New Cross Peerless

[A Smug Dill]

I thought I'd give Cross a second chance, given that I even gave Parker a second chance in buying the Parker Duofold Centennial Big Red Vintage, when a new one in black lacquer finish (definitely not my favourite, generally when it comes to pens or specifically within the Peerless 125 range) with a Fine nib was offered at less than the 'bargain' price at which Amazon was selling the Parker.

 

I love the nib; that's a proper nib fitting for a high-end pen of any make. It alone sufficiently raises the Peerless 125 over the Parker Duofold Centennial, notwithstanding that the pen is made in China, which is a negative in my book.

 

I hate the gripping section, especially the bulging shape on top of it being thick, and I don't like the finish on it any more than I would a glossy metal section. It just doesn't fit my hold or my writing technique. Not even a more interesting and textured finish on the barrel would have made this a better writer in my hand. I can see that the nib is perfectly capable of laying down fourteen distinct horizontal lines within a 5mm square, without any of the lines touching any other, but I struggle to do even thirteen cleanly because the section just physically disagrees with me so.

 

And, no, the black lacquer body did not win me over upon seeing and touching it in person.

 

Once again, I should have respected my previously stated list of deal-breakers, which included: no Montblanc, Parker, Cross or S.T. Dupont, and it was unwise (and entirely my fault!) to have done otherwise. When am I ever going to learn? It is no bargain if I'm going to dislike looking at, holding or using a pen of a model that is well lauded and loved by users who are not me, no matter how much cheaper I can get it than the next sharp-eyed consumer in the market.

[MuddyWaters]

I thought I'd give Cross a second chance, given that I even gave Parker a second chance in buying the Parker Duofold Centennial Big Red Vintage, when a new one in black lacquer finish (definitely not my favourite, generally when it comes to pens or specifically within the Peerless 125 range) with a Fine nib was offered at less than the 'bargain' price at which Amazon was selling the Parker.

 

I love the nib; that's a proper nib fitting for a high-end pen of any make. It alone sufficiently raises the Peerless 125 over the Parker Duofold Centennial, notwithstanding that the pen is made in China, which is a negative in my book.

 

I hate the gripping section, especially the bulging shape on top of it being thick, and I don't like the finish on it any more than I would a glossy metal section. It just doesn't fit my hold or my writing technique. Not even a more interesting and textured finish on the barrel would have made this a better writer in my hand. I can see that the nib is perfectly capable of laying down fourteen distinct horizontal lines within a 5mm square, without any of the lines touching any other, but I struggle to do even thirteen cleanly because the section just physically disagrees with me so.

 

And, no, the black lacquer body did not win me over upon seeing and touching it in person.

 

Once again, I should have respected my previously stated list of deal-breakers, which included: no Montblanc, Parker, Cross or S.T. Dupont, and it was unwise (and entirely my fault!) to have done otherwise. When am I ever going to learn? It is no bargain if I'm going to dislike looking at, holding or using a pen of a model that is well lauded and loved by users who are not me, no matter how much cheaper I can get it than the next sharp-eyed consumer in the market.

In addition to what you say, I believe the pen is a little bit but back-heavy enough to be uncomfortable for longer writing sessions, even when unposted. Unfortunately this makes one grip that subtle section bulge harder, and pain does ensue at the distal interphalangeal joint of my middle finger, with the technique of holding the pen that I use.

 

When using the Cross Peerless, I yearn to use the Lamy 2000 instead, because it is lighter. I realize then that the Lamy 2000 has a more unforgiving sweet spot than the Sailor nib on the Peerless, and gives a less saturated line than the Peerless.

 

I grab the Faber Castell E-motion, and though this pen is a little short for me, its metal is of higher quality than that of the Peerless and the balance of the pen is slightly toward the nib, which makes it much better for longer writing sessions. I ask myself why I cannot commit to this Faber Castell E-motion and be done with it.

[A Smug Dill]

Unfortunately this makes one grip that subtle section bulge harder, and pain does ensue at the distal interphalangeal joint of my middle finger, with the technique of holding the pen that I use.

 

I'm sorry to hear that!

 

My wife asked to try my Cross Peerless 125 after hearing my description and my whinging about it over dinner, to see if it'll fit her hand. She said she was happy with the way the pen fits her hand — always a mystery to me, since she has child-sized hands and yet seem to take to larger pens, such as the Sailor KOP, better than I do — and she doesn't mind the look and feel of its glossy black lacquer body, so of course she's quite welcome to it. I mentioned that I just don't and can't have precise control of that pen, and she said she doesn't perceive the same issue; so I handed her a humble Jinhao X750 (that I've just picked up from the Aussie FPN pass-around box, thanks to a fellow hobbyist's generosity) to try. After about two lines of writing, she said, "Yep, I see what you mean now. Why the hell did you let me know? What was seen cannot be unseen."

