Watch of Titanic couple fetches record £1.78m at auction

A gold pocket watch once owned by an elderly couple who drowned when the Titanic went down has set a new auction record, selling for £1.78 million.

The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen watch was owned by Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger who lost his life in the April 1912 tragedy. Straus and his wife, Ida, were famously depicted in the film Titanic as the couple seen embracing as the ship sank.

According to historical accounts, Straus was offered a place on a lifeboat because of his age. 

He refused, saying he would not take a seat “before other men.” Ida also chose to stay behind, insisting she would not leave her husband. The two were last seen sitting together on deckchairs as the disaster unfolded.

Despite being first-class passengers, both were among the victims who did not survive.

Auctioneers confirmed that the £1.78 million price is now the highest amount ever achieved for an item linked to the Titanic.

A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, posted while she was aboard the ship, also went under the hammer for £100,000.

The previous record for Titanic memorabilia was £1.56 million, set last year for another gold pocket watch that had been presented to the captain of a rescue vessel that saved more than 700 passengers.