Editor’s Note
This article details the remarkable auction of a historic Tiffany & Co. pocket watch, a gift from *Titanic* survivors to their rescuer. The story takes an unexpected turn with the revelation of the anonymous, record-setting buyer.
A Tiffany & Co. pocket watch, gifted by survivors of the Titanic to the captain who saved their lives, has broken records at auction. The buyer of this exceptional piece, who spent $1.97 million anonymously, has now revealed their identity. It is none other than its original manufacturer, Tiffany & Co.
The object’s story is as epic as that of the ship to which it is linked. In mid-April 1912, when the reputedly unsinkable Titanic sank on its way to New York, another, providential ship was dispatched to its rescue. Its name was the Carpathia, and at the helm was Captain Arthur Henry Rostron. He would save nearly 700 souls. To express their gratitude, three of the survivors gifted him a yellow gold watch from Tiffany & Co..
Madeleine Talmage Astor, Marian Longstreth Thayer, and Eleanor Elkins Widener, the three passengers, had the back of the object engraved as a mark of their appreciation:
The three, members of New York high society at the time, lost their husbands in the shipwreck. Their status was such that aboard the Carpathia, the captain reportedly gave them preferential treatment, installing them in his own cabin. A gesture that must have been appreciated: once ashore, Mrs. Widener went to Tiffany & Co. where, on May 24, 1912, for $135, she purchased this gift, as indicated by the brand’s archives.
Preserved by the captain, the relic passed through the ages, eventually finding its way to an auction house in England in early November, where it was sold for $1.97 million. It thus became even more exceptional, its price being the highest ever recorded for an object linked to the Titanic. The buyer, who remained anonymous until now, has finally come forward. It is Tiffany & Co., the brand that manufactured it.
The acquisition has stirred emotions within the ranks of the New York jeweler. Christopher Young, Vice President in charge of Tiffany Archives at Tiffany & Co., who notes he had already seen the piece at auction a decade ago, could not believe his eyes.
reports the media WWD.
Beyond its romantic qualities, the pocket watch possesses a particular pedigree. It was manufactured in the early days of Tiffany & Co.’s watchmaking production, which even acquired a manufacture in Geneva in 1847. A source of pride for the manufacturer, the jewel will be exhibited in January at the LVMH Watch Week in Los Angeles. It thus joins the legendary watches of the Titanic. Last May, another timepiece made headlines: the pocket watch of the Titanic’s wealthiest passenger also sold under the hammer, for 1.37 million euros.