2012 marks the start of the Year of the dragon, beginning on January 23, 2012 and ending on February 9, 2013. Dragons have inhabited the human psyche for thousands of years and the dragon remains a uniquely auspicious creature of myth and legend. In ancient China, the Celestial dragon embodied a visual representation of the emperor and power, whereas today it is the ultimate symbol signifying success and happiness. A Sung Dynasty manuscript once described the dragon as having the head of an ox, muzzle of a donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales and the feet of a phoenix. Invariably accompanied by thunder and rain, dragons move like lightning and whirlwinds - all powerful yet totally unpredictable.

People born in the Year of the dragon share innovative, enterprising, self-assured, brave, passionate and quick-tempered characteristics. Dragons are the extroverted free spirits of the Chinese Zodiac and they do not have the patience in restricting their creative spark that is ready to burst into life. So they search for freedom and space. Because they are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably successful.

For such an auspicious occasion and animal, the RM 057 Dragon-Jackie Chan embodies all that is worthy of a dragon’s attention. On the movement baseplate of pure, deep Black Onyx - considered a stone of protection against negative thoughts and the stone of equilibrium and inspiration - the golden dragon engraving and colored scales grips the tourbillon bridge in one of his claws.

The dragon’s five-toed claw is proof of its Imperial status. Adding a refined visible touch, the round, engraved Jackie Chan signature set into the black Onyx baseplate side rotates once every 60 seconds in time with the tourbillon’s rotation.

The RM 057 Dragon-Jackie Chan is a limited edition of 36 pieces in 18K red gold or white gold with a red gold dragon.

The world renowned Hong Kong actor and director Jackie Chan’s martial arts films have revolutionized the genre, establishing him as a true visionary with his adaptions of Kung-fu to the world of international cinema.

Regarded in China as a living god, Jackie Chan is also known as a generous man through his establishment of an entity to support disadvantaged children with the creation of the “Dragon’s Heart Foundation” whose goal is to support deprived children in all possible ways.

The long-standing friendship between Richard Mille and Jackie Chan has been a source of many collaborations, the latest being an auction held in September 2011 with the proceeds going to the aforementioned foundation. Specifically for that occasion, Richard Mille created a unique piece, the RMJC tourbillion, that received a great deal of attention and support for the foundation’s goals.

The RM 057 Dragon-Jackie Chan is yet another fruit of this friendship. Indeed, Richard Mille has long wanted to create an exceptional timepiece for Jackie Chan himself, inspired by his Chinese name 成􏰀 that means “one who will become dragon”.