Khaberni - Exactly 114 years ago, the giant Titanic ship began its journey across the Atlantic from the coasts of Europe to New York City.
The ship, which sank four days after setting sail, had on board an American millionaire who had just returned with his wife from a honeymoon in Egypt and Europe. While his wife was saved in lifeboats, he succumbed to his fate and drowned with possessions and money he was carrying, among them a precious gold watch.
The watch will be displayed at a public auction in the coming period, carrying with it a poignant human story of its owner. The gold watch, stopped at the exact moment of the sinking, at 2:19 AM, was found with the American businessman John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest men in the world at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the wealthiest on board the ship.
According to a report by "GDN Online," the piece on display is an 18-karat gold pocket watch made by Patek Philippe, originally sold through Tiffany & Co., and bears the initials “JJA”. Estimates suggest it could sell for about 400,000 British pounds at the upcoming auction in Chicago, having remained in the possession of the Astor family for four successive generations.
Astor is one of the most prominent icons of the Gilded Age in the United States, a period that witnessed massive economic growth and the accumulation of wealth among the emerging class of businessmen. He was a man of many talents, combining innovation and real estate investment, and contributed significantly to shaping the contours of New York City. His name is also linked with the establishment of the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel.
In April 1912, Astor (aged 47) boarded the Titanic with his young wife Madeleine (aged 18), and the couple was returning from an extended trip in Europe and Egypt, in an effort to escape the pressures of American society which had sparked controversy over their significant age difference.
When the ship collided with an iceberg on that fateful night, Astor initially did not realize the extent of the danger, as he tried to reassure his wife that the damage was not significant. But as events escalated and the ship began to tilt, the reality of the disaster became clear, and evacuation became imperative.
In a crucial moment, Astor accompanied his wife to one of the lifeboats, and asked to join her given her health condition, but his request was denied according to the evacuation rules which prioritized women and children. According to survivor accounts, Astor accepted the decision calmly.
His last appearance was as he stood calmly on the deck, smoking a cigarette and talking to a fellow passenger, before the ship disappeared into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Seven days after the incident, rescue teams found his body, along with a number of his personal belongings, among them the gold watch that today becomes a rare piece bearing deep historical and human significance.
The watch was later returned to his son, who kept it for many years, remaining a silent witness to his father’s story.
This disaster still attracts widespread interest to this day, as items associated with it continue to draw the attention of collectors and investors, achieving record numbers in international auctions. This reflects the ongoing public fascination with the incident, not only as a human tragedy but also for the individual stories it bears. With Astor's watch being auctioned, these memories are renewed, confirming that the legacy of the Titanic remains strong, despite more than 100 years since its sinking.
