Gold Watch Owned By The Richest Passenger On The Ship Breaks The Sales Record Of IDR 23 Billion

John Jacob Astor IV's pocket watch. (Source: Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd)

JAKARTA - A gold pocket clock worn by John Jacob Astor IV, a member of Astor's rich family and the richest man on the crew, broke a sales record of 1,175,000 pounds (IDR 23,640,703,418) in last Saturday's auction.

The selling value of the watch reached ten times the previously estimated auction price, which was around 100,000 to 150,000.

The high selling value has broken the "new world record for memorabiliamen," Henry Aldridge and Son's Auction House Managing Director, Andrew Aldridge, told CNN as quoted on May 1.

John Jacob Astor IV was one of about 1,500 people who died as they drowned on April 15, 1912 after crashing into an iceberg. Meanwhile, his wife Madeleine, who was pregnant, managed to survive.

The pocket clock was among a number of important items offered at Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, on Saturday last week, including a bag containing the famous violin played by the band's leader as the ship sank, as well as a pocket book documenting the flight schedule.

The suitcase sells for 360,000 pounds, while the violin itself sells for 1.1 million pounds through the same auction house in 2013. Until Astor's pocket clock claims the title, the items with the highest sales were frommen.

"The price for this unique piece of history not only reflects the importance of this, but also a continuing interest in the story ofTEN and the memories of the passengers and crew," said Aldridge.

The pocket clock was among the personal items found with Astor's body after being drowned, according to the auction house. He also brought gold resettles, diamond rings, money, pocket books and other items.

After Astor's body was found, the property was sent to his son, Vincent Astor, who restored the pocket clock completely so that it could function.

In 1935, Vincent gave the pocket clock a gift of crission to baby boy Williammen IV, executive secretary John Jacob Astor, according to the auction house.

Aldridge said the family kept the item until the late 1990s, when the item was auctioned.

An unnamed collector in the United States bought the pocket watch at the time. Since then, the clock has been on display in several museums.

"So, you know, so far, millions of people have seen it, and this is amazing," said Aldridge.