Tiffany & Co. has added a historic treasure to its collection by purchasing a Titanic pocket watch for $1.97 million at a Henry Aldridge & Son auction in November. Originally retailed by Tiffany in 1912, the timepiece was gifted to Captain Arthur H. Rostron of the R.M.S. Carpathia by three prominent Titanic survivors—Madeleine Talmage Astor, Marian Longstreth Thayer, and Eleanor Elkins Widener—as thanks for rescuing nearly 700 passengers from the ill-fated ship.

The pocket watch features an engraved dedication reading, “Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912,” alongside Captain Rostron’s initials. This personal touch links the piece irrevocably to the tragedy that continues to captivate over a century later.

Just Because: Tiffany & Co. Acquires Titanic-Linked Pocket Watch For $1.97m – A New Record For Most Expensive Piece Of Titanic Memorabilia - Hodinkee

Tiffany & Co.’s acquisition highlights the growing importance of heritage collections for luxury brands, which use such artifacts for archival, museum, and publicity purposes. “This pocket watch is an extraordinary expression of thanks and gratitude, and we are humbled to welcome it back to Tiffany,” said Christopher Young, a Tiffany & Co. executive.