A gold pocket watch belonging to Isidor Straus, a prominent passenger on the Titanic, is poised to achieve a remarkable £1 million ($1.3 million) at auction. This exquisite piece was recovered from his body after the tragic sinking of the ship on April 14, 1912, when it struck an iceberg.
Background of the Titanic Disaster
The Titanic was en route from Southampton to New York when it met its fateful end, resulting in over 1,500 casualties. Isidor and his wife Ida Straus were among those who perished. Isidor, a successful businessman and co-owner of Macy’s department store, was well-known in New York.
Details of the Pocket Watch
The watch, crafted by Jules Jurgensen in 18 carats of gold, is particularly significant as it stopped at 2:20 AM, precisely when the Titanic sank. It is believed to have been a gift from Ida to Isidor in 1888, adorned with his initials.
Significance and Auction Details
- The watch is set to be auctioned on November 22, 2023, by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.
- It is expected to become one of the most valuable Titanic artefacts ever sold.
- A letter from Ida, describing the Titanic’s luxurious accommodations, will be auctioned alongside the watch, estimated to fetch around £150,000.
According to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, the watch serves as a poignant reminder of Isidor Straus’s story and the enduring love between him and Ida. On the fateful night, Ida refused to leave Isidor even when offered a place in a lifeboat, famously stating, “Where you go, I go.”
The auction has garnered significant attention from buyers worldwide, highlighting the continuing interest in Titanic memorabilia more than a century after the disaster. A previous sale of a gold pocket watch given to the captain of the Carpathia, which rescued Titanic survivors, fetched a record-breaking £1.56 million last year.
The story of Isidor and Ida Straus continues to resonate, illustrating the profound personal narratives intertwined with the Titanic tragedy.
