Gold watch found on body of Titanic's richest passenger is for sale

A pouch watch that belonged to nan wealthiest rider aboard nan Titanic is up for auction and could waste for arsenic overmuch arsenic 150,000 pounds, aliases astir $190,000. 

The auction for John Jacob Astor IV's 14-carat golden Waltham pouch watch originates Saturday, pinch a starting bid of 60,000 pounds, according to auction location Henry Aldridge & Son. The watch, engraved pinch nan initials JJA, was recovered on pinch Astor's assemblage erstwhile his remains were recovered respective days aft nan Titanic sank. He was besides recovered pinch a gem ring, golden and gem cufflinks, 225 pounds successful English notes, and $2,440.

"Astor is good known arsenic nan richest rider aboard nan R.M.S. Titanic and was thought to beryllium among nan richest group successful nan world astatine that time, pinch a nett worthy of astir $87 cardinal (equivalent to respective cardinal dollars today,)" nan auction location wrote.

Astor was connected nan Titanic pinch wife, Madeleine. The business tycoon, who was successful his 40s, had joined nan 18-year-old connected Sept. 11, 1911, according to nan auction house. The newlyweds took an extended honeymoon successful Europe and Egypt while they waited for rumors astir their matrimony to dice down. They were headed backmost to nan U.S. erstwhile nan Titanic deed an iceberg connected April 14, 1912.

According to nan auction house, Astor asked if he could subordinate his woman connected a lifeboat, mentioning her "delicate condition." After being told he needed to hold until each nan women and children were away, Astor reportedly lit a cigaret and tossed his gloves to his wife. He went disconnected to fume pinch writer Jacques Futrelle, who besides died erstwhile nan Titanic sank. They were among nan much than 1,500 who perished. 

Astor's assemblage — and his watch — were recovered by nan steamer CS McKay-Bennett connected April 22. His woman survived.

"The watch itself was wholly restored aft being returned to Colonel Astor's family and worn by his boy making it a unsocial portion of nan Titanic communicative and 1 of nan astir important pieces of horological history relating to nan astir celebrated vessel successful nan world," nan auction location said.

The waste of nan pouch watch comes arsenic different items from nan infamous shipwreck person besides deed nan auction block, astir precocious a photo taken connected April 16, 1912, that apparently shows nan iceberg that doomed nan ship.

In November, a rare menu from the Titanic's first-class restaurant sold astatine auction on pinch a pouch watch from different man who died successful nan 1912 disaster. The paper sold for astir about $101,600. The pocket watch, recovered from Russian migrant Sinai Kantor, sold for astir $118,700. 

Before his death, Astor was a business magnate, existent property developer, investor, writer, and a lieutenant colonel successful nan Spanish–American War, according to nan auction house. He founded nan St. Regis hotel successful New York City, which still stands today. Astor is besides credited pinch inventing an early shape of aerial conditioning by blowing acold aerial complete nan hotel's wall vents

He was nan awesome grandson of John Jacob Astor, a fur trader who died successful 1948 arsenic 1 of nan wealthiest men successful nan U.S., according to nan Library of Congress. In their 2023 book "Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune," Anderson Cooper and co-author historiographer Katherine Howe described really nan family made its fortune. 

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• Titanic