Breaking Records: John Jacob Astor’s Gold Watch Sells for Record-Setting £1.17 Million in England
A gold watch belonging to John Jacob Astor, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world at the time, has been sold for £1.17 million ($1.46 million) at an auction in England, according to a report by AFP on April 27. The amount set a record for the highest sum paid for an item linked to the tragic 1912 shipwreck and surpassed the pre-sale estimate of £100,000 to £150,000.
The watch, which had the initials JJA engraved on it, was found among Astor’s personal effects after his body was discovered a week later following his death on April 15, 1912 when he perished as Titanic sank. At 47 years old, Astor was known as one of the richest men in the world during that period. He assisted his wife Madeleine onto a lifeboat before succumbing to his demise. Fortunately, she survived while his body was discovered later with other items from his belongings including this gold watch.
Following its recovery and restoration, it was subsequently worn by Astor’s son until its recent sale at Henry Aldridge & Son auction house in London where it attracted numerous bidders from around the world before being won by a buyer from United States who emerged victorious in bidding war.
