Gold Pocket Watch Linked to Titanic Rescuer Fetches Record £1.56m at Auction

A gold pocket watch gifted to Captain Sir Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, who saved over 700 individuals from the Titanic disaster, has been auctioned for a staggering £1.56 million ($1.97 million). The elegant 18-carat Tiffany & Co watch, bestowed upon Rostron by grateful survivors, marks the highest sale price ever for Titanic memorabilia, according to auctioneer Henry Aldridge and Son. Sold to a private collector in the United States, the auction highlights an enduring fascination with the tragic shipwreck of April 15, 1912.

Sir Arthur Rostron changed the Carpathia's course to rescue Titanic survivors after the ship received a distress signal indicating a collision with ice. Despite reaching the site hours after the Titanic sank, Captain Rostron's efforts were crucial in saving hundreds of lives. The pocket watch, engraved with a heartfelt message from three widows of wealthy businessmen lost on the Titanic, was presented primarily as a token of gratitude for Rostron's bravery during the disaster.

The auction's record price outstripped the previous high set just months earlier, when another Titanic-related watch sold for £1.175 million. The increase in prices illustrates a growing demand for such memorabilia amidst a dwindling supply of artifacts related to the ill-fated ship. With each auction, Titanic collectors continue to showcase an unyielding interest in the history surrounding the ocean liner's tragic voyage.