Gold watch once owned by Titanic’s wealthiest passenger goes up for auction

The pocket watch was recovered from the body of John Jacob Astor and passed on to his son. Photo: PA

Rod Minchin

A pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the Titanic could sell for £150,000 at auction.

Businessman John Jacob Astor (47), went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing his new wife Madeleine onto a lifeboat.