A rare 18‑carat gold pocket watch belonging to Titanic passenger Isidor Straus might soon become the most expensive artifact ever sold from the ill-fated ship. The watch bears the initials “IS” and reportedly stopped at 2:20 a.m., the approximate time the Titanic sank.
Isidor Straus, co‑owner of Macy’s department store, was aboard with his wife, Ida, on the ship’s final voyage. The couple’s loyalty and love became legendary: Ida famously refused a lifeboat seat, choosing to stay with Isidor as the ship went down.
The pocket watch is being auctioned by direct descendants of the Straus family through Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers. Alongside the watch is a never-before-seen letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, postmarked just days before the disaster.
Experts believe the combined lot could outpace previous record-setting Titanic sales, including:
- John Jacob Astor’s gold pocket watch, which sold for over £1.17 million.
- A gold Tiffany & Co. watch given to Captain Arthur Rostron, auctioned for nearly $2 million.
Key Insights:
- The watch was likely a birthday gift from Ida to Isidor in 1888, making it deeply personal.
- Its stopper at 2:20 a.m. gives it symbolic weight, linking it directly to the moment of the sinking.
- The letter offers a rare personal window into Ida’s thoughts and experiences aboard Titanic.
- Collectors and historians are calling the watch “one of the finest and rarest objects from the Titanic story.”
Conclusion:
This auction isn’t just a sale—it’s a deeply human story. The Straus couple’s legacy of love and loyalty makes this pocket watch more than a historical relic. If estimates hold, it could become the most valuable piece of Titanic history ever sold—and fiercely sought after by collectors who place a premium on personal stories, not just provenance.
