A gold pocket watch that once belonged to Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia has broken a record for the most expensive Titanic-related item ever sold. The 18k gold watch was crafted by Tiffany & Co. and sold for £1.56 million (approximately $1.97 million) at a Henry Aldridge & Son auction on November 16, 2024.
Original auction estimates valued the watch between £80,000 – £120,000 GBP (or $100,446 – $150,668 USD). The watch was a gift from three survivors who also lost their husbands in the disaster. According to the auction house, Rostron received the watch at Mrs. Astor’s New York mansion on May 31, 1912, exactly one year after the Titanic’s launch and a little over a month after it sank. The heartfelt engraving on the watch reads:
Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912.
Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, and Mrs. George D. Widener
Captain Rostron and the crew of the Carpathia became international heroes after successfully navigating treacherous ice fields to reach Titanic lifeboats following the ship’s distress signal. Their quick response saved the lives of hundreds who otherwise might have perished in the frigid Atlantic waters.1
Henry Aldridge & Son specializes in historic artifacts, and the watch’s auction block price sets a new record for Titanic memorabilia. The previous record was held by a pocket watch that belonged to Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor (the richest man aboard whose widow had a part in gifting the watch above). That piece fetched £1.175 million (or $1.49 million USD) earlier this year.2
The exceptional price achieved for Captain Rostron’s watch can be attributed to its unique provenance. Unlike other Titanic artifacts, this piece directly connects to the heroic rescue efforts following the disaster. The watch’s ties to three prominent families of Titanic victims—each representing immense societal influence at the time—enhance its rarity and emotional resonance. Both watches sold to private collectors.
Additionally, its craftsmanship by Tiffany & Co., a premier luxury brand of the era, further underscores its value as both a historical artifact and a collectible item of high quality. Combined, these factors made the watch an unparalleled item in the field of Titanic memorabilia.
Sources
- “Arthur Rostron – A Hero of the Titanic Disaster.” Wikipedia, 2024. ↩︎
- “Gold watch recovered from body of richest man on the Titanic sells for £1.2m.” Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd, 2024. ↩︎
