Gold watch frozen in time from Titanic sinking up for auction
15th April 2026
This watch is part of the second collection from his estate to be offered for sale
A watch recovered from the body of a wealthy businessman who drowned in the Titanic sinking is expected to fetch up to £80,000 at auction.
Frederick Sutton, 61, a first-class passenger, was among the 1,500 lives lost when the liner sank in April 1912.
Suffolk-born, the businessman amassed a fortune in property after settling with his family in New Jersey. He was returning to the US on the Titanic, having travelled to England for health reasons.
Though his body was buried at sea, Mr Sutton’s effects, including the watch, were placed in a white camp bag (number 46) and transported to Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the MacKay Bennett.
His family collected these items, remaining with his descendants ever since.
This watch is part of the second collection from Mr Sutton’s estate to be offered for sale, following an initial auction last year.
The watch, which will go under the hammer at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, on 18 April is estimated to sell for between £50,000 and £80,000.
A watch recovered from the body of a wealthy businessman who drowned in the Titanic sinking is expected to fetch up to £80,000 at auction.
Frederick Sutton, 61, a first-class passenger, was among the 1,500 lives lost when the liner sank in April 1912.
Suffolk-born, the businessman amassed a fortune in property after settling with his family in New Jersey. He was returning to the US on the Titanic, having travelled to England for health reasons.
The original Albert watch chain accompanies the piece, having never been parted.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: “The significance of this watch is the fact that it was onboard the Titanic and, most importantly, the seconds hand is frozen in time at the point that its owner Frederick Sutton went into the cold North Atlantic water 114 years ago.
“Watches from Titanic passengers are especially prized by collectors and historians and the fact that was onboard the Titanic elevates it to a different level.”
