Pen sets Cross online store in the UK: One of the things you’ll notice on a lot of Cross pens, especially on the more professional-looking pens, is two gold ribs ringing around the bottom of the cap. You’ll see it on the close cousins of the Classic Century: the Century II, the Townsend, and even the Peerless 125. While the Classic Century fountain pen has a great deal in common with all these pen designs, it doesn’t have the rings, instead taking certain cues from the other Art Deco-style Cross pens like the Calais and the Aventura. The lack of rings makes it slimmer and simpler. For the chrome-based Classic Century pens, there are instead some etched ribs that run the length of the barrel, reducing slippage. It sort of looks like the fuselage of a small Boeing airplane. I prefer the black and gold fountain pen design because it looks more subdued (the black and gold Cross pens, just look better), and chrome tends to make me feel like I’m holding something that fell off a bicycle. See additional information on cross classic century lustrous chrome ballpoint pen.
For the Modernist: Cross ATX Fountain Pen: Do you know someone who loves sleek, modern design? The Cross ATX Fountain Pen, featuring a brushed black PVD finish and a stainless steel nib, makes an impressive statement. This pen captures the essence of modern industrial design with its distinctive sweeping clip and wide girth balanced by elegantly tapered ends. It’s perfect for those who appreciate a pen that feels as good as it looks. The ATX is like a piece of contemporary art that fits snugly in your hand. And with each purchase, you’ll get a premium gift box and the peace of mind provided by a Lifetime Mechanical Guarantee. Wouldn’t it be special to give a gift that can be cherished for generations?
The Meisterstück has been updated with minor tweaks over the years but remains largely untouched in quality and design. The Meisterstück pens have become so iconic, they’ve even landed in the hands of royals, politicians, celebrities, and other prominent public figures from around the world. Most notably, it was the pen of choice for presidents such as John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama for signing official documents. It’s said Princess Diana also preferred the pen—and rumor has it, she and then-Prince Charles used one to sign their official marriage certificate.
The pen is made from black resin and features a platinum-coated clip and detailing. To top it off, in all its luxurious grandeur, is an 18-karat gold nib engraved with the number “4180,” representing the height in meters of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. The tradition of engraving the figure on the nib began with the very first Cross Meisterstück, and the detail endures a century late. Until I wrote with the Meisterstück, I avoided using fountain pens—not too hard to do in 2024. Flashbacks of trying to succeed in my high school calligraphy classes plague my memory—broken nibs, uneven ink flow, and messy hands were standard.
Fountain pen vs. ballpoint vs. rollerball: Which one should you choose? We’re often asked what the differences are between writing with each of these different types of pen, from how they write to the different pen nib types that are available. To help you understand the differences and to make the right choice for you and your writing needs, here’s a brief guide to each style of pen. True fountain pens use bottled inks and generally have a piston-type mechanism that draws the ink through the pen from the nib. Cartridge pens use disposable ink cartridges and cannot use bottled inks. Fountain pens fitted with a converter use both cartridges and bottled inks. See extra details at penshop.co.uk.
Ink pens with a spring-loaded mechanism allowing the user to retract and extend the pen tip are called click pens or retractable pens. A click pen serves mostly practical and practical purposes. The click mechanism in a retractable pen makes it possible to write without ever taking the cap off. Modern times call for modern tools. Typically, this pen is used to describe an extremely slim and long staff, not unlike a modern ballpoint pen. The heavy curve of many styluses makes them more comfortable to hold. Stylus pens are designed for traditional writing (e.g., pottery) and touchscreens to navigate or provide more precision.
How to write smoothly with a ballpoint pen? We all have different handwriting styles, and we all hold our pens differently. If you hold your pen at an acute angle, close to the surface of the page, the chamber that contains the rolling ball of your ballpoint pen can pick up and collect tiny paper fibres from your page. These fibres can then create a sensation of scratchiness as you write and the fibres may cause blobs of ink to form at the pen’s tip and fall onto your page. If this happens, try holding your ballpoint pen at a wider, more obtuse angle, which will help to keep the edge of the ball chamber away from the surface of your paper.
If you’re looking for an everyday pen that writes with ease and runs smoothly, but you’re not yet ready for the commitment of a fountain pen, we would recommend a rollerball pen. These are some of the best Cross pens for everyday use because of the simplicity of their design and how seamless they are to write with. The Meisterstuck Classique Black Gold Trim Rollerball is one of the best Cross pens for everyday use. This iconic writing instrument oozes sophistication and style with its classic black and gold design. Surmounted with the famous white Cross emblem and the gold plated clip, this is certainly a staple for any stationery collection.