SAFARI CHIC and the WILD WONDERS OF CROSS®

This season, as bold colors rage and safari chic ignites fashion, CROSS introduces beautiful accessories that dance in step with the styles of spring 2008, yet provide an essential expression of individuality. The new CROSS designs in writing instruments and leather embody spring and summer shades that will spark a wardrobe - - and distinctive styles that convey a personality with a passion for fashion. Inspired by tribal motifs, desert hues, and safari settings, each accessory is created to complement the season’s hottest trends, yet crafted as only CROSS can…to bring joy and long-lasting luxury to everyday rituals.

These collections debut in March at all CROSS locations, at www.cross.com, and at select retailers.

Sauvage CROSS unveils an entirely new pen silhouette designed expressly for women. The Sauvage is the very first Cross pen in its more than 160 year history that was developed and engineered purely to suit a woman’s preference for the style, balance, and shape of a writing instrument. More than a year in the making, Sauvage features a curvaceous silhouette that echoes the form of a pencil skirt, a design embraced throughout the decades, always defining a look that’s smart, sexy, sensuous. Sauvage interprets the beauty of a classic fashion form, but presents it in the context of today’s style influences. The deep engraving of these pens entices with exotic animal prints, while the hand-polished, jewelry-like lacquer finish invites with an ethereal quality.

The centerpiece of the collection is a pen with a striking giraffe pattern engraved in brown tourmaline colored lacquer. The pattern extends from tip to end of this simply gorgeous pen (ball-point s.r.p. $90, Selectip rolling ball pen s.r.p. $110, fountain pen s.r.p. $160).

Of equal beauty are three pens that possess stylishly engraved caps accented by lacquer bodies. A zebra pattern complements an onyx shade of lacquer. A python patterned cap pairs with either an ivory toned lacquer or moonstone colored lacquer. These distinctive pens explore the wondrous designs found in nature that are both current yet recurring in their timeless appeal. The new Sauvage pens, each with a pen pouch, are available in three writing technologies: ball-point (s.r.p. $80), rolling ball pen (s.r.p.$100), and fountain pen with 18KT solid gold nib with rhodium plate (s.r.p. $150). The rolling ball and fountain pens have an elegant twist off cap.

Kalahari Tribalism trumps for spring, as fashion designers turn to the allure of ethnic patterns to enliven their collections. The new Century II Kalahari pens from CROSS bring the richness of African painted surfaces to the art of writing. The Kalahari pen captures tribal motifs, such as geometrics found in African textiles and surfaces, marrying the ancient with more contemporary influences.

The pen’s pointillist-style background of concentric circles is punctuated with lively and brightly hued depictions of flora and fauna – particularly giraffe, gazelle and crane images. The tones – sunset orange, purple dawn, and turquoise sky – evoke the memorable beauty of an exotic safari setting. The name of this collection is inspired by the Kalahari Desert in Africa that includes the world’s second largest protected game reserve. The limited edition Kalahari pen features a wrap-around patterning technique that has quickly become one of CROSS’s most sought-after signature pen styles. Kalahari ball-point pens are available in the three styles and colors, suggested retail price $60.

Autocross™ Imagining sunset over the desert, the outrageously stunning colors of the new Autocross pen and leather collection will inspire writers and adventurers. Tangerine, turquoise, and metallic bronze leather imbue the Autocross pen and leather accessories for spring. The Autocross ball-point pen (s.r.p. $50) with its etched, polished chrome top and supple leather body reigns as one of Cross’ most recognizable recent designs, a must-have pen for the style pacesetter. Buoyant color in a ball-point pen or in an accessory to bring to the boardroom, these new sunset shades are also debuting throughout the Autocross leather collection, including padfolios and personal agendas.

Notebooks Plan your safari route with these new spiral bound notebooks from Cross in solid colors - grape, tangerine, lime. Three notebooks with the Kalahari pattern on the cover will also debut in turquoise sky, sunset orange, and purple dawn. Solid and patterned notebooks are available in three sizes, ranging in s.r.p. from $6-$10.

Business Bags Pack with style, whether you’re destined for a honeymoon in Kenya or the jungles of business. Wherever your travels take you, reach for the spring styles of the CROSS TOWN Computer Bag Collection™. Each bag is designed to do double duty, serving as both your laptop tote and your purse. Stylishly rendered in a myriad of materials, from woven raffia treated with a water-resistant, rubberized backing for great wearability, to metallic canvas, these bags have been carefully tailored to fit a woman’s essential needs. Each bag contains a separate compartment for a standard-sized laptop, and perfectly sized pockets to protect your p.d.a, cell phone, and wardrobe of CROSS pens. The collection comes in four silhouettes: Sutton, Chelsea, Gramercy, and Madison. Options include: lacquered brown or black raffia; black or tan lacquered twill; black and copper metallic canvas; brown with pink metallic canvas or natural and gold metallic canvas. Reminiscent of vintage travel bags, these new CROSS totes feature the season’s fairest shades, fresh, summery materials, and contrasting trims in accents such as crinkle patent leather. Prices from $150 to $225 (s.r.p.).

Townsend Vivid yellows, greens and reds rocketed the spring runways. The new shades of the CROSS Townsend® pen also bring the beauty of bold color to accessory wardrobes. This season Townsend emerges in ruby and emerald hues, with a translucent, hand-polished lacquer finish. The intricately engraved diamond pattern enhances the jewel tones of these new Townsend additions. Suggested retail prices are: $110 for the ball-point pen, $135 for the rolling ball, and $250 for the fountain pen.

CROSS, headquartered in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is the world-renowned maker of fine writing instruments, leather accessories, timepieces, eyewear, business bags and executive gifts.