An exquisite pocket watch once owned by the wealthiest passenger aboard the Titanic is set to go under the hammer, with expectations to fetch a staggering 150,000 pounds, or nearly $190,000.
The auction for John Jacob Astor IV's opulent 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch will kick off this Saturday, starting at 60,000 pounds, as revealed by the auction house Henry Aldridge & Son. This luxurious timepiece, adorned with the initials JJA, was discovered alongside Astor's body in the aftermath of the Titanic tragedy. Along with the watch, Astor was found with a diamond ring, gold and diamond cufflinks, 225 pounds in English notes, and $2,440 in cash.
"Astor is widely recognized as the wealthiest passenger on board the R.M.S. Titanic and was considered one of the richest individuals of his time, boasting a net worth of approximately $87 million (equivalent to several billion dollars in today's currency)," stated the auction house.
Astor and his wife, Madeleine, were passengers on the ill-fated Titanic. The couple, who had a significant age difference, got married on September 11, 1911. Following their wedding, they embarked on a long honeymoon across Europe and Egypt to escape the public scrutiny surrounding their relationship. Tragically, on April 14, 1912, while returning to the United States, the Titanic struck an iceberg.
Colonel Astor's body, along with his watch, was recovered by the CS McKay-Bennett on April 22. Miraculously, his wife survived the disaster.
"The watch underwent a full restoration process upon its return to Colonel Astor's family. It was later worn by his son, adding a unique layer to the Titanic's history and becoming a significant piece of horological heritage linked to the world's most famous ship," stated the auction house.
Recently, various items salvaged from the Titanic, including a photograph taken on April 16, 1912, depicting the iceberg responsible for the ship's tragic fate, have been up for auction.
During the month of November, a scarce menu from the first-class restaurant of the Titanic was auctioned off, along with a pocket watch belonging to another individual who perished in the tragic 1912 event. The menu fetched approximately $101,600 at the auction. The pocket watch that belonged to Russian immigrant Sinai Kantor was sold for around $118,700.
Prior to his passing, Astor was a prominent figure in business, real estate development, investment, writing, and had served as a lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, as per the auction house. He was the founder of the St. Regis hotel in New York City, a landmark that remains operational to this day. Astor is also recognized for his creation of an early form of air conditioning, achieved by circulating cold air over the hotel's wall vents.
He was the great grandson of John Jacob Astor, a renowned fur trader who passed away in 1948 as one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States, according to the Library of Congress. In their 2023 publication "Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune," Anderson Cooper and historian Katherine Howe delve into the narrative of how the family amassed its wealth.
