Record-Breaking Sale of Astor’s Titanic Watch and Hartley’s Violin Case

John Jacob Astor IV’s gold pocket watch that had been recovered from his body after the infamous sinking of Titanic has fetched a record-breaking sum of almost $1.5 million at an auction held in Wiltshire, England by Henry Aldridge and Son LTD. The New York financier and real estate developer drowned aboard the ill-fated ocean liner during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City on April 15, 1912, after it collided with an iceberg. Astor’s watch was among several items recovered from his body following the tragedy that claimed over 1,500 lives. The timepiece is engraved with Astor’s initials “JJA” and had been expected to sell for around $189,000 at auction.
The sale of Astor’s gold pocket watch surpasses the previous record held by another item linked to Titanic – a lock of hair from victim Milvina Dean – which sold in 2013 for just over £165,00 ($248,794).
In addition to Astor’s timepiece, other artefacts connected with the ship also went under the hammer at Saturday’s auction. Wallace Hartley’s bag that held his famous violin was sold for $454,949 – a significantly higher price than its initial estimated value of around $150,000. The leather case containing Hartley’s items, which include papers with personal contacts written by hand alongside tuning screw and string replacements for his instrument, were recovered strapped to the body of the famous Titanic bandleader as it sank below freezing water more than a century ago in one of history’s most devastating disasters. Hartley’s violin is currently on display at the Titanic Belfast Museum.
Astor’s original plan for boarding the doomed ship, depicting its layout, was also sold off for $37,912 during Saturday’s auction.