It belonged to John Jacob Astor and represents a piece of Titanic history: it was sold for 1.37 million euros
A ticking sound that has crossed the ocean and history. A golden timepiece that marked the last moments of an opulent life and which today returns to beat in unison with the hearts of history enthusiasts and collectors. John Jacob Astor IV’s pocket watchthe passenger richer than the Titanic, was sold at auction by Henry Aldridge & Son for a record sum of 1.175 million pounds (approximately 1.37 million euros), winning the title of the most expensive relic ever auctioned among those from the legendary ocean liner.
More than just a watch, this Waltham in 14k goldengraved with the initials JJA, represents a real piece of history. Found on Astor’s body after the shipwreck of April 15, 1912, the timepiece not only withstood the impact of the iceberg and the sinking of the ship, but also preserved the memory of one of the most powerful and influential men of the era of he.
At the time of the disaster, Astor, a publishing and real estate magnate, was considered one of the richest men in the world, with an estimated wealth of approximately 87 million dollars (a figure equivalent to several billion today). The figure of him, emblem of the luxury and unbridled success of the Belle Époque, is inextricably intertwined with the tragedy of the Titanic. The auction of Astor’s watch exceeded all expectations, beating the previous record of 1.1 million of pounds reached in 2013 for a violin played aboard the Titanic during the sinking. A new record that underlines the timeless charm of the Titanic’s history and its ability to generate interest and collecting.
The purchase of the watch by a American private collector it does not just represent an economic investment, but a real act of cultural patronage. This heirloom, in fact, takes on an inestimable value as eyewitness of a dramatic event that marked history and as a symbol of a now vanished era, that of the great magnates and immeasurable riches. Astor’s watch is not only a precious object, but also a warning not to forget the victims of the Titanic and the fragility of life. An heirloom that takes us back in timemakes us relive the atmosphere of a lost era and invites us to reflect on the vanity of riches in the face of the power of nature and the unpredictability of destiny.
Photo Henry Aldridge & Son
