Cross Townsend BB-8

The Cross Townsend BB-8 fountain pen is no ordinary writing instrument, but a carefully wrought tribute to one of the most endearing figures in the Star Wars universe. Fashioned in gleaming white lacquer with warm rose-gold appointments, its design echoes the cheerful contours of the spherical droid it honours. Each stroke of the engraver, each subtle curve of the barrel, carries a quiet sophistication that only the Townsend line could convey. The pen is fitted with a hand-finished, two-tone nib of eighteen-carat gold, tuned to provide the unhurried grace one expects of a fine instrument. It is not merely functional, but ceremonial; the act of writing with it recalls the heritage of craftsmanship as much as the spirit of imaginative storytelling.

It is also a rare piece of modern penmaking history. Cross released precisely 1,977 examples worldwide—a number chosen in homage to the year in which Star Wars first entered the cultural firmament. Among these, my pen bears the distinguished number 25. The subject it commemorates, BB-8, first rolled onto cinema screens in The Force Awakens (2015). This astromech droid, spherical of body and domed of head, was designed to be both practical and personable. Brought to life by a blend of ingenious puppetry and advanced robotics, BB-8 quickly won admiration for its resourcefulness, loyalty to Poe Dameron, and unerring charm. Its voice, an artful collage of digital beeps created with the help of comedians Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz, imparted warmth and character to what might otherwise have been a mere machine.

Townsend BB-8 has united two traditions: the venerable art of fine writing instruments and the modern mythology of Star Wars. This number 25 of 1,977 is not only an object of beauty but also a fragment of cultural history, a reminder that elegance and imagination need not be confined to separate worlds. It is a pen that writes, and also a pen that tells a story.

Reference

Cross website: cross.com/cr_en_us/at0046d-50md