### Historic Titanic Captain's Watch Sells for Record-Breaking £1.56 Million

A remarkable piece of Titanic history has been sold for an unprecedented £1.56 million ($1.97 million). The 18-carat gold pocket watch, crafted by Tiffany & Co., was gifted to Captain Arthur Rostron, who heroically rescued over 700 passengers and crew from the doomed vessel in 1912.

The watch's extraordinary journey began when the widows of three prominent businessmen, who perished in the Titanic disaster, expressed their deep gratitude to Captain Rostron. The Titanic tragically sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg. Captain Rostron, at the helm of the RMS Carpathia, courageously altered his course and sped to respond to the Titanic's distress calls, thereby saving many lives.

An inscription on the watch reads: "Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912 Mrs John B Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs George D Widener." Among them was Mrs. Astor, whose husband, John Jacob Astor IV, was the wealthiest person aboard the Titanic and was portrayed in James Cameron's 1997 film "Titanic." Astor managed to ensure his pregnant wife's safety in a lifeboat but unfortunately lost his life with approximately 1,500 others.

Captain Rostron received the watch at Mrs. Astor's New York mansion on May 31, 1912, to mark his valorous efforts exactly one year after the Titanic had been launched. This watch now holds the distinction of being the most expensive Titanic-related artifact ever auctioned, surpassing the previous record of £1.175 million ($1.485 million) set by another pocket watch earlier this year.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge highlighted the growing interest in Titanic memorabilia, remarking that the world record for such items has been broken twice in 2023 alone. "The fact the world record price for Titanic memorabilia has been broken twice this year demonstrates the ever-decreasing supply and an ever-increasing demand for memorabilia related to the ship," Aldridge noted.

Sold to a private collector in the United States, the final sale price of the watch includes all fees and taxes, as reported by PA media.