W I N T O N
LUXURY POCKET WATCHES FOR THE MODERN MAN
Frank Sintra
"I've Got the World on a String"
This is Sinatra! 1956
No Copyright Intended
WHO WE ARE
This famous watch first provided its lucky charm for Dean when he was asked to meet with John Steinbeck, the author of East of Eden, two and half years after his purchase of his lucky watch. While in Los Angeles, Dean decided to visit his father. His father, Winton Dean, then gifted his son with his own gold watch chain so that he wouldn’t lose his beloved watch. Not soon after, Dean received his star role as Cal Trash in “East of Eden” and wore his watch hanging from his belt loop in the film, something very strange and unseen at this time in the fifties (see picture). As Auction House Antiquorum’s president and CEO Evan Zimmermann puts it: “It is an unusual way to wear a pocket watch, a real style statement” (Kahle, 2013). After filming “East of Eden”, Dean gifted his heirloom to his close friend Tillie Starriet.
This amazing history is all encompassed in a single pocket watch—and it was auctioned off in Antiquorium’s Modern & Vintage Timepieces auction held in Hong Kong on June 22nd, 2013 for $42,000 (Francisco, 2013). Winton Watches is honored to carry on the name of James Dean’s father’s heirloom. Our company dedicated its brand name thanks to this amazing and one-of-a-kind story and piece of timeless history; and Heritage Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions couldn’t have said it better: “Being as it was, so close and dear to Dean, this watch is as much an American cinematic and cultural treasure as one can find, the ultimate collectible of the 1950s” (2008). WINTON Watches brings a classic piece back to a modernized businessman’s world.
Unfortunately, in 1955, the year the film came out, James Dean died in a car accident at 24-years-old. The time on this famous watch is still set at 5:43, the exact time of Dean’s death, most likely reset b Starriet in memory of her beloved friend (2008). James Dean was then nominated for two Academy Awards as Best Leading Actor in both East of Eden and Giant (1956). According to an article written by Jennifer Rosenberg, “Dean remains the only person to receive two Academy Award nominations posthumously” (“James Dean Dies in Car Accident”).
James Dean, the American “heartthrob” actor of the 1950’s is known as the man who stylized the pocket watch in his 1955 film “East of Eden”. In a Heritage Auctions press release from 2008, it’s stated that Dean purchased his first gold-filled pocket watch manufactured by Standard Watch Co. in 1951 (2008). At this time, 20-year-old James Dean was still pretty unknown and was struggling as a young actor in New York. This watch was his “first big purchase”—and he was very proud of it and decided to get his initials engraved on the back of this gold pocket watch (2008).
