A gold pocket watch offered to the captain of a ship that was collecting the Titanic’s castaways reached a record value at auction: 1.56 million pounds, the equivalent of 1.87 million euros at the current exchange rate.
Captain Arthur Rostron and his crew were responsible for saving 700 people. The Briton, who died in 1940, was in command of the passenger ship RMS Carpathia on the day of the disaster, April 15, 1912, when the Titanic sank after colliding with a iceberg during the maiden voyage.
The captain of the RMS Carpathia, traveling to New York from the Mediterranean Sea, heard the radio calls for help. He changed the ship’s route, sailing between icebergs to try to help. However, by the time the ship arrived at the scene, the Titanic had already sunk. He managed to pick up the passengers and crew who were adrift in the ocean in 20 lifeboats.
Iconic door from the movie “Titanic” sold at auction for more than 663 thousand euros
For this feat, three women who were widowed in the disaster offered the captain an 18-karat gold Tiffany & Co pocket watch. More than a hundred years later, the watch has been put up for auction by auctioneer Henry Aldrige and Son, specialized in pieces from the Titanic.
According Associated PressThe auctioneer managed to raise the record amount with the offer of a private collector from the USA, in an auction this Saturday. The price already includes taxes and other expenses borne by the buyer.
The watch has an engraved thank you message. “Gifted to Captain Rostron with the sincere gratitude and appreciation of three Titanic survivors, April 15, 1912.” The message is signed by the widows of John B. Thayer, John Jacob Astor and George D. Widener, three upper-class men who died in the sinking.
John Jacob Astor was considered the richest man aboard the Titanic. When his body was found, seven days after the sinking, he was carrying a 14-karat gold pocket watch. The watch was auctioned by Henry Aldrige and Son in April for 1.17 million pounds, around 1.4 million euros; It was the piece that held the previous auction record for a luxury item. memorable things of the Titanic.
The watch of the richest man on the Titanic goes up for auction this Saturday
Source: Observadora
