Astor's Titanic Pocket Watch to be Auctioned

(IDEX Online) - A pocket watch that belonged to John Jacob Astor IV, and that was recovered from his body after he died on the Titanic's maiden voyage, is to be sold at auction.

The 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe timepiece, retailed by Tiffany & Co, is expected to fetch $300,000 to $500,000.

Astor, aged 47, was one of the world's wealthiest men, with an $87 million fortune at the time, in 1912 (worth about $2 billion today) and unquestionably the richest person on the doomed ship.

He inherited a portfolio of real estate investments in New York City and expanded into hotels, including the Astoria (which became the Waldorf Astoria).

Astor was sailing to the US with his new wife, aged 18 and heavily pregnant, when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. He'd just divorced his first wife after 20 years of marriage.

The pocket watch, bought in 1904, together with a matching gold, diamond, and sapphire pencil case, is to be sold at Freeman's Chicago on 22 April.  

Both items have remained in the family for over a century. They're being sold by the estate of Charlene Marshall, widow of Anthony Marshall, a grandson of John Jacob Astor IV, and the last direct‑family private owner. Charlene Marshall died in August 2024. Both the watch and the pencil case (estimate $10,000 to $20,000) are being sold for the first time at auction.

Pic courtesy Freeman's.