The purpose of this short post is to share the news that one of my favourite modern entry level fountain pens is now available in a new set of demonstrator editions.

At least, this was news to me, when I came across a display of them in a delightful stationery shop in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. I could not resist buying one. The assistant told me that she had only just put them out on display that morning and I was the first customer to buy one!

I am referring to the Cross Bailey Light. I first discovered these pens in our John Lewis department store back in October 2019 and then at the modest price of £20.00, for the fountain pen and two cartridges. The set did not include a proprietary, Cross converter which would therefore need to be bought separately but the pen takes their non-threaded (push-in) type. This adds appreciably to the cost, if you do not wish to use their rather pricey cartridges. Over the years, I have accumulated several more of these pens in their various colours. My favourite remains the royal blue edition which for a long time was my work pen and lived on my office desk, inked with Cross Blue. In 2023 I was away from work for a few months and missed this pen very much, as well as my colleagues of course.

Until recently I was aware only of the pen being available in a range of opaque colours. It came as a surprise then, to see a glass cabinet showing a clear demonstrator version, as well as blue, pink and green demonstrator editions too.

As I have reviewed the Cross Bailey Light before, I will mention only the points of difference:

1. Whilst there were several chrome highlights on the opaque editions, the demonstrators now get a smart, chrome ferrule to the barrel.
2. As far as I know, the demonstrator versions are available only with an extra fine nib (marked XF on the nib).
3. Having a see-through cap, barrel and section is a popular feature with many brands, for example from TWSBI, Pelikan, Platinum, and Lamy, to Aurora and Conid to name a few, but I think this may be a new departure for Cross. A clear barrel is the ultimate ink window. The clear cap shows the inner cap and, in particular, the way in which it clicks onto the ferrule when the cap is posted. Another benefit is that it will now be obvious if a spare cartridge is lodged in the back end of the barrel. I was asked several times in comments, why the barrel will not fit over a converter on a new Cross Bailey Light and this has invariably been the reason.
4. A small change, but one which pleased me very much is that the demonstrator versions now include a production date code. Mine read 0225W which I take to be February 2025. I do not know what the W signifies. (I have been informed in the past by one reader that the digits on a Cross pen are not a date code – but the majority of my Cross pens do have numbers which would fit with their likely date of manufacture: perhaps there are some exceptions). The ink cartridges are dated too, which is helpful when deciding in what order to use them up.

As usual for Cross pens, it has a lifetime guarantee.

On their website, Cross call these new versions the “Cross Bailey Light Translucent” and the four colours are translucent clear, navy blue, green and pink sapphire. It comes in a simple cardboard gift box, in a cardboard outer sleeve (an improvement on the old plastic packaging).

Initially I tried the included Cross Black cartridge, but was a little disappointed that this ink feathered in the two notebooks that I had with me, a Stalogy and a Ryman A6. When I got home, I transferred the cartridge to a different Cross pen, and instead filled my new pen with Cross Blue, from a bottle, with a Cross converter – a much preferred option.

I was delighted with the “XF” nib which appeared to be perfectly set up, right out of the box. Despite owning numerous Cross Bailey Light pens now, mine had all been Medium nibs and so this extra fine is a refreshing change. The nib is firm and has a downward slope to it which worries some people but this is quite standard.

I remain a big fan of the Cross Bailey Light. I recommend them to beginners as an affordable and professional looking alternative to the popular suggestion of a Lamy Safari, as the Cross pen does not have a faceted grip section and is, in my opinion, extremely comfortable and convenient to use, as well as looking smart and traditional.

Searching online, I found that the new versions are available on Cult Pens and Pure Pens although I bought mine for £29.00 at The Art and Stationery Store, 88-89 Bancroft, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.