Watch given to Titanic hero sells for £1.5m

A gold pocket watch given to Sir Arthur Rostron, captain of RMS Carpathia, for rescuing over 700 Titanic survivors in 1912 has sold for a record-breaking £1.56m ($1.97m) at auction.

The 18-carat Tiffany & Co timepiece was a gift from three widows, including the wife of John Jacob Astor, the richest man aboard the Titanic, as a token of gratitude for Rostron’s bravery.

The Carpathia had diverted course at full speed upon receiving Titanic’s distress call, reaching the site two hours after the ship sank, claiming over 1,500 lives.

Auctioneer Henry Aldridge and Son highlighted the enduring fascination with Titanic memorabilia, noting the watch set a new record, surpassing previous sales of Astor’s pocket watch (£1.175m) and the ship’s violin (£1.1m). The buyer was a private US collector.

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