Gold Pocket Watch Given to Titanic Rescue Hero Sells for Record £1.56m

A gold pocket watch presented to Sir Arthur Rostron, the British captain who saved more than 700 Titanic passengers in 1912, has been sold at auction for a record-breaking £1.56m ($1.97m). The 18-carat Tiffany & Co. timepiece, gifted to Sir Arthur by survivors of the ill-fated ocean liner, now holds the title of the most expensive piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold.

The historic sale, conducted by Wiltshire-based auction house Henry Aldridge and Son, saw the watch purchased by a private US collector. Speaking after the auction, Andrew Aldridge remarked, “The sale demonstrates the enduring fascination with the Titanic and the bravery of Sir Arthur Rostron.”

Sir Arthur, then captain of the RMS Carpathia, diverted his ship after receiving Titanic’s distress call, “we’ve struck ice, come at once.” Travelling at full speed, the Carpathia reached the scene two hours after the Titanic had sunk in the North Atlantic on 15 April 1912. Despite the late arrival, Captain Rostron and his crew managed to rescue more than 700 survivors from lifeboats.

The watch, inscribed with heartfelt gratitude from Titanic widows Mrs John B. Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor, and Mrs George D. Widener, was presented to Sir Arthur during a luncheon at the Astor family mansion in New York. Mrs Astor, the wife of one of the wealthiest men aboard the Titanic, led the gesture to thank the captain for his heroic efforts.

This record-breaking auction follows another Titanic artefact sale earlier this year when a gold pocket watch recovered from the body of John Jacob Astor fetched £1.175m. Before that, the violin famously played as the ship sank held the record for the highest amount paid for Titanic memorabilia, selling for £1.1m in 2013.

Mr Aldridge highlighted the growing demand for Titanic-related items, stating, “The record being broken twice this year shows an ever-decreasing supply and an ever-increasing demand for artefacts associated with this legendary ship.”

The fascinating history of Titanic artefacts and their preservation efforts can be explored further through resources like the Titanic Historical Society.

For more stories about London’s connections to global history and legendary events, visit EyeOnLondon.