 

But she's still keeping the Cross Peerless.

 

When using the Cross Peerless, I yearn to use the Lamy 2000 instead, because it is lighter. I realize then that the Lamy 2000 has a more unforgiving sweet spot than the Sailor nib on the Peerless, and gives a less saturated line than the Peerless.

If it isn't absolutely critical that your pens are of full-metal construction, but just having a bit of heft and a metal section will do, ... Sailor has at least a couple of variants of the Profit (aka 1911 Large) with resin bodies but metal sections, and of course are fitted with the signature 1911 'large-sized' 21K gold nibs.

Edited July 28, 2020 by A Smug Dill

[MuddyWaters]

Thanks for the response Dill. I have just ordered a Platinum Carbon Desk pen from Amazon for more experimentation (extra/super fine nib).

 

From my first experience with a Sailor nib, I can say that they are much smoother than expected. In fact, while in their sweet spot (which was easy to achieve), they are smoother than the analogous Platinum and Pilot nibs that I have tried. The Peerless Medium nib might have a subtle architect grind on it as well. In any case, I may be undecided enough between the three brands to delay further purchases of gold-nib-pen cost.

 

It's a bit of a mystery to me how I managed to not get a Platinum Century in all this time. The Centuries provide more feedback than the Pilots and Peerless in my limited experience, and I think I should like that. The Platinum Century body is resin, but it did not feel cheap to me, for whatever reason. On the other hand, the Peerless was too close to my Jinhao's and unfortunately "What was seen cannot be unseen."

 

But before making another impulsive decision that could lead to my questioning why I can't just be satisfied with the E-Motion, I will try the desk pen which could be useful for my note taking at work anyway (even if it doesn't become a journaling pen).

[Tseg]

When using the Cross Peerless, I yearn to use the Lamy 2000 instead, because it is lighter. I realize then that the Lamy 2000 has a more unforgiving sweet spot than the Sailor nib on the Peerless, and gives a less saturated line than the Peerless.

 

Different strokes for different folks... I ink my Lamy 2000 about once a year just because... but have learned to fill the reservoir only a quarter full because I am soon reminded how my fingers tend to slip forward on the metal section into the nib, so I end up clenching my fingers and getting wrist pain quickly. Already once the L2K slipped from my fingers, destroying the nib. It was in the early days of ownership, so I spent the 3/4 of the original price for a new nib. In hindsight, should have just sold that pen for parts. I love the P125 feel in my hand. Been inked since I got it.

 

Obligatory pen porn.

Edited July 28, 2020 by Tseg

[Marten]

Lovely pens you have there Tseg! Appears that our tastes are very similar

[landrover]

I have a medium nib Peerless and it writes extremely well, I am more than pleased with it!

In fact all the Cross pens are very satisfactory users for me.

 

To me, the Peerless is not the most visually attractive fountain pen, and my one dislike of all Cross pens is the clip. I wish they were more substantial, some earlier pens have very loose clips.

However they all write very, very well!

[A Smug Dill]

Someone asked me how the size of the Cross Peerless 125's 18K gold nib of Sailor manufacture compare to Sailor's other nibs. Here's a photo I took for him, of the Peerless side by side with some of the Sailor model we talked about:



That bloated, bulging gripping section on the Peerless is — to me — an abomination, but unfortunately I don't think I came across any mention of it as a characteristic or 'feature', either in a negative or even a positive light. That's a failure in my due diligence, and I can only blame my poor observation skills in not having spotted it looking at some photos of the Peerless online before purchase.

[MuddyWaters]

I wonder what other pen body I could put this nib and feed in...

Edited August 2, 2020 by MuddyWaters

[Aysedasi]

I have the black, with a medium nib and I like the pen a lot, but I'd kill for a broad nib....... I don't have any issues at all with the section which I find very comfortable.

Edited August 2, 2020 by Aysedasi

[AoKiu]

CROSS also owns SHEAFFER. Their customer service sucks - big time! I'll never buy a product from them again!!

[ArchiMark]

I have the black, with a medium nib and I like the pen a lot, but I'd kill for a broad nib....... I don't have any issues at all with the section which I find very comfortable.

 

+1 for the section....very comfortable on this great pen.

 

 

Mark