A gold pocket watch worn by the wealthiest passenger on the Titanic has sold for six times the asking price, fetching £900,000.
J.J Astor was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean seven days after the sinking of the ship with the 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved with the initials ‘JJA’. It was estimated to sell for £150,000 when it went under the hammer.
This means the watch is now the highest amount ever paid for a single item from the doomed liner.
"Unlike many timepieces from the Titanic, which are frozen in time on the fateful night, the watch was restored and worn by Mr Astor's son, Vincent," said David Beddard, chairman of the British Titanic Society.
"To be able to see J.J. Astor's watch, knowing it was in his pocket as he put his young, pregnant bride in a lifeboat and stepped back, knowing he wasn't going to survive, is remarkable," he added.
JJA watch - NEW WORLD RECORD
posted on 27/4/24
Wrong board
posted on 27/4/24
Do you wear a pocket watch? More a carry item surely?
posted on 27/4/24
Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer said: “The Astor watch including all fees and taxes has now become the most valuable piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold, just beating the £1.1 million paid for the Wallace Hartley violin over 10 years ago.”
posted on 27/4/24
comment by Cinciwolf-----JA606 NFL fantasy champ 2023 (U11551)
posted 6 minutes ago
Do you wear a pocket watch? More a carry item surely?
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Is it fair to say that people carry mobile phones that are regularly used for the time in their pocket? Meet in the middle maybe?
posted on 27/4/24
comment by Choice Cit¥ (U22714)
posted 5 minutes ago
Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer said: “The Astor watch including all fees and taxes has now become the most valuable piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold, just beating the £1.1 million paid for the Wallace Hartley violin over 10 years ago.”
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Why is £1.1m < £900k?
posted on 27/4/24
Both sold for £900k, including fees and taxes the watch reached £1.175 million, the violin (that was played as the ship sank, 1912) reached £1.1 million (2013).
The case for that violin was also sold today (2024) at the same auction as the pocket watch at Henry Aldridge & Son for £360,000.