--- title: "Cross Townsend Ballpoint: Size, Weight and Refill" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/cross-townsend/" description: "Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome ballpoint (532TW) explained: 145.8 mm closed, 36.7 g, a 13 mm cap, twist action, the 8513 refill and the presidential pen story." category: "Pens" type: "Ballpoint" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen (532TW)" brand: "Cross" brand_origin: "United States" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Polished chrome finish with an incised line pattern, chrome-plated appointments (per Cross)" released: "1993" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "A.T. Cross Company (Providence, Rhode Island)" model: "532TW" mpn: "532TW" gtin: "073228126074" url: "https://cross.com/products/532tw" --- # Cross Townsend Ballpoint: Size, Weight and Refill > The Cross Townsend is Cross's wide-bodied twist ballpoint in an Art Deco style, and Cross calls it the Official Presidential Pen. Cross lists the Lustrous Chrome 532TW at 5.739 in (145.8 mm) closed and 1.295 oz (36.7 g), 0.51 in across the cap. It takes the Cross 8513 black medium refill and sits in our $$$$ band. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/cross-townsend/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome ballpoint drawn to scale at 145.8 mm, with an inset of the ballpoint tip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/cross-townsend-16x9.png) *The Townsend 532TW, 145.8 mm closed (drawn at 1 mm = 5 px).* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen (532TW) | Cross (by A.T. Cross Company (Providence, Rhode Island)) | United States | Not stated | Polished chrome finish with an incised line pattern, chrome-plated appointments (per Cross) | 1993 | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen (532TW)): Not stated. Cross's US and UK product pages for the 532TW (read October 23, 2026) don't state a country of manufacture. Peyton Street Pens dates older Townsends marked Made in USA to 1994–2001; collectors' forum posts say newer ones are made in China, which we don't treat as a reliable source. ### Cross Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen (532TW) colors - Body colors (8 standard, 2 special edition): Lustrous Chrome (item 532TW); Medalist (item 502TW); Classic Black Lacquer (item 572TW); Black Lacquer with Polished Chrome (item AT0042-80); Matte Black PVD (item AT0042-60); Black PVD Micro-knurl (item AT0042-62); Matte Green PVD Micro-knurl (item AT0042-63); Polished 23KT Gold Plated Engraved Diamond Pattern (item AT0042-77); Zodiac Year of the Snake Blue Lacquer (special edition, item AT0042-76); Zodiac Year of the Horse 23KT Gold-plated (special edition, item AT0042-81). - Per Cross (https://cross.com/collections/townsend), checked 2026-10-24. The Townsend ballpoint finishes on Cross's US store, where each finish is its own product page (rollerballs and fountain pens left out). Names as Cross writes them; Cross calls the Chinese Zodiac pens special editions. Tints were sampled from Cross's product photos; Medalist is chrome with gold-tone accents. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Cross lists the Townsend 532TW at 5.739 in (145.8 mm) closed and 5.452 in (138.5 mm) writing, and 1.295 oz (36.7 g). - It measures 0.51 in (13.0 mm) across the cap and 0.43 in (10.9 mm) across the barrel, much wider than a Classic Century. - A swivel action extends and retracts the point; it ships with the black medium refill 8513. - Cross calls the Townsend the Official Presidential Pen and gives it a lifetime mechanical warranty. - Peyton Street Pens dates the Townsend to 1993, with ballpoints from 1994. ## What is the Cross Townsend? **It is Cross's large, wide-bodied twist ballpoint in an Art Deco style, sold as a gift and heirloom pen.** Cross describes a distinguished, substantial design and calls the Townsend the Official Presidential Pen, preferred by several American presidents. Our story on [the pens US presidents use](https://stationerytimes.com/stories/us-presidents-pens/) follows the Townsend from Clinton to Obama's first signings in 2009. The Lustrous Chrome 532TW is the plainest finish: highly polished chrome incised with a subtle line pattern, with chrome-plated clip and trim. ## Cross Townsend specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | A.T. Cross Company, United States | | Model | 532TW, Lustrous Chrome | | UPC | 073228126074 | | Mechanism | Swivel action (twist to extend and retract) | | Refill | Cross ballpoint, black medium 8513 included | | Length closed | 5.739 in (145.8 mm) | | Length writing | 5.452 in (138.5 mm) | | Diameter | 0.51 in (13.0 mm) cap, 0.43 in (10.9 mm) barrel | | Weight | 1.295 oz (36.7 g) | | Warranty | Lifetime mechanical | Dimensions from Cross UK's specification tab; the UPC is from Cross's US store. Cross gives the closed length as the longer one. ## How big is the Townsend compared with the Classic Century? **It is about 13 mm longer, much wider and more than twice as heavy.** The [Cross Classic Century](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/cross-classic-century/) is a slim pen of about 8 mm; the Townsend's cap is 13.0 mm across. ![Cross Townsend 145.8 mm and 36.7 g beside the Classic Century 133 mm and 16 to 17 g, with cross-sections of 13.0, 10.9 and 8 mm](https://stationerytimes.com/images/cross-townsend-vs-classic-century.svg) *The two Cross ballpoints to scale, with cross-sections.