Cross Pens

Cross pens first appeared in 1846, the creation of Richard Cross. Richard Cross actually patented an amazing twenty one pens before passing control of the company to Alonzo Cross, his son. These days Cross are proud to be preserving traditions from the past in both the design and the manufacturing of quality writing instruments.

In 1879 the precursor of the ballpoint pen was released by the company with a considerable commercial effect, and later on, in 1930 the company's first fountain pen appeared. In 1946 the Century was introduced, and it still preserves its meaning even today. Since its beginnings the company has sold more than one hundred million pens becoming a symbol of quality and longevity.

In 1916 Walter R. Boss bought the company and encouraged his son Ellery to share his passion for good pens. Ellery joined his father in 1920 and led the company for more than forty years retiring only in 1966.

In those years Cross become a company known more as a line of personal leather accessories than as a pen maker. However, following a definitely ascending path, in 1971, it was listed to the American Stock Exchange, and later on, new partners were attracted to start designing other types of appreciated fine products.

Over the last two decades Cross pens imposed themselves more as being a work of art than simple writing tools and their price has often been considered relevant for the tradition they represent. In 1993 the Townsend fountain pen and the Selectip ballpoint pen were designed. Only high quality materials were used in the manufacture, such as eighteen karat gold, black lacquer, medalist and titanium. The Century II appeared in 1996, it mainly relied on fourteen or ten karat gold, blue wood, black lacquer or rose wood.

For the international market these features were strictly for the Cross Century. A different style was produced for the American continent, with the pen being 23k gold plated, medalist, chrome and black lacquer. The range included a ballpoint pen, a rollerball pen, a pencil and of course a fountain pen. Models such as the Cross ATX, Cross Apogee and Cross Verve continues the luxurious line of pens that the company has followed from its beginnings.

Today, Cross pens are known as being more traditional than trendy, they focus more on quality than on design. The Century II is the best example here since this is the one to combine refinement with high class style.