The ballpoint pen is one of the most widely used writing instruments in the world. Its history began in 1938, when Hungarian journalist László Bíró patented the first modern ballpoint pen, frustrated by the slow drying time of fountain pen ink. Along with his brother György, he developed a rotating tip with a small metal sphere —the famous "ball"— that allowed ink to be distributed evenly and quickly onto paper.
During World War II, British Royal Air Force pilots adopted the invention because, unlike fountain pens, it worked correctly at high altitudes. This boosted its mass production and global popularity.
In 1945, French entrepreneur Marcel Bich perfected the design and launched the iconic BIC Cristal, which became the best-selling pen in history with over 100 billion units sold.
Today, the ballpoint pen is synonymous with practicality: it does not require frequent ink refills, writes on multiple surfaces, is economical, and is available in an infinite number of colors and thicknesses. From students to professionals, it remains an indispensable tool in everyday life.