LONDON, April 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A gold watch found on the body of the
richest passenger on the Titanic was auctioned in England for œ1.17 million
($1.46 million) on Saturday.

t was a record sum for an object linked to the notorious 1912 shipping
disaster, said auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son.

A US buyer won the bidding war, smashing the auctioneer's pre-sale estimate
of between œ100,000 and œ150,000.

The watch, engraved with the initials JJA, belonged to the US business
magnate John Jacob Astor.

Astor was 47 when he died as the Titanic sank in the early hours of April
15,1912. He was reputed to be one of the richest men in the world at the
time.

He died after having helped his wife, Madeleine, on board one of the
lifeboats. She survived the disaster.

Astor's body was found a week after the disaster, with the watch among his
personal belongings.

"The watch itself was completely restored after being returned to Colonel
Astor's family and worn by his son," said a statement from the auction house.