effects found with his body after the disaster, is now up for auction at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, England.
Expected to fetch between £100,000 and £150,000 ($125,000-$188,000), the watch is a poignant reminder of the tragedy that claimed Astor’s life. Other items on auction include the valise that held the violin played by the band leader as the ship sank, and a pocketbook documenting the Titanic’s voyages.
Wallace Hartley’s valise, which held the violin he played during the Titanic’s final moments, is also up for sale, alongside Astor’s cufflinks and a plan of the ship’s first-class accommodation.
The watch, meticulously restored by Astor’s son Vincent and later gifted to William Dobbyn IV’s infant son, has seen a journey spanning decades. Initially kept by the Dobbyn family, it eventually made its way to auction in the late 1990s, where an unnamed collector in the United States acquired it. Since then, it has been displayed in several museums, viewed by millions.
Aldridge & Son managing director, Andrew Aldridge, commented on the watch’s extensive history, noting its significance in preserving the memory of the Titanic’s tragic voyage.
Bidding for these historical artifacts begins on April 27 at midday local time (7 a.m. ET), offering collectors and Titanic enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of history