Titanic Timepiece: Gold Pocket Watch Expected to Fetch £800,000
A poignant piece of maritime history is set for auction in Wiltshire. An 18-carat gold pocket watch, recovered from the body of first-class passenger Isidor Straus after the sinking of the Titanic, is anticipated to fetch at least £800,000 when it is sold later this month. The item is being offered by the family of Mr Straus and his wife, Ida, at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes.
The Straus Couple on the Titanic
Mr Straus was a partner in the New York department store Macy’s. He had been given the 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch in 1888 as a gift for his 43rd birthday, the same year he became a partner in the department store.
During the sinking in April 1912, the couple’s actions gained notoriety. When Mr Straus was offered a place on a lifeboat due to his age, he declined, stating he would not board before other men. Mrs Straus refused to leave her husband, reportedly saying she would not be separated from him. The wealthy couple were among very few first-class passengers who perished in the disaster, which claimed 1,500 lives. They were last seen sitting on deck chairs together. Mrs Straus also handed her fur coat to her maid, Ellen Bird, as the maid entered a lifeboat. The couple was portrayed in James Cameron’s 1997 film, Titanic, cradling each other as the ship went down.
Recovered Personal Effects
The gold watch was recovered from Mr Straus’ body along with other personal effects and was returned to his family. The auctioneers stated that the item has been held by the family for over 113 years. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge confirmed the importance of the item, describing the watch as "without doubt one of the most important Titanic items in existence." The watch is part of the Straus archive, which is described as one of the most iconic Titanic-related collections to come to market. Interested parties can see images of the watch featured in announcements from Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers.
The auction also includes a letter written by Mrs Straus on Titanic stationery. This letter was posted while she was onboard the ship, offering a snapshot of life from a first-class passenger’s perspective. Mr Straus was born in Otterberg, Bavaria, in 1845, and emigrated to the US with his Jewish family in 1854. Before boarding the Titanic in Southampton for their return to the US, the couple had travelled on the RMS Caronia to Jerusalem in January 1912.
