Details & Composition Details & Composition A lean figure flies through the air, the soles of his feet pointing forwards like a drawn arrow. It’s an image inextricably linked with the name Bruce Lee. The actor, director, philosopher and martial arts legend set the standard which is still aspired to today. Born in San Francisco in 1940, he grew up in Hong Kong and was from the very start the embodiment of two worlds: East and West. Films such as The Big Boss (1971) or Fist of Fury (1972) and a legendary fight scene in The Way of the Dragon (1972) made him famous all over the world. It was the fusion of exemplary physique, philosophical depth and screen presence which made him so distinctive and prompted Montblanc to dedicate the Great Characters Homage to Bruce Lee Limited Edition 8 to the man himself, and in particular to Bruce Lee the artist of life. Bruce Lee’s birth on 27 November 1940 coincided not only with the hour but also the year of the dragon. A dragon also plays a defining role in the design of the Limited Edition 8: the scaly mythological creature – based on a sketch drawn by Lee and paying tribute to his nickname “Little Dragon” – sinuously winds around the solid Au 750 signature gold cap and barrel. The dragon’s intricately detailed scales are meticulously inlaid by hand with oak and bamboo, materials chosen to echo one of Bruce Lee’s guiding principles: “The rigid oak breaks in a storm, while the flexible bamboo bends with the wind.” Lee developed further guiding motifs, including one of his most famous maxims: “Be water, my friend.” Like water, one can flow or destroy. It adapts to any shape without losing its essence. In keeping with this maxim, the hand-created texture of the cap and barrel, serving as the backdrop to the dragon motif, mirrors the gentle, flowing movement of water. Creating a striking contrast, the hand-lacquered surface of the cone recalls the acetate of Bruce Lee’s cherished, frequently worn glasses – a subtle nod to the less gilded days of his life, when financial hardship left him unable to replace his broken tortoiseshell spectacles. The gold-coated clip of the Great Characters Homage to Bruce Lee Limited Edition 8 is modelled on a stick of a nunchaku coated in the same hand-applied lacquer that graces the cone, while the cap ring is reminiscent of a bamboo cane. The Montblanc emblem is crafted in the shape of yin and yang, handset with carefully selected yellow sapphires and red garnets. “Walk On” these two words that were Bruce Lee’s inner compass are embossed on the hand-crafted solid Au 750 gold nib. A hand-set brilliant-cut diamond provides the finishing touch. Ident No. MB133433
