AuctionsDec 12, 2024
Tom Brady’s Watches Top $4M at Sotheby’s AuctionWatchesDec 18, 2024
Historic Titanic Pocket Watch Winds Its Way Back to Tiffany & Co.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
PHOTO At an auction that took place last month, Tiffany & Co. placed the winning bid for this gold pocket watch given as a token of appreciation to Captain (later Sir) Arthur H. Rostron, commander of Titanic rescue liner the R.M.S. Carpathia. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.)
PHOTO Given to Rostron by three Titanic survivors, Madeleine Talmage Astor, Marian Longstreth Thayer, and Eleanor Elkins Widener, the pocket watch has the captain’s initials enameled on the back. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.)
New York—A historic Tiffany & Co. watch has wound its way back home.
Tiffany & Co. announced Tuesday that it was the party that placed the winning bid of $2 million for the gold pocket watch gifted to Arthur H. Rostron, the captain of the ship that came to Titanic’s aid after it hit an iceberg and began sinking.
Offered in a sale facilitated last month by English auction house Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd., the pocket watch is the single most expensive piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold.
“Tiffany & Co. jewelry and objects have been a cornerstone of global luxury since the mid-19th century, and that Tiffany was entrusted to help give thanks in the wake of the unthinkable Titanic tragedy reminds us of our humble role in the lives of our clients,” said Christopher Young, the retailer’s vice president of creative visual merchandising, events, and the Tiffany Archives.
“Captain Rostron’s pocket watch is an incredible expression of thanks and gratitude, and we are humbled to welcome this extraordinary treasure home to Tiffany & Co.”
The watch will be on display at LVMH Watch Week 2025, scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Miami, and it will make special appearances at key events and at Tiffany & Co. stores.
Related stories will be right here …
Tiffany & Co. announced Tuesday that it was the party that placed the winning bid of $2 million for the gold pocket watch gifted to Arthur H. Rostron, the captain of the ship that came to Titanic’s aid after it hit an iceberg and began sinking.
Offered in a sale facilitated last month by English auction house Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd., the pocket watch is the single most expensive piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold.
“Tiffany & Co. jewelry and objects have been a cornerstone of global luxury since the mid-19th century, and that Tiffany was entrusted to help give thanks in the wake of the unthinkable Titanic tragedy reminds us of our humble role in the lives of our clients,” said Christopher Young, the retailer’s vice president of creative visual merchandising, events, and the Tiffany Archives.
“Captain Rostron’s pocket watch is an incredible expression of thanks and gratitude, and we are humbled to welcome this extraordinary treasure home to Tiffany & Co.”
The watch will be on display at LVMH Watch Week 2025, scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Miami, and it will make special appearances at key events and at Tiffany & Co. stores.
Rostron was captaining the steamship R.M.S. Carpathia on a journey from New York to the Mediterranean when he became aware of a distress call from the Titanic in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912.
He ordered the ship to change course to come to the Titanic’s aid, with the crew of the Carpathia ultimately rescuing more than 700 people and taking them to Pier 54 in New York City (now the site of Little Island).
Three survivors of the wreck—Madeleine Talmage Astor, Marian Longstreth Thayer, and Eleanor Elkins Widener—presented Rostron with the watch at an “intimate” luncheon for Titanic survivors that Astor hosted at her mansion on Fifth Avenue around the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.
All three women lost their husbands, prominent businessmen John Jacob Astor IV, John Borland Thayer II, and George Dunton Widener, when the Titanic sank, and Eleanor also lost her 27-year-old son, Harry Elkins Widener, in the disaster.
Madeleine Talmage Astor, Marian Longstreth Thayer, and Eleanor Elkins Widener had the gold Tiffany & Co. pocket watch they gave to Rostron engraved. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.)
Tiffany & Co. said Tuesday that a ledger from its archives shows that Eleanor was the one who actually purchased the watch, which is engraved with the words, “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 pocket watch also has the enameled monogram “AHR” on its caseback.
“Every man, woman and child on the Titanic had a story to tell, and we tell those stories a century later through their memorabilia,” Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd Managing Director Andrew Aldridge said.
“This watch is a testament to the bravery of Sir Arthur Rostron and the regard he was held in by the widows of three of the most influential men on the Titanic. The fact that Tiffany & Co. purchased the piece 112 years after selling it shows the circle being completed and it going home.”
More on Watches
The Latest
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
