The Cristal's design has become a target for counterfeiters, especially from the Far East and in particular from China.

French houses Bic and Pinel et Pinel come together to unveil an iconic ballpoint pen - the Cristal".In 1958, the takeover of the American company " Waterman Pen Company" allowed BIC to establish itself in the United States while continuing its development in Africa and the Middle East. Although the exact methodology of the pen’s creation isn’t fully disclosed, we know that Marcel Bich’s aspiration for a compact, dependable, and economical pen was the driving force behind the 4-Color Pen.

Marketing initiatives have been instrumental in spotlighting these improvements, emphasizing both their practicality and visual appeal. Once assembled, the pens undergo rigorous inspection before they’re packaged and dispatched to several global destinations, including Sydney, Ballarat, and Victoria State. In 1944, near the end of the Second World War, entrepreneur Marcel Bich bought a factory in Clichy, a suburb north of Paris, [2] and with business partner Edouard Buffard founded Société PPA (later Société Bic) in 1945.The city of Paris, globally recognized as the epicenter of fashion, has appreciated the pen for its blend of chic design and practicality. The pens' ink color has many different varieties, ranging from the 'classic' colors (blue, black, red, and green), to pink and purple. France, the birthplace of this innovative writing tool, cherishes it as a symbol of national identity.