Cross Spire- A Quick Review

[Fof 3]

Hi All,

 

 

I was off looking for a FP that would fit into the pen holder of my pocket diary, its really very narrow and only pens less than 9mm diameter would fit into it. Thinking of slim pens- cross century BP's -lead me to discover the Cross Spire range.

 

Now these appear to come out around 2011 and by 2014 had disappeared. Made by Cross, 18K Gold nibs, price just below 200 USD, looks stunning especially the matching nibs- what when wrong. I look of course there was no real review and some issues with leaking in the lower section.

 

 

Anyhow I spied one very cheaply, out on the bay and... Curiosity got the better me..... And here is the review......

 

 

It’s a beautiful looking pen this one is the Black Caviar (and I know there is a gold, silver and red versions as well)

 

 

It looks well-built and everything oozed elegance.

 

The black 18K gold nib is an especially nice touch.

 

 

To use?

 

 

Well it is pretty slim and light (18 gram) so big mitts won't like it.

 

After cleaning it didn't write at all!

 

Ok misaligned tines, corrected oops over corrected, ok back the over way oops over corrected--- the penny drops...... this is one hell of a soft nib. In fact about the softest nib I played with. Yes ok 18K gold should be 18k gold but this must be thinner or something because it is really easy to adjust. Not only up and down but sideways as well.

 

Writing with it, you have to screw the cap off and screw on to post and it has to be posted as too short over wise 11.3 cm unposted 15 cm posted. Now once you worked out its 360 degree to screw the cap on you can avoid the clip in the wrong position

 

Ok how does it write? - Just about any way you want it do. Dry, wet scratchy smooth... and be gentle with it you can easily change its character by pressing hard on it.

 

 

And there are the issues, a pretty pen, form really defeats function. It was probably to complete the Spire set (BP, pencil, FP) and a nice steel nib would have got them out of so much strafe. Not surprised it had a short run life before it expired. A pen made for looks only FP enthusiasts can drive.

 

 

But 6/10 for me, it is elegant and I can play with the nib and it fits into my diary pen holder : )

[ac12]

The current incarnation of that pen is the 'Classic Century.'

 

Cross did/does not have a converter for the pen. But you can make a bulb converter out of an empty cartridge and an ink sac. I plan to make one for my Classic Century.

[visvamitra]

It doesn't look bad. As for the function - well, you can't always get full package

[Fof 3]

Hi ac 12,

 

I managed to find the slim cartridges online so will just refilled those with a syringe.

 

Hi Vivamitra,

 

I agree they really should have gone for a nail for a nib with a big blobby tip, at least then it would have functioned ok.

 

In the meanwhile it has managed to fall out of the pen holder twice in a week. The clip is very firm (probably too firm) and the thread has no o-ring or anything else to help retain it.

 

Now I know why it expired and there wasn't any reviews on this pen!

[touzeen]

My Spire,also Caviar Black, is a Nail. IMO, A nail nibs is better for pens which are so thin as you dont need to grip the section as tight.

I got 2 slim cartridges in the packaging. Been recycling them.

[Fof 3]

Hi Touzeen,

 

I agree with you! A big blobby tip on a nail would have been good. Interesting that your nib is a nail, I wonder if it is a quality control issue or something they evolve to as mine is really soft . Be interested to see what other Spire owners experiences have been.

Are you happy with your Spire or was there issues?

[touzeen]

No issues with performance.

 

Its my thinnest pen and I like thin pens.

 

Only criticism I have with it is that the Cap takes only a half a turn to uncap and even when its screwed in tightly it comes loose easily/accidentally.

[Fof 3]

I agree both the top and the bottom section has fallen off so far as I stated previously. Have put a tiny piece of sticky tape on the thread of the screw of the barrow section to stop it coming undone. Still thinking about how to stop the cap coming undone- thinking a drop of clear nail polish on the screw?