Gold pocket watch owned by Jewish Titanic victims who gave up lifeboat spots to save others goes to auction

The gold pocket watch recovered from the wreck of the Titanic (Image: Henry Aldridge and Son)[Missing Credit]

Their maid boarded the lifeboat instead, and Ida handed her her own fur coat to keep her warm before returning to the state room, where they had been staying, with her husband.

The couple then went to the deck, holding each other as the ship went under.

Isidor had received the 18-carat Jules Jurgensen pocket watch as a gift in 1888 on his 43rd birthday. It was recovered from the Titanic wreck, by the Mackay-Bennett cable boat one week after the ship sank, as was Isidor’s body. Ida’s remains were never found.

The timepiece was handed down through the Straus family and, according to the BBC, could fetch up to £1 million when it goes up for auction on Saturday in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "With the watch, we are retelling Isidor's story. It's a phenomenal piece of memorabilia."