Richest Titanic passenger's gold watch up for auction

A gold pocket watch found on the Titanic's wealthiest passenger will be auctioned.

Richest Titanic passenger's gold watch up for auction

John Jacob Astor, 47, was last seen on the sinking ship, smoking and chatting. Recovered a week later, his body had the watch engraved with 'JJA'.

Estimated to sell for £100,000 to £150,000, the auction will take place in Wiltshire on Saturday.

Astor, worth $87m then (equivalent to billions now), initially dismissed the danger but later helped his wife onto a lifeboat before perishing near the sinking.

Passed down to Astor's son, the watch holds a unique place in Titanic's history, says auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.

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