Vazir Meteor Shower Review: A Handcrafted Indian Fountain Pen With a Stunning Engraved Nib

Introduction

Few things in this hobby are as satisfying as being genuinely surprised by a pen, especially from a brand you have not handled before. Vazir, launched in 2020, is a relatively new Indian company with a stated goal of producing premium writing instruments at an affordable price, and the Meteor Shower makes a convincing case that they are holding true to it.

The Meteor Shower retails for $125, and it is one of the most impressive pens we have seen at that price in a long time. Add the optional hand engraved nib, and the package becomes something genuinely distinctive. The quality coming out of smaller Indian manufacturers has improved dramatically in recent years, and this pen is a strong example of that trend.

First Impressions and Design

The Meteor Shower arrives in a wooden box with a faux leather cover, a noticeably higher quality presentation than typical. It does not feel like a disposable box, and inside you also get a pouch and a little printed information.

The body is made from celluloid with a really interesting stacked look, varying in direction across different parts of the pen. Some sections show a tight stacked figure, others thicker bands, and the side-to-side variance adds character. The company name appears at the end of the barrel. The cap end is rounded and angles up before straightening out, and the gold colored clip is rather stiff but features a wheel that helps it accommodate materials of varying thicknesses. The barrel has a medium step down and tapers evenly to a rounded end.

The cap twists off with two full rotations. As a cartridge converter pen, it accepts standard international cartridges and a converter is provided.

The Hand Engraved Nib

Underneath the cap sits the pen’s standout feature: a number six stainless steel Jowo nib with hand engraving. The standard nib is available in fine, medium, broad, and a 1.1 stub.

The engraved nib costs $110 on its own, which brings the total to $225 for the pen with this custom option. Considering the patterning, the dimpling on the side, and the amount of work involved, that feels reasonably priced. Under a loupe you can spot slight tooling marks, but nothing visible to the naked eye, and it serves as a reminder that an artisan, not a machine, created this nib. The engraving has no noticeable effect on performance.

Size and Handling

The pen is plenty long enough to use unposted. The cap does post securely, and because it is fairly light, posting does not back-weight the pen or throw off its balance. The transition at the posted end is not sharp, so even if it rubs against your hand it stays comfortable.

The section starts with a small ring, angles up, and carries the cap threads with a medium step up to the barrel. