Titanic ‘Sinking Time’ Watch, Surprise Auction Price [Social Pick]

In 1912, a watch owned by a passenger aboard the Titanic has appeared at auction. It sold for 1.78 million pounds, approximately 3.4 billion won. On April 14, 1912, the Titanic, en route from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, hit an iceberg. Isidor Straus urged his wife to get on a lifeboat, but she decided to stay on deck, unwilling to part from her husband. The 18K gold watch recovered with Isidor’s body is engraved with the initials of his name and his birth date. It is believed to have been a gift for his 43rd birthday, and the watch stopped at around 2:20 AM, the time of the Titanic’s sinking. A letter by his wife, Ida Straus, written onboard, was auctioned for 100,000 pounds, approximately 200 million won. The letter conveyed to a friend her delight with the luxurious accommodations. According to the BBC, auctioneer Andrew Aldridge commented that this indicates the ongoing interest in the Titanic, referring to it as evidence of a beautiful love story at the time of its sinking. [Image source: henryaldridge]