TECH3+

This pen is fantastic! I would not have chosen it for myself, but received it as a gift, then bought a second one for myself. Highlights follow.[This is not a complaint because it wasn't a problem for me, but I would want to know about this particular item I received days ago--the one I'm reviewing on Amazon having purchased one here (as opposed to whatever others of this product I've seen around) came in a version of the standard gift-pen presentation box, but that box was in a matching cardboard sleeve; there was scotch tape all around the box and sleeve lengthwise, which would have been disappointing if I'd had it sent to someone, or even if I'd planned to wrap it as a gift because the sleeve tore when I removed the tape, so the whole "unboxing" was kinda clumsy.]-With a twist, it goes from a black ballpoint to a red one, then again to a pencil.-There's an eraser under the stylus tip. While I do not have much use for a stylus, it's visually pleasing to have that instead of the eraser on display unless you need the eraser.-The mechanism is impressive. (Some reviews I've seen seem to indicate that it's worth making yourself get used to turning it the reverse way only to retract the writing tip into the pen--it's tempting to go backwards to the point you were using before, but some reports of the mechanism failing over time seem connected to people using that reverse twist (for retracting) by accident too often when trying to select a different point/color. I find it intuitive and easy to be cautious of this.)-The inkflow from the refills that fit this pen is as smooth as any Cross I've ever used.-It is possible to advance/retract the pencil lead without pressing on the stylus tip because that whole end of the pen is the thing that you move to click it--just think in terms of using two fingers on the sides of the pen you twisted to select the point rather than a thumb on the stylus covering the eraser.-This pen is remarkably thin for so much function--not as slender as the traditional Cross ballpoints, but by no means fat. It has a nice heft and the satin/matte black finish is easy to grip. (I've not used the other, metallic colors.)Anecdote: I got a version of this pen as a gift; it is my favorite because it was all matte black--this one has a metallic (chrome) clip and tip, but is a little bit less expensive and ships more quickly. After one day of using it at work, I was hooked. I loved how stealth it was, not calling attention to itself with bling, but so much more than a generic, disposable, black pen. After two weeks, a co-worker--who is notorious for never returning pens, but who is also kinda my boss and whom I like a lot--needed a pen and kinda seemed to be secretly coveting mine. Thirty minutes later, he was very sorry, but had taken a call while walking outside and lost it. He has ordered a replacement of the exact item he lost because he understood it was a real gem in the matte black, but the one he got ships from Japan and I got this one to temporarily replace it and serve as a backup going forward.Disclaimer: I have been accumulating fine pens for decades and kinda got over Cross in high school. When I received this pen, I initially thought it was a sweet gift I would not likely use much--I tend to prefer writing with fountain pens and am fortunate to have some very nice ones. If the description and highlights seem like the answer to a need you have, I'd guess you need look no further. ;-)

Update October 2023: The pen has apparently been discontinued and remaining ones for sale have more than doubled in price. Ink refills can still be found but if you favor the pencil function, know that eraser refills seem to be out of stock at every online retailer I can find, and the Pentel and Pilot erasers found at most local stores do not fit. Cross Pen official support suggested I mail the pen in to them so they could replace the eraser, which is far too much hassle for a 10 cent eraser replacement. My original praise for the pen (as seen below) is still valid, but the pencil feature is on the brink of being useless. If I have to carry a separate eraser, I may as well just carry a cheaper/lighter pen/pencil combo with more easily replaceable erasers.Original Review:I'm certainly no expert when it comes to things such as fine writing tools, but I've gone through enough Bic ballpoints and Pilot G2's to tell that the Cross Tech3+ is a VERY nice pen. It's well built, and even after a lot of daily use for about two months the moving parts don't feel loose at all. It has a decent weight to it as well. It weighs just a little bit more than a Pilot G2, but is by no means a heavy pen. It's about as thick as a Pilot G2 and the Pilot PreciseGrip, which to me is normal pen size, so if you like larger/fatter pens, this might be a negative point for you.As for actually writing with it, it is by far the smoothest ballpoint pen I've ever used. The lines on paper show up clean and crisp, and being able to quickly switch between black ink, red ink, and pencil is great. I don't use the stylus very much, but the few times I've used it with my phone it glides across the screen smoothly. Pencil led and eraser refills are easily found in office supply stores.

I had a lustrous chrome model, which I love, but I really liked the blue, so I bought that color. I replaced the stylus cap that was blue with the chrome one, it looks PERFECT! I think the chrome stylus cap compliments the other chrome/silver on the metallic blue pen really well. If this combo looks better in your opinion, you can buy a replacement stylus cap in the chrome color on Amazon.I also replaced the red ink with blue, which are readily available on Amazon as well. The replacement blue ink I bought are "Cross Sentinel Micro Medium Ball Point Pen Refills - Blue". Replacing the cartridge is very simple, just grab and pull and it pops out.The heaviness isn't cumbersome, it writes beautifully. If you want a good professional pen that will last, I highly recommend. $60 is definitely pricey, especially if you include the ink refills, but it will last for years.

I am a writer, and a friend turned me onto this pen. After 5 minutes, I ordered my own. This niceley weighted pen has 2 smooth ballpoint pens - (feels like a gel pen), one blue, one red, and a pencil; everything a writer needs! I always loved Cross pens, and now I remember why. I received my first gold engraved Cross pen in 1983 and I am glad to have this one.