What's the difference between the Cross Calais fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint?
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The difference comes down to how the pen feels on the page, the ink it uses, and how it fits your routine. The fountain pen offers the most expressive writing, with a stainless steel nib that lays down a rich, fluid line. The rollerball gives you much of the same smooth, liquid-ink glide with less fuss, and an easy step-up in feel that requires no upkeep between uses. The ballpoint is the everyday workhorse, using an oil-based refill that resists drying out even when it sits unused. All three share the same tapered Art Deco profile, so the choice really comes down to the writing experience you want.
Which Cross Calais is the best everyday writer?
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The best everyday writer for most people is the Cross Calais rollerball, because it writes smoothly with minimal pressure and requires no maintenance between uses. Choose the ballpoint instead if you want the most reliable grab-and-go pen, or the fountain pen if the writing experience itself is the point and you don't mind the small upkeep.
Is the Cross Calais pen comfortable for long writing sessions?
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The Cross Calais pen is comfortable for long sessions for most hands, with a smooth metal barrel and a balanced weight that sits steady without feeling heavy. The grip section is slim and untextured, so if you prefer a wide or contoured grip, that's something to consider before purchasing.
What refill or converter does the Cross Calais fountain pen use?
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The Cross Calais fountain pen uses Cross's proprietary fountain pen ink cartridges or a Cross proprietary push-in converter for bottled inks, sold separately. This setup ensures a secure, leak-free fit, giving you the flexibility to swap between convenient on-the-go cartridges and the vast world of bottled fountain pen ink. Each Calais fountain pen comes in either a fine or medium point, so pick fine for a thinner, more precise line and medium for a slightly broader, wetter one.
Can I switch the Cross Calais rollerball to a gel, ballpoint, or fineliner refill?
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The Cross Calais rollerball uses Cross's Selectip interchangeable writing system, which lets you change the refill to switch how the pen writes rather than being locked to one tip. This applies to the rollerball only. The Calais ballpoint takes the standard
Cross refill and does not use the Selectip system.
What should I do if my pen skips or won't start after sitting?
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If your Cross Calais skips or won't start, the fix depends on the pen. For the fountain pen, the ink has usually dried in the feed, so flush the nib section with cool water and let it dry before re-inking. For the rollerball or ballpoint, scribble on scrap paper for a few seconds to get the ink flowing. If it still won't start, the refill is likely spent and should be replaced.
Is the Cross Calais a good gift pen for the price?
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The Cross Calais is a strong gift pen for the price, with a metal build, polished finish, and the prestigious Cross brand name. It's backed by Cross's lifetime mechanical guarantee, which covers mechanical failure due to faulty materials or workmanship for the life of the pen, and it arrives in a gift box ideal for graduations and special occasions.
Can I get my pen engraved?
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You can have the Cross Calais engraved through our in-house engraving service, making a name, date, or short message a permanent part of the pen. We offer different font styles depending on the pen's finish, from a clean block to a more traditional script. Add personalization before the pen goes into your cart, and pick your finish first, since the engraving's look varies by finish.