Key Highlights
- A gold pocket watch from the Titanic is expected to fetch £1 million at auction.
- The watch was owned by Isidor Straus, a co-owner of Macy’s department store in New York.
- Isidor and his wife Ida perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.
- The watch stopped at 02:20, the moment the Titanic disappeared beneath the waves.
Auction of Titanic Memorabilia Sparks Interest in Sinking Disaster’s Legacy
Four days ago, an auction house announced that a gold pocket watch from one of the wealthiest passengers on the ill-fated RMS Titanic is expected to fetch £1 million at auction. The watch belonged to Isidor Straus, who was among the 1,500 people who perished when the ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912.
Isidor Straus: A New York Business Titan
Isidor Straus was a Bavaria-born American businessman and politician. He co-owned Macy’s department store in New York City with his brother-in-law, Isidor Klein. Together, they transformed the store into one of America’s most renowned retail establishments.
As the ship was sinking, Ida, Isidor’s wife, refused to leave her husband despite being offered a place in a lifeboat. She famously stated, “Isidor we have been together all of these years, where you go, I go.” This dedication to each other is reflected in the watch that stopped at 02:20, the exact moment the Titanic submerged.
The Auction Details
According to Andrew Aldridge, an auctioneer from Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, England, the watch will go under the hammer on November 22, 2019. The letter Ida wrote aboard the Titanic is also set to be sold alongside the pocket watch. This letter describes the luxury of the ship and has been postmarked “TransAtlantic 7,” indicating it was franked in the ship’s post office before being taken off with other mail at Queenstown, Ireland.
The auction house expects significant interest from collectors worldwide, as news of the sale has already generated considerable attention.
Kenneth Hollister Straus, Isidor’s great-grandson, had the watch movement repaired and restored after it was returned to his family. This piece is not only a valuable artifact but also a powerful reminder of the Titanic disaster 107 years ago.
Isidor Straus: A Symbol of the American Dream
A spokesperson for the auction house highlighted Isidor Straus as a symbol of the American Dream, rising from humble immigrant origins to become a prominent figure in New York’s establishment. “Every man, woman and child had a story to tell – those stories now are retold through these objects,” the spokesperson added.
This historic watch is set to become one of the most expensive Titanic artifacts ever sold, with experts predicting it could fetch £1 million. The sale not only underscores the enduring legacy of the Titanic but also highlights the value collectors place on personal items from this tragic event in maritime history.
