Wow! I've used cheap fountain pens since I was in the late 1970s and suffered with their leaks, propensity to not start writing unless the nib is wetted, and ability to mysteriously get ink on the lower body where it transferred to my fingers. This Cross is my first higher priced fountain pen, and what a difference. It writes smoothly like a roller ball. The ink flows evenly without wetting the nib, even after leaving it uncapped for a while or leaving it unused for days. No leaks. No ink getting where it shouldn't. Nice choice in weight -heavy with the cap on the back of the pen and light with it left off. Nice balance in either configuration. Well made and there is no going back to cheap fountain pens. Well worth the money and I'd buy another if I lost this one.