Our History

Richard’s son Alonzo Townsend Cross shared his father’s visionary outlook and soon began to revolutionize the writing industry with his patented inventions. Today, Cross is a global innovator, crafting some of the world’s most widely-recognized, top-performing pens for distribution in 140 countries. Through inventive design techniques, exacting attention to detail and our renowned jewelry-quality craftsmanship, we continue to build on our storied history with products for the way we live and work today.
1
  • 1846
    The first Cross Fountain Pen debuts with the name Peerless to signify its unmatched technology and design.
  • 1889
    In the company’s early years, Richard Cross specializes in crafting elaborate, beautifully ornate pencil casings in fine gold and silver.
  • 1916
    A respected Cross employee, Walter Boss becomes the first in a long line of Boss family members to lead Cross into the 21st century.
  • 1946
    The Century Pencil debuts in gold and silver finishes to celebrate the Cross Company’s Centennial.
  • 1993
    Townsend becomes known as The Pen of Presidents, used by leaders across the globe to this day. Century II also makes history as the pen chosen by both political parties for official White House signing ceremonies.
  • Today
    We are a global leader in the fine writing industry, proud to build upon our legacy with premier pens and accessories for customers in 140 countries around the world.

Quality standards second to none

No detail is overlooked in the creation of a Cross Pen. Our unsurpassed quality standards and commitment to excellence result in distinctive and exceptionally reliable products for the most discerning of users. All writing instruments are inspected at every stage of production – at least 120 times – to ensure a superior performance. Each instrument is drop-tested nine times in different configurations to guarantee that they’ll remain operational after falling a distance of approximately three feet. Prior to launch, all new finishes are tested for up to 100 hours to ensure that they’re resistant to corrosion and color fading. Every component of every pen is top priority.