Titanic Auctions

[Encyclopedia Titanica]

A Tiffany Gold Watch presented to Captain Rostron of the RMS Carpathia was sold today for an incredible £1,310,000 at auction. The 18ct. gold pocket watch, the case stamped no. 40198 and the Swiss level movement no. 70172 made for Tiffany & Co New York by Touchon & Co of Switzerland. The reverse bears an enamelled monogram AHR (Arthur Henry Rostron). The inside of the case is inscribed "Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912 Mrs John B. Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs George D. Widener."The luxury 18ct gold Tiffany & Co timepiece bears testament to the regard that Captain Rostron was held in by the widows of three of the most high-profile businessmen lost in the sinking, John Jacob Astor, George Dunton Widener and John B. Thayer. Captain Rostron’s quick reaction and bravery resulted in him and his crew rescuing over 700 surviving passengers and crew of R.M.S. Titanic.

 

[Mark VII]

A Tiffany Gold Watch presented to Captain Rostron of the RMS Carpathia was sold today for an incredible £1,310,000 at auction. The 18ct. gold pocket watch, the case stamped no. 40198 and the Swiss level movement no. 70172 made for Tiffany & Co New York by Touchon & Co of Switzerland. The reverse bears an enamelled monogram AHR (Arthur Henry Rostron). The inside of the case is inscribed "Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912 Mrs John B. Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs George D. Widener."The luxury 18ct gold Tiffany & Co timepiece bears testament to the regard that Captain Rostron was held in by the widows of three of the most high-profile businessmen lost in the sinking, John Jacob Astor, George Dunton Widener and John B. Thayer. Captain Rostron’s quick reaction and bravery resulted in him and his crew rescuing over 700 surviving passengers and crew of R.M.S. Titanic.

Thank you, Philip, for continuing to share news items about artifacts, even though there’s little interest in them on this site. That’s unfortunate because this watch is far more tangible than many of the popular discussions here about unprovable theories.

I’m curious to know what a respectable man like Rostron did with his Tiffany & Co Pocket Watch. It’s in truly poor condition and only has one of its original three hands left. Watches from some of Titanic victims looked to be in better shape, even after being in the ocean for days.

 

[Stephen Walker]

Thanks for sharing this, Philip! I was interested to see that the Rostron watch and the design of its face are nearly identical to mine, which is a much less expensive 15-jewel piece made in Lucerne, Switzerland.

I’m not sure of the age of my watch, but it was first serviced in 1896, according to the jeweler’s inscription under the lid on the back, and most recently worked on in 1948!

Mine was without its case when my girlfriend bought it for me. It still keeps time, but runs VERY fast; it badly needs an overhaul I’m sure.

 

[Seumas]

Very beautiful things, these old pocket watches. Finishing up repairing or restoring one must be a very satisfying job indeed.

 

[Mark VII]

Very beautiful things, these old pocket watches. Finishing up repairing or restoring one must be a very satisfying job indeed.

From personal experience, I can confirm this. After reading this article, I purchased the same brand and exact model of watch that J.J. Astor owned. Every time I hear the ticking of the timepiece or glance at the watch to check the time, I can’t help but think of Astor, who must have heard the same sound and seen the same dial while aboard Titanic.

 

[Stephen Walker]

From personal experience, I can confirm this. After reading this article, I purchased the same brand and exact model of watch that J.J. Astor owned. Every time I hear the ticking of the timepiece or glance at the watch to check the time, I can’t help but think of Astor, who must have heard the same sound and seen the same dial while aboard Titanic.

View attachment 116811

Very nice timepiece! I like the seconds in red around the edge of the face—I haven’t seen that very often. My folks have my great-grandfather’s watch & fob; it’s also a Waltham, not very different from your “J.J. Astor” watch. They were probably made around the same time.

I’d like to get my hands on a good Civil War-period key-wind pocket watch. I’ve always loved those. I remember the one in the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol which played a chime on the hour!

 

[Mark VII]

websiteVery nice timepiece! I like the seconds in red around the edge of the face—I haven’t seen that very often. My folks have my great-grandfather’s watch & fob; it’s also a Waltham, not very different from your “J.J. Astor” watch. They were probably made around the same time.

I’d like to get my hands on a good Civil War-period key-wind pocket watch. I’ve always loved those. I remember the one in the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol which played a chime on the hour!

That’s great! I find this website a great tool to find the desired watch. If you have the serial number of your family’s Waltham, you can check how close you are to Astor’s watch. Mine is the exact model (Riverside, 1894, 19j, 12s) but manufactured in 1903 and two years younger than his.

Happy hunting!

 

[Stephen Walker]

Thanks so much for the link! My parents and I will be together for Thanksgiving in a couple days—I’ll be able to check the serial on the Waltham then. I’m really curious about the manufacture date—I’m pretty certain my great-grandfather was wearing that watch by 1912, but would like to know for sure! I’ll take a couple of pictures for you while I’m at it…

 

[Mark VII]

You can find the serial number of the Waltham watch above the gears of the movement. Mine has the number 12537058, while Astor's is 11015590.

I’m curious about the number and photos of your watch!

 

[Stephen Walker]

You can find the serial number of the Waltham watch above the gears of the movement. Mine has the number 12537058, while Astor's is 11015590.

I’m curious about the number and photos of your watch!

View attachment 116813

Thanks, Mark VII! I’m pretty sure ours is a different model from the Riverside, but I’m still looking forward to finding out when it was made compared to Col. Astor’s. I was amazed at the auction price his timepiece commanded.

I just love the ornately designed movements of these Waltham watches—especially the circular brushed section in the center—what a gem this is!

I’ve been enjoying the photo gallery on the pocket watch database you sent me. I’m very much a beginner when it comes to watch collecting, but I’m keen to learn all I can—how long have you been collecting? Thanks again!

 

[Mark VII]

Thanks, Mark VII! I’m pretty sure ours is a different model from the Riverside, but I’m still looking forward to finding out when it was made compared to Col. Astor’s. I was amazed at the auction price his timepiece commanded.

I just love the ornately designed movements of these Waltham watches—especially the circular brushed section in the center—what a gem this is!

I’ve been enjoying the photo gallery on the pocket watch database you sent me. I’m very much a beginner when it comes to watch collecting, but I’m keen to learn all I can—how long have you been collecting? Thanks again!

Thank you for your enthusiastic response, and enjoy checking out the family watch. I’m looking forward to hearing the outcome!

Since 2017, I’ve been researching and collecting items that were on board the Titanic. Only identical objects with proven evidence, such as a photo or a detailed description, qualify for my collection. Using this approach, I’ve compiled a list of over 20 items and I actively follow digital auctions worldwide to acquire them. It requires a lot of patience and a bit of money.

 

[Stephen Walker]

Thank you for your enthusiastic response, and enjoy checking out the family watch. I’m looking forward to hearing the outcome!

Since 2017, I’ve been researching and collecting items that were on board the Titanic. Only identical objects with proven evidence, such as a photo or a detailed description, qualify for my collection. Using this approach, I’ve compiled a list of over 20 items and I actively follow digital auctions worldwide to acquire them. It requires a lot of patience and a bit of money.

Hello, Mark VII—my apologies for the delay in getting back to you! Well, I had a look at the watch; it was actually made by Fred W. Reich, not Waltham. For some reason I was pretty sure it was a Waltham—maybe my memory’s starting to show some cracks! I wasn’t able to find any information on it from the pocket watch database, but here are some photos of it.

My great-grandfather worked as a flagman for the Central of Georgia Railroad, so I think this is a railroad watch.