Vazir Lizard Skin Fountain Pen Review: Celluloid Charm with a Hand-Engraved Nib

Introduction

Not that long ago, the words “made in India” carried little weight in the fountain pen hobby. The market was full of low-cost options, but few were stylish, well-made, or free of that distinctive odor that cheaper resin sometimes gives off. That reputation has been changing, and Vazir is one of the manufacturers leading the shift. After two earlier Vazir pens impressed with their looks, performance, and reasonable prices, the Lizard Skin continues the pattern.

This is a celluloid fountain pen available in two colors, green and blue, with a choice of chrome or gold trim. The review unit pairs green celluloid with gold trim, which brings out the depth of the material nicely. Pricing is straightforward: the standard pen is $110, and the version with Vazir’s hand-engraved nib is $255 combined.

First Impressions and Design

The pen arrives in a wooden box with the company name debossed on the front, an information card about the company and the pen inside, and a fabric kimono sleeve protecting the pen itself. It is a presentation that feels considered for a $110 pen.

The celluloid itself is the star here. The checkered pattern shifts depending on the angle: some areas read darker, but as the pen moves in the light, there is a deeper richness to the checkerboard, with visible lines between the squares. On the barrel you can even see where the different pieces joined to form the celluloid rod flow in different directions. It gives the pen a bit of life that flat resin rarely achieves.

In terms of shape, the cap starts flat with a nicely rounded edge and transitions into a rounded wheeled clip. Wheeled clips always look good, and this one has tension that works across a variety of material thicknesses. The cap tapers up, straightens out for about the last inch, then steps down with a rounded transition into the barrel. The barrel itself tapers evenly to a flat end, where the Vazir name is subtly engraved.

Parts, Fit, and Comfort

The cap twists off in about two and a quarter rotations, revealing a plastic feed and a stainless steel nib. The section begins with a small flare, is decently thick, and flows into resin threads that are neither thick, sharp, nor uncomfortable. There is a medium-to-large step up to the barrel.

Overall this is a medium-sized pen with a comfortable, fairly balanced feel in the hand. The section thickness suits a wider grip, and even if you hold the pen a bit further back, the threads never get in the way. It posts securely too, though the posted silhouette is a bit mushroom-shaped, so unposted is the better look.

It is a cartridge-converter pen that takes standard international cartridges, and a Schmidt converter is included. Nib options span fine, medium, broad, double broad, and a 1.1 stub.

The Hand-Engraved Nib

The nib is the highlight. Vazir means queen in chess in Hindi, and that chess queen is the company logo, engraved by hand on the nib along with fine dimpling around the figure. Up close you can genuinely tell it is hand-done, and it gives the impression that someone took their time with it.

The engraved nib adds $145 to the price, bringing the full package to $255. For a handcrafted piece of artwork like this, that feels reasonable. If the nib is not a priority, the standard pen at $110 is already very good value for what you receive.

Writing Performance

The writing sample used a medium stainless steel nib with a saturated deep green ink. The nib is decently smooth with just a bit of feedback, and it is very pleasant to use.

Line variation is minimal from this stainless steel nib, but the ink flow is generous, and the feed keeps up very well even during fast writing. Reverse writing is a bit scratchy, though it does lay down an extra-fine line. Nothing here is a dealbreaker; it reads as a nib tuned for comfortable everyday writing rather than flourishes.

Buying Advice

This is the pen to pick if you want the look and depth of genuine celluloid, an engaging checkered finish, and a comfortable medium-large grip without spending more than the $110 base price. Collectors who value one-of-a-kind details should seriously consider the $145 hand-engraved nib upgrade, since the dimpled queen engraving is not something you see on mass-produced pens.

If you prefer a heavier or larger pen, or you want expressive line variation out of the box, the medium stainless steel nib will not be the right fit. And if gold trim does not suit you, the chrome trim version is available in the same colors.

Conclusion

Vazir has put together a pen that looks good, writes well, and is priced sensibly. The Lizard Skin combines a lively celluloid finish, comfortable ergonomics, and an optional hand-engraved nib into one of the more interesting offerings at this price point. For anyone tracking how far Indian pen manufacturers have come, this pen makes the case on its own.