A. T. Cross Receives International Award Cross Verve(TM) Selected for Pen World(R) International's Tenth Annual Readers' Choice Awards LINCOLN, R.I., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A.T. Cross Company announced today that the new Cross Verve penwas voted Best Pen, Contemporary Design from Pen World International's Tenth Annual Readers' Choice Awards. The awards presentation was made at the International Pen Association Show in Washington, D.C. Verve, a high-end, ultra-streamlined pen, was introduced earlier this month in New York City at an invitation-only event at Le Jazz Au Bar. During the event, a partnership between Cross and Verve Records, the premier worldwide jazz label, was also announced. This spring, purchasers of Verve pens will receive a limited edition CD with selections by some of Verve Records' greatest artists. The CD will be available in both U.S. and International Markets. Established in 1994, the Readers' Choice Awards is the only awards program for the pen industry. Readers submit their votes in 12 categories. Each winner receives an award designed exclusively for Pen World, a bronze-cast, life-size hand, mounted on a wood base. The winning pen can be mounted on the hand. "We are honored that we were selected by the readers of Pen World International for Cross Verve," said David Whalen, president and CEO of A.T. Cross. He continued, "Pen World is the premier magazine for our industry and for our customers. Its readers' vote of confidence and appreciation for our products gives us great pride." Accepting the award was Peter Leon, Vice President Sales, Americas and Patrick McDonough, National Sales Manager, Retail. This is not the first time that A.T. Cross has been recognized for its unique products by Pen World International and other competitions. The company received Pen World Readers' Choice Award for "Best Pen Technical Design" for the Cross Morph in 2000 and the Cross Matrix in 2002. The company was nominated in two additional categories in 2003: "Best Innovation of the Year" for the Cross Vice and "Best Advertising Campaign." In 2002, Cross received the coveted 2002 Industrial Design Excellence Bronze Award (IDEA), considered America's premier award for design, for the Cross Matrix.That same year, a Cross "Morph" design was given the International Red Dot Award, the Oscar of the international design industry. "Receiving this award for Verve demonstrates our commitment to products that are designed to appeal to a widely diverse market," said Bruce Willox, Director of Global Marketing, at A.T. Cross. "Our Verve pen suggests sophistication, elegance and style, and its unique design and positioning reflects our determination to continue to redefine Cross as a fashionable brand that connects with the lifestyles of tuned-in consumers. Pen World International's award and nominations reaffirm our reputation globally as the charismatic leader in our category." Verve is a pen of unsurpassed distinction and charisma -- refined yet fashionable, sexy and sleek, with a luxurious feel in the hand. Available in three finishes -- Platinum, Merlot and Selenium Blue, Verve's seamless, streamlined, wide-girth barrel features an innovative, integrated, spring- loaded pocket clip. The patent-pending clip nests in a solid tinted, translucent, perfectly proportioned resin ellipse that contrasts and accentuates the color of the pen. Each finish is offered with a fountain pen, featuring a 360 degree wrapped inlaid nib. The ball-point pen and versatile gel-ink rollerball models are additional writing options. The rollerball model also lets the user interchange refill types as it accommodates porous point ball point or document markers. Verve's fine materials embody elegance and graceful sophistication. The Platinum Verve, a platinum-plated pen, has a smooth, rich, satin finish. The pen tapers sleekly down to its defining point - a jewel-like, two-tone, 18-Karat two-toned fountain pen nib. The Merlot Verve, the color of full-bodied French wine, is textured with an intricately etched, diamond- pattern. Its fountain pen nib is made of pure 18-Karat white gold, a gentle reminder of its extravagance. The Selenium Blue Verve is tailored with contrasting rhodium-plated and deep blue accents, and its rhodium-plated steel fountain pen nib provides for smooth, unconstrained writing. All Verve pens come packaged in an architecturally proportioned presentation gift case that has been designed to keep the pen resting on a desk or table. Its unique feature is a molded rubber case with a cocoon-like inset in which the pen nests perfectly. The Cross Verve will be available for retail and corporate gift sales only. Verve will be on sale worldwide in March. Suggested retail prices range from $95 for the Selenium Blue Verve ball point to $450 for the Platinum Verve fountain pen. For a listing of retail stores and further details, log onto http://www.cross.com/. About A.T. Cross Building on the rich tradition of its award-winning writing instruments and reputation for American innovation and craftsmanship, A.T. Cross Company is a designer and marketer of branded personal and business accessories. Cross provides a range of distinctive products that appeals to a growing market of consumers seeking to enhance their image and facilitate their lifestyle. Cross products, including award-winning quality writing instruments, timepieces, business accessories and Costa Del Mar sunglasses, are distributed in the retail and corporate gift channels worldwide. For more information, visit the A.T. Cross web site at http://www.cross.com/. To obtain photos, please call 401-521-2700 ext. 175 or email requests to . CONTACT: Ruth Davis or Patti Doyle 401-521-2700 DATASOURCE: A.T. Cross Company CONTACT: Ruth Davis or Patti Doyle for A.T. Cross, +1-401-521-2700 Web site: http://www.cross.com/

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