A pocket watch that belonged to a Jewish passenger on the Titanic who died when the ship sank has been sold for £45,000.

The watch, which has Hebrew letters on its face instead of numerals and an engraving of Moses holding the Ten Commandments on its back, was owned by Sinai Kantor, who was migrating from Russia to New York along with his wife Miriam.

It was sold at auction on Saturday by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, with the winning bid coming in at $57,500 (close to £45,000).

The Kantors boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second class passengers, with the ocean liner setting sail on its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Five days later the ship collided with an iceberg and sank.

Among the 1500 who died in the disaster were dozens of Jews, of whom Sinai Kantor was one. Miriam Kantor survived because priority on the ship’s few lifeboats having been given to women and children.

Sinai Kantor’s body was one of hundreds pulled from the water ten days later, as part of an operation to recover as many of the victims as possible.

After significant legal effort, his widow was able to recover some of his effects, including his Russian passport, assorted currency, and his pocket watch. He was subsequently buried at Mount Zion cemetery in Queens, New York.

The winning bid came from John Miottel, a collector of timepieces associated with the Titanic’s passengers and those who took part in the rescue operation.

Mr Miottel, who operates a museum in California, said his new acquisition would “take one of the primary spots in our collection.”