Gold Watch Belonging to Richest Titanic Passenger Sells for Record Sum

A gold watch engraved with the initials JJA and believed to have belonged to John Jacob Astor, one of the richest passengers on the Titanic, has been sold at an auction in the UK for £1.17 million (approximately $1.46 million). The watch was found on Astor's body after the ship sank in 1912. The sale exceeded the auctioneer's presale estimate by more than 10 times, with a US buyer winning the bidding war. This is a record sum paid for an object linked to the Titanic disaster. Additionally, another notable item sold at the same auction was a valise containing the violin played by the band leader as the ship sank.