National News
Tiffany & Co. Acquires Historic Titanic Pocket Watch for $1.97 Million
Tiffany & Co. has set a new record with the acquisition of a rare 18k gold pocket watch for $1.97 million. The timepiece, once owned by Captain Arthur H. Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, was a gift from three Titanic survivors—Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, and Mrs. George D. Widener—who expressed their gratitude for his heroic efforts in rescuing passengers after the Titanic sank.
The pocket watch, purchased from Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd., is engraved with a heartfelt message from the survivors and features the monogram “AHR” on its caseback. This historic artifact honors Captain Rostron’s courage and pivotal role in saving hundreds of lives. Christopher Young, Vice President of Creative Visual Merchandising at Tiffany & Co., emphasized the significance of the acquisition, stating that it highlights the brand’s long-standing connection to history and its role in the luxury world.
National News
WGC India Gold Market Update: Import Tightening
Part Of A Broader Push To Conserve Foreign Exchange Reserves Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty and Mounting Pressure On The INR
Highlights
- Gold import duty was raised sharply by 9%– from 6% to 15%, the steepest increase on record – alongside broader regulatory tightening
- Domestic gold prices have not yet fully reflected the duty hike amid weak demand and ample supply; local markets are currently in deep discount from the landed price
- Past trends indicate that higher duty increases unofficial inflows, although official imports remain relatively resilient
- Gold demand is expected to moderate in 2026, with jewellery and bar and coin demand projected to decline by 50–60t (~10% y/y) on account of the import duty hike.
Policy actions on gold imports
Since early April, the government has adopted a series of measures aimed at moderating gold imports. These have been part of a broader push to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on the INR, which has depreciated by more than 7% y-t-d. These measures include price-based actions, administrative and regulatory tightening, and consumer-directed messaging. While noteworthy, they are not unprecedented; gold is among the top five imports for India, accounting for 8% of the country’s merchandise imports in 2025, and similar measures have been utilised in the past.
On the price front, the gold import duty was raised sharply from 6% to 15%, making it the single largest increase on record and fully reversing the duty cut of July 2024. Rules were also tightened for gold imports linked to exports (under the advance authorisation scheme), and the Prime Minister has directly appealed to consumers, urging them to avoid buying gold for a year.
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