The Titanic’s Richest Passenger and His Pocket Watch
A gold pocket watch that belonged to John Jacob Astor, the wealthiest man aboard the Titanic, will be up for auction this Saturday. Astor, a 47-year-old businessman from the prominent Astor family, perished in the 1912 disaster after helping his wife onto a lifeboat.
The Last Moments of John Jacob Astor
Rather than seeking safety on another lifeboat, Astor was last seen smoking a cigarette and conversing casually with a fellow passenger as the ship sank. His 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved with his initials JJA, was recovered when his body was found in the Atlantic Ocean seven days after the tragic event.
Auction Expectations and Historical Significance
The estimated value of the watch is between £100,000 and £150,000 as it is put up for auction by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire. Astor, who was one of the wealthiest individuals at the time, had a net worth equivalent to billions of dollars today, according to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.
Despite initially thinking the ship was not in danger, Astor eventually realized the severity of the situation and helped his wife into a lifeboat before perishing. His watch, passed down to his son Vincent, eventually made its way to the son of his father’s executive secretary, William Dobbyn, who later restored and wore it.
This watch is not just a timepiece, but a poignant reminder of one of the most tragic events in history, making it a vital part of the Titanic’s legacy and an invaluable piece of horological history.
The Titanic’s Richest Passenger and His Pocket Watch
A gold pocket watch that belonged to John Jacob Astor, the wealthiest man aboard the Titanic, will be up for auction this Saturday. Astor, a 47-year-old businessman from the prominent Astor family, perished in the 1912 disaster after helping his wife onto a lifeboat.
The Last Moments of John Jacob Astor
Rather than seeking safety on another lifeboat, Astor was last seen smoking a cigarette and conversing casually with a fellow passenger as the ship sank. His 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved with his initials JJA, was recovered when his body was found in the Atlantic Ocean seven days after the tragic event.
Auction Expectations and Historical Significance
The estimated value of the watch is between £100,000 and £150,000 as it is put up for auction by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire. Astor, who was one of the wealthiest individuals at the time, had a net worth equivalent to billions of dollars today, according to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.
Despite initially thinking the ship was not in danger, Astor eventually realized the severity of the situation and helped his wife into a lifeboat before perishing. His watch, passed down to his son Vincent, eventually made its way to the son of his father’s executive secretary, William Dobbyn, who later restored and wore it.
This watch is not just a timepiece, but a poignant reminder of one of the most tragic events in history, making it a vital part of the Titanic’s legacy and an invaluable piece of horological history.
