A gold pocket watch belonging to Titanic passenger Isidor Straus fetched an astonishing
Rs 20 crore at an auction held in Wiltshire, England, today, setting a new record for Titanic-related memorabilia.
Rs 20 crore at an auction held in Wiltshire, England, today, setting a new record for Titanic-related memorabilia.
Isidor Straus, an American businessman and co-owner of Macy’s department store, was among the more than 1,500 passengers who died when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. Straus is remembered for declining a lifeboat seat to prioritise women and children, while his wife Ida chose to stay by his side until the end.
The gold watch, recovered from Straus’s belongings after the disaster, drew intense competition from collectors across the world. Auctioneers said it is now the most expensive artefact ever sold from the Titanic.
They also noted that the total value of Titanic items auctioned today exceeded Rs 35 crore, reflecting the enduring fascination with the ship’s tragic history and the personal stories of its passengers.
The record-breaking sale has once again brought global attention to the Titanic, more than a century after its sinking.
