John Jacob Astor IV’s Gold Pocket Watch Breaks Record in Titanic Artifact Sale

John Jacob Astor IV’s gold pocket watch that he wore on board the ill-fated Titanic during its maiden voyage in 1912 has sold for a record sum of almost $1.5 million at auction, significantly more than the initial estimate of around $189,000 by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England. Astor, an esteemed New York business magnate and real estate developer, was considered the wealthiest passenger aboard Titanic when it struck an iceberg and sank on 15th April, causing devastation amongst the hundreds who were passengers. Sadly, John Jacob Astor IV went down with the ship after assisting his pregnant wife Madeleine onto a lifeboat; he is remembered in folklore as having stepped back to light one final cigarette before tossing gloves towards her and then joining author Jacques Futrelle for their last smoke together. The watch’s casing, embellished by Astor’s initials ‘JJA’, was recovered from his body after the tragedy occurred. Vincent, John Jacob Astor IV’s son inherited the artefact that has been in and out of auction since 1976 before undergoing restoration following its return to the Astor family. Wallace Hartley’s bag containing a famous violin played by the bandmaster as Titanic sank was also sold at Saturday’s auction for $454,949 after an estimated worth around $150,000. The leather case was discovered strapped to Hartley’s body when it was recovered from the wreckage site; the violin itself is now part of the exhibition showcased by Titanic Belfast Museum since its value exceeded any other item related to the infamous shipwreck incident in 1912. Apart from that, a document indicating John Jacob Astor IV’s cabin layout on board the ill-fated vessel was also sold for $37,912 at Saturday’s auction event organised by Henry Aldridge and Son Auction House.