I have had a Cross ballpoint pen (with its matching pencil) like this when I was a kid. As I got older, I bought more because the quality and style of these pens are amazing. The pen feels comfortable in the hand, not like cheap "luxury" pens that are trying to fool you of its value by adding pointless weight to the body. This metal in the Cross Classic Century is lightweight which allows you to write longer as your hand won't get tired as fast. Also, the refills are easy to find and last a very long time (I still use one pen occassionally whose refill has been unchanged since 2004). I see a lot of complaints about Cross, mainly because they moved their manufacturing to China. When you think about it, though, had they kept manufacturing here in the States, would the prices be accessible to average consumers who want to still buy a luxury pen but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a ballpoint pen? (Think of Mont Blanc for one.) But Cross pens are still top-notch pens in terms of quality, performance, and luxury. Though they might be built in a different location, they are still being built under the discretion of Cross management. I imagine this allows the company to survive the economic conditions our country's facing as well as bring down costs so that more people could have the experience of a Cross pen. I would highly recommend this pen.