The watch was given to Sir Arthur Rostron, captain of RMS Carpathia, in gratitude for his heroic efforts.
**Titanic Hero's Watch Fetches £1.56 Million at Auction**
**Titanic Hero's Watch Fetches £1.56 Million at Auction**
A historic gold watch awarded to the captain who saved countless Titanic survivors breaks auction records.
A gold pocket watch, presented to Sir Arthur Rostron for his courageous role in the Titanic rescue, has fetched an astonishing £1.56 million ($1.97 million) at auction, setting a new record for Titanic memorabilia. Auction house Henry Aldridge and Son, based in Wiltshire, announced that this remarkable 18-carat Tiffany & Co timepiece was acquired by a private U.S. collector, highlighting the enduring allure surrounding the Titanic disaster.
Captain Rostron was at the helm of RMS Carpathia when he received a distress signal from the ill-fated Titanic after it struck an iceberg on April 15, 1912. Despite being en route from New York to Europe, he diverted his ship towards the Titanic and engaged at full speed, ultimately rescuing more than 700 passengers stranded in the frigid Atlantic waters.
The watch, richly inscribed with a message of gratitude from three prominent Titanic survivors, including the widow of billionaire John Jacob Astor, serves as a poignant symbol of Rostron's bravery. The inscription reads, "Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic, April 15th, 1912: Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, and Mrs. George D. Widener." According to Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer, this donation stemmed from heartfelt appreciation for Rostron's efforts, as many lives hinged on his quick decision-making.
Previously, another Titanic watch, belonging to Mr. Astor, set the record in April at £1.175 million. The fascination with these artifacts continues to grow, as evidenced by the continuous breaking of records. Aldridge emphasized this phenomenon, stating that it reflects both the dwindling availability and increasing demand for such priceless memorabilia. Meanwhile, other historic Titanic items, like the violin played amidst the ship's sinking, once held the auction record before being sold for £1.1 million in 2013.
