The gold pocket watch belonging to one of the main characters of the Titanic tragedy recently sold at auction for a record price.
Arthur Rostron’s Tiffany & Co. gold pocket watch, which he received from Titanic survivors
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron, a distinguished British naval officer, was born on May 14, 1869, in the Astley Bridge neighborhood of Bolton, England. At just 13 years old, he embarked on a career in the Merchant Navy, where his diligence, leadership, and dedication to duty quickly earned him recognition. By 1912, he had ascended to the rank of captain of the RMS Carpathia, a passenger ship operated by the Cunard Line.
Rostron’s name became synonymous with heroism during the Titanic disaster on the night of April 14-15, 1912. When the Carpathia received the Titanic’s distress call after it struck an iceberg, Rostron immediately ordered the ship to maximum speed. Navigating perilous ice fields in complete darkness, he and his crew managed to rescue 705 survivors from lifeboats in freezing conditions. For his decisive leadership and courage, Rostron received widespread acclaim. President William Howard Taft awarded him the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, and he was later knighted by King George V.
Recently, Rostron’s legacy returned to the spotlight with the auction of a remarkable artifact connected to his heroism. His gold Tiffany & Co. watch, crafted in 18-carat gold and inscribed with a message of gratitude, recently sold at auction. The inscription reads: “Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic. April 15, 1912. Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, and Mrs. George D. Widener.” The three women were the widows of prominent American businessmen who all perished in the sinking.
Initially valued at £80K to £120K, the watch surpassed all expectations, fetching an extraordinary £1.28 M / $1.6M (or £1.56M / $1.97M w/p) — a record-breaking price for Titanic memorabilia. Now owned by a private collector, the watch is a testament to Rostron’s bravery and the lives he saved during one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. The previous record for a Titanic-related object was a pocket watch once owned by John Jacob Astor, which sold for £1.175 M ($1.485 M) earlier this year.