****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Update: Help me get my copy of this pen back!My office was burglarized in June 2014 and this pen, among many others, was stolen. I've tracked down the fence who has/had this pen in his possession, but the police are too busy solving "real crime" to bother with writing a warrant and arresting the Oakland, CA resident. He continues to sell off my collection, while the police sit by and watch it happen. If you should come into possession of a copy of this pen already pre-loaded with red ink (Diamine Red Dragon to be precise), please contact me.Original Review:Cross gets little respect in the fountain pen community. Perhaps it's because its products are available in big box retailers, perhaps it is the association with ballpoints, or perhaps because its styles are considered mostly staid, but compared to players like Parker and Pelikan, Cross is a distinct afterthought. The year of the dragon is the first of Cross's Chinese zodiacal special edition pens Cross released. (They subsequently released the years of the snake and horse). Modeled on the Sauvage line, the Dragon, in Chinese red, is a handsome pen. It features a brass body with red translucent lacquer and inscribed images plated in gold. Despite being brass, the weight is very good. The eon is not especially heavy and well balanced whether the cap is posted or not.The nib is solid 18kt gold with a simple, classic double wave pattern inscribed on it. My fine nib writes smoothly and easily with no scratching skipping or any of the other problems sometimes afflicting fountain pens. The display box is also extremely nice, a red and black box with a special inlay for displaying the pen with a little stand. This is a wonderful touch that I've not seen elsewhere.Far from being staid, the shape of the pen is unusual, with a flaired back end and flowing convex arcs in front and back. It is a somewhat unusual design and definitely a departure from the ubiquitous cigar form factor featured on so many fountain pens (especially ones with snowflakes on the crown).Perhaps the best part in all of this is the value of the item. I paid only around $150 for this pen, an amazing prize for a special edition with a solid gold nib. The combination of design, style, function, and price makes this pen an exceptional value. Cross's lagging reputation in fountain pens apparently offers great opportunities for open minded buyers.
