London, November 23, 2025
A gold pocket watch owned by Isidor Straus, a prominent Titanic passenger, sold for a record £1.78 million at Henry Aldridge & Son auction house in late 2024, setting a new benchmark for Titanic memorabilia and highlighting sustained global interest in the disaster.
Auction Details and Provenance
The timepiece is an 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch, engraved with Straus’s initials. It was recovered from Straus’s body after the Titanic sank and was subsequently returned to his family. The watch notably stopped at 02:20, the exact time the ship went down, adding significant historical and emotional weight. This sale price of £1.78 million (approximately $2.2 million USD) surpasses all previous records for Titanic artifacts.
Historical Context and Significance
Isidor Straus, co-owner of Macy’s department store, and his wife Ida, are widely remembered for their devoted actions during the Titanic disaster. Ida Straus famously refused to leave her husband’s side, choosing to perish alongside him. Their story embodies the tragedy’s human dimension. The recovered watch serves as a physical reminder of this legacy.
Additional Auction Highlights
The auction, handled by Henry Aldridge & Son, a leading specialist in Titanic artifacts, featured other significant items. These included a letter from Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which sold for £100,000; a passenger list from the ship, sold for £104,000; and a gold medal awarded to the rescue ship RMS Carpathia’s crew, which fetched £86,000. Collectively, the Titanic memorabilia auction raised £3 million.
Expert Commentary on the Sale
Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer, remarked that the sale underscores “the enduring interest in the Titanic story” and reflects the deep respect for the Straus couple’s legacy among collectors and historians.
Broader Implications
This record-setting sale not only indicates the exceptional value placed on authentic Titanic artifacts but also demonstrates the disaster’s lasting relevance more than a century later. It reinforces how objects linked to pivotal historical moments continue to attract scholarly and public attention, as well as significant collector investment. The auction’s success reflects a broader cultural and historical commitment to preserving the memory of Titanic and its passengers.