A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of Titanic passenger Isidor Straus has sold for a record-breaking £1.78 million (Sh300 million) at auction, underscoring the lasting fascination with the historic maritime disaster.
Isidor Straus, a Bavarian-born American businessman, politician, and co-owner of Macy’s department store in New York, was traveling aboard the Titanic with his wife, Ida, when the ship struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912. More than 1,500 passengers lost their lives in the tragedy. While Isidor’s body was recovered, Ida Straus chose to remain on the ship with her husband and was never found.
The 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch, engraved with Straus’ initials, is believed to have been a birthday gift from Ida to Isidor in 1888. The watch famously stopped at 02:20, the exact moment the Titanic sank beneath the Atlantic waves. Passed down through generations, it was eventually restored by Isidor’s great-grandson Kenneth Hollister Straus before being sold at Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the sale as “a world record price” and highlighted the enduring interest in Titanic memorabilia. He said, “Every passenger and crew member had a story, and they are still told through these historic items. The Strauses were the ultimate love story, with Ida refusing to leave her husband as the Titanic sank. This record price is a testament to the respect they are held in.”
Other Titanic-related items also fetched high prices, including a letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery (£100,000), a passenger list (£104,000), and a gold medal awarded to the RMS Carpathia crew (£86,000). In total, the auction of Titanic memorabilia reached £3 million.
The sale of Isidor Straus’ pocket watch not only sets a new benchmark for Titanic artifacts but also immortalizes one of history’s most enduring tales of love and loyalty.
