Titanic Couple’s Pocket Watch Sells for Record £1.78m
- A gold pocket watch belonging to Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger who perished with his wife Ida in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, has achieved a record-breaking...
- The 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch, engraved with Isidor Straus's initials, was sold by auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, on an undisclosed date in November 2025.
- The watch's significance lies in its connection to the poignant story of Isidor and Ida straus,who chose to remain together as the ship sank rather than be separated,embodying...
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Titanic Pocket Watch Sells for Record £1.78 Million at Devizes Auction
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A gold pocket watch belonging to Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger who perished with his wife Ida in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, has achieved a record-breaking sale price of £1.78 million at auction in Devizes, Wiltshire. This marks the highest amount ever paid for a piece of Titanic memorabilia.
Published: November 23, 2025, 08:43:42 GMT
The Record-Breaking Sale
The 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch, engraved with Isidor Straus’s initials, was sold by auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, on an undisclosed date in November 2025. The final price of £1.78 million (approximately $2.25 million USD as of November 23, 2025) surpasses the previous record of £1.56 million paid for a gold pocket watch presented to the captain of a rescue boat that saved over 700 passengers from the Titanic, sold in 2024.
The watch’s significance lies in its connection to the poignant story of Isidor and Ida straus,who chose to remain together as the ship sank rather than be separated,embodying a powerful tale of love and devotion. Isidor Straus was a co-owner of Macy’s department store.
The Straus Family and the Titanic
Isidor Straus (February 6,1845 – April 15,1912) and Ida Straus (July 29,1849 – april 15,1912) were German-American philanthropists who died in the sinking of the Titanic. Accounts from survivors detail Ida Straus refusing a seat on a lifeboat,stating she would remain with her husband of over 40 years.Isidor Straus reportedly offered his place to a younger man, stating, “I made my decision long ago.If it should come to a situation like this, I would not survive without my wife.”
A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, posted while still onboard the ship, also fetched a ample £100,000 at the same auction, further demonstrating the enduring public fascination with the couple’s story.
Historical Context and Previous Sales
The Titanic disaster, which occurred on April 15, 1912, resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 people. The tragedy continues to captivate the public creativity, driving demand for artifacts and memorabilia related to the ship and its passengers. The increasing prices paid for these items reflect both their historical value and the emotional resonance of the event.
Here’s a table outlining recent high-value Titanic memorabilia sales:
| Item | Sale Price (£) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Isidor Straus’s Pocket Watch | 1,780,000 | 2025 |
| Captain’s Rescue Boat Watch | 1,560,000 | 2024 |
| Ida Straus’s Letter | 100,000 | 2025 |