A gold pocket watch recovered from the Titanic wreck, owned by Isidor Straus, sold for £1.78 million ($2.33 million) at Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers in Devizes, England, setting a new auction record for Titanic memorabilia. The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen watch, engraved and given to Straus on his 43rd birthday in 1888, stopped at 02:20 when submerged. Straus, a Macy's partner and former U.S. Congressman, perished with his wife Ida on the Titanic in 1912. The sale also included other items totaling £3 million, such as a letter by Ida Straus and a Titanic passenger list.
This record-breaking sale underscores the enduring public fascination with the Titanic story and the human narratives behind its artifacts. The watch's price, surpassing the previous record held by John Jacob Astor's pocket watch, highlights the strong market for historically significant memorabilia tied to iconic tragedies. The Strauses' story—Ida refusing to leave her husband—adds emotional weight, driving collector demand and affirming the cultural and monetary value of such relics.