Technology 3 Multi Pen Metallic Blue

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.

The build quality was so good

Favorite pen and pencil combo.

I have long been in search of a highly-functional stylus, and have found it in the Cross Tech3+. As an added bonus, I'm also a fan of Cross and excellent pens in general. HIGH UTILITY I've found this pen to be very useful. Two colors of pen (replaceable) and a mechanical pencil too. Whether I want to write on paper or on my iPad with the stylus, I'm never short of tools to do so. BUILD QUALITY The build quality is excellent. Perfect weight in my hand (I like a pen to feel heavier than a Bic). The pen writes very well, but that's more a function of the ink cartridge. The stylus tip can be replaced, because like any soft stylus, it wears out over time. A few months into use and I have not noticed a problem yet. LIKE IT A LOT...SO I GIVE IT AS A GIFT I liked the pen so much I bought one for my wife and for my brother. My brother is a dentist and almost exclusively uses his iPad for handwritten notes, with the occasional need for a pen. They both love it. Highly recommended

NOTE: This version of the pen (Cross Tech-3) DOES NOT have the stylus attachment which replaces "normal" cap at the top of the pen. The pen contains a black, red and 5mm pencil function. Twisting the pen clockwise allows the user to change function, so turn it once and the black nib pops out, turn clockwise again and it disappears, turn it again and the red nib appears and so on. Replacing the ink is easy, you just pull the top half of the pen away from the bottom half (it might feel a bit stuff but just keep pulling) and then can pull out the inserts as necessary. I'd recommend using these as replacements : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008DRZ548/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3VJ1GOX51LFQ9 They are much cheaper and give equal, if not superior, writing quality as Cross branded refills. PROS: There is the option to turn counter-clockwise and retract the nib you are using so it appears when you turn clockwise again (saves having to scroll through all 3 again). Build quality is superb - the black matt finish is extremely nice to hold in the hand and doesn't get sweaty/greasy from extended use. I personally don't find the pen heavy, it seems a good weight considering it's cast from metal. The ink writes well and hasn't smudged or blobbed on the page. The presentation case that the pen comes in is a nice touch; makes it ideal for a gift. The top of the pen has a cap which can be unscrewed to reveal a rubber at the top which can be replaced pretty easily. CONS: The pencil function is a bit confusing - I can't figure out how to refill it without manually pushing the leads into the nib end whilst holding the pen in a "clicked" position. I haven't had the guts to pull the insert out yet. The clip on the pen is stiff and probably wouldn't last too long if it was being clipped onto a shirt every day. It would likely bend out of shape or snap. Not a problem for me personally but others will use the pen differently. CONCLUSION: Extremely good pen. Great build quality. Writes extremely well. Handy having 3 options in 1 slim pen. Well priced if you get it below £30. Will last a lot longer and feels much nicer than the standard biro pens lying around.

毎日、使う上で、程よい重さで、書きやすい

Two colour ball pens + pencil + capacitative screen stylus on the back, all fit into one compact sleek product. The two pens and pencil cycle in and out on continuous clock-wise rotation. The stylus nub on the top can be unscrewed to expose an eraser. Light-weight, classy and easy to grip as well. A very well thoughtfully designed piece of equipment.

Il y a des années, l'entreprise de mon mari offrait à ses meilleurs vendeurs des stylos Cross. Je suis une collectionneuse et une utilisatrice également. Je les admirais avec envie mais le prix m'arrêtait. J'avais espoir de pouvoir m'en offrir un. Ça y est, je suis comblée et c'est un Cross Tech 3. Il est fabuleux ! ! Beau mais pas trop gros et surtout il fait plein de choses : Stylet pour le téléphone, critérium avec gomme, stylo noir et stylo rouge. Et je lui ai offert un bel étui en cuir pour se promener avec moi dans mon sac à main. La classe !

Sono un estimatore delle penne Cross. Uso la Tech 3 e mi trovo bene. Purtroppo la mia esperienza in generale con la Cross mi ha fatto constatare che il post vendita in Italia è assente. Ricambi costosi come nel caso della gomma per cancellare.