* | | Townsend 532TW | Classic Century 3502 | |---|---|---| | Length | 145.8 mm (5.74 in) | 133 mm (5.25 in) | | Width | 13.0 mm cap | About 8 mm | | Weight | 36.7 g | 16 to 17 g | | Refill | 8513 (Cross family) | 8513 (Cross family) | | Price band | $$$$ | $$$ | The wider barrel suits larger hands; the Century fits a shirt pocket and a planner loop more easily. ## What refill does it take? **Standard Cross ballpoint refills: the black medium 8513 comes in the pen.** Cross says other ink colors and widths are available, and Online Mantra lists the blue medium 8511 as fitting the Townsend, Classic Century, Century II and ATX. Our [pen refills explained](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pen-refills-explained/) guide covers the common refill sizes. ## How much does a Cross Townsend cost? **It sits in our $$$$ band, over $75.** On October 23, 2026, Cross's US store listed the Lustrous Chrome at US$185, and Cross UK at £135 (about US$178). Cross ships it in a gift box with a lifetime mechanical warranty. ## Is the Townsend a good gift pen? **It is built and sold as one: a heavy chrome pen in a gift box, with a lifetime mechanical warranty and engraving offered on Cross's store.** Cross tags the 532TW for engraving and gift wrapping, and its copy pitches the Townsend as a pen to pass down to the next generation. Practical points for the person receiving it: - The 8513 refill is a common Cross part, so it stays easy to refill. - At 36.7 g it is heavy; people who write long notes may prefer a lighter pen such as a [Parker 51](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-51/) fountain pen at 19.8 g. - Other finishes exist, such as the Black PVD Micro-Knurl listed on Amazon.com. ## Are there Townsend fountain pens and rollerballs? **Yes, the Townsend has also been made as a fountain pen and a rollerball.** Peyton Street Pens lists vintage Townsend fountain pens from 1994 to 2001 with 14k medium nibs, and Townsend rollerballs, alongside the ballpoints. This guide covers the current Lustrous Chrome ballpoint, the version our luxury roundup picks. ## How popular is the Townsend in the US? **It is one of Cross's best-known gift pens.** One Amazon.com Townsend ballpoint listing had 113 ratings on October 23, 2026, and our [best luxury pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-luxury-pens/) roundup names it the ballpoint pick. ## Where is the Cross Townsend made? **Cross's product pages don't say.** Peyton Street Pens describes 1994–2001 Townsends with a "Made in USA" cap imprint; collector forums say later ones are made in China, but we found no Cross statement, so we list it as not stated. Cross, founded in 1846, is a US company. ## Frequently asked questions ### What refill does the Cross Townsend ballpoint take? Standard Cross ballpoint refills. Cross says the 532TW comes with the black medium 8513 and takes other colors and widths; Online Mantra lists the blue medium 8511 as fitting the Townsend too. ### Is the Cross Townsend the presidential pen? Cross calls it the Official Presidential Pen and says it was preferred by several American presidents. Cross doesn't name which ones on the product page. ### What is the difference between the Cross Townsend and Century II? The Townsend is Cross's wide-bodied Art Deco pen, 0.51 in across the cap. Both take the same family of Cross ballpoint refills, per Online Mantra's refill fit list. ### How do you open a Cross Townsend ballpoint? Twist the two halves of the barrel to extend or retract the point; Cross calls it a swivel action. ### Is the Cross Townsend heavy? Yes, for a ballpoint: Cross lists 1.295 oz, about 36.7 g, more than twice the 16 to 17 g retailers give for a Classic Century. ### Does the Cross Townsend have a warranty? Cross gives it a lifetime mechanical warranty and ships it in a gift box, per its product page. ## Sources - [Cross UK: Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen, 532TW (5.452 in writing, 5.739 in closed, 1.295 oz, 0.51 and 0.43 in, refill 8513, swivel action; read October 23, 2026)](https://uk.cross.com/products/532tw) - [Cross (US): Townsend Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen, 532TW (UPC 073228126074; read October 23, 2026)](https://cross.com/products/532tw) - [Peyton Street Pens: Cross Townsend ballpoint (1993 gold filled, ballpoints from 1994; Made in USA 1994–2001)](https://peytonstreetpens.com/cross-townsend-ballpoint-pen-10k-gold-filled-lined-pattern-superior-works-well.html) - [Peyton Street Pens: Cross Townsend fountain pen (1994–2001, 14K medium nib)](https://peytonstreetpens.com/cross-townsend-fountain-pen-1994-2001-marbled-green-lacquer-w-gp-trim-c-c-14k-medium-nib-near-mint-in-box-works-well.html) - [Online Mantra: Cross ballpoint refill blue medium 8511 (fits Classic Century, Century II, Townsend, ATX)](https://www.onlinemantra.in/es-eu/products/cross-ballpoint-pen-refill-blue-m-8511) - [Wikipedia: A. T. Cross Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._T._Cross_Company) - [Amazon.com: Cross Townsend ballpoint (113 ratings on October 23, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084ZW8LDN) - [Cross: Townsend collection (ballpoint finishes, item numbers, Zodiac special editions)](https://cross.com/collections/townsend)