325,000 HKD
JAMES DEAN’S ELGIN POCKET WATCH Elgin, No. 3071580, case No. 4275904. Made circa 1889. A keyless gold filled pocket watch. Accompanied by the original fitted box, chain, lamp pendant and documentation attesting to the provenance. C. Four-body, bassine et filets, engine-turned back, cartouche with JD engraved on the front, coin-edge case band, hinged cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. Rhodium plated, 3/4 plate, 5 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel balance spring. Movement and case signed. Diam. 37. Notes James Dean (1931-1955) referred to this pocket watch as his “Lucky Watch.” It was purchased by him circa 1951 as a young actor in New York. Coincidentally around the same time, his acting career started to flourish. Dean, being known as a superstitious individual, started wearing this watch as a good luck charm regularly. In the movie East of Eden, he is seen wearing this watch with an alternative cover in order to hide his initials “J.D”. Years after his success as a bona fide movie star, this watch was given to Ms. Tillie Starriet, a former Warner Brother’s personnel whom he called “Mom”, as an appreciation for assisting him throughout his career
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2013-06-22
