The recent sale of a gold watch found on the body of the wealthiest passenger aboard the Titanic has set a new record for the highest sum paid for an item linked to the tragic 1912 shipwreck. According to a report by AFP on April 27, the watch, which had the initials JJA engraved on it, belonged to American tycoon John Jacob Astor.
Astor was 47 years old when he perished as the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Known as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world during that period, he lost his life after assisting his wife, Madeleine, onto a lifeboat. Fortunately, she survived the disaster. Astor’s body was discovered a week later, with the watch found among his personal effects.
The watch was fully restored and subsequently worn by Astor’s son before being auctioned off for £1.17 million ($1.46 million) at Henry Aldridge & Son in England. This amount surpassed the pre-sale estimate of £100,000 to £150,000 and set a new record for the highest sum paid for an item linked to the Titanic shipwreck. The buyer from the United States emerged victorious in a bidding war for this rare and historic piece of jewelry.