Titanic Passenger's Pocket Watch Shatters Records - Sells for GBP 1.78 Million at UK Auction

A Golden Relic Frozen at the Moment of Disaster

London, November 2025 - A rare 18-carat gold pocket watch recovered from the body of a prominent Titanic passenger has sold for a staggering £1.78 million, becoming the most valuable Titanic artefact ever auctioned. Crafted by Jules Jurgensen, the timepiece was retrieved from the icy Atlantic just days after the RMS Titanic sank in April 1912, claiming more than 1,500 lives. It was later returned to the family of the American businessman who owned it - a well-known co-owner of a major department store.

What makes the watch especially poignant is that it stopped at 2:20 am - the exact moment the Titanic disappeared beneath the ocean. Engraved with the owner's initials and cherished within the family for more than a century, the watch was recently restored, its original craftsmanship largely preserved.

Titanic Memorabilia Continues to Command Extraordinary Prices

The record-setting timepiece headlined a major Titanic memorabilia auction held in Wiltshire, England, where total sales reached £3 million. Among the standout lots were:

• A handwritten letter from onboard Titanic - sold for £100,000
• An original passenger list - sold for £104,000
• A gold medal awarded to RMS Carpathia crew - sold for £86,000

The Carpathia famously rescued over 700 survivors, making its related artefacts historically significant and emotionally charged.

A Story of Love, Loss and Enduring Fascination

This sale surpasses the previous record held by another gold watch presented to the captain of the Carpathia, which sold for £1.56 million.

Legacy and Value - Why Titanic Relics Endure

Experts say Titanic artefacts continue to captivate collectors because they offer a direct, tangible connection to one of history's most powerful maritime tragedies. More than a century later, each recovered object tells a deeply personal story - of courage, loss, love and memory.

This gold timepiece, now the most valuable Titanic item ever auctioned, stands as a timeless reminder of the night the world's grandest ship met its tragic fate.