Two watches with ties to the Titanic film and wreckage site will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s in December. The RMS Titanic tragically sank in 1912, with around 1,500 people losing their lives. The wreckage was discovered in 1985, and only a few hundred individuals have witnessed it firsthand. Alfred “Al” Giddings, an underwater cinematographer who worked on the Titanic film, visited the wreckage site many times throughout his life.
Sotheby’s announced that two watches from Giddings’ personal collection will be up for auction, marking the first time they will appear at auction. One of the watches is a steel 1680 Submariner that was worn on over a dozen dives to the Titanic. The other watch up for auction is a gold 1680 Submariner that was worn by Giddings and actor Bill Paxton in the Titanic film. Paxton’s character in the film, Brock Lovett, was a treasure hunter looking for the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
The Titanic film, directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, became a classic and won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 1998. Paxton’s visit to the Titanic wreck with Cameron was documented in the 2003 documentary “Ghosts of the Abyss.” Giddings’ watches, which have traveled with him on numerous adventures around the world, are set to captivate those with a passion for history, adventure, and exploration during the auction.
The watches will be displayed for public viewing at Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries in New York on Dec. 5 before the auction on Dec. 6. Giddings’ watches offer a unique connection to the Titanic tragedy and the popular film that brought its story to a new generation. The watches, with their extensive underwater exposure, represent a remarkable piece of history that will appeal to collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The watches’ ties to the Titanic film and wreckage site add a layer of intrigue and historical significance. The connection to the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic, as well as the adventures of those who have visited the wreckage site, gives these watches a unique story that will undoubtedly attract bidders during the auction. The watches serve as a tangible link to a pivotal moment in history and the individuals who have explored the depths of the ocean in search of answers and insights into the fateful voyage of the Titanic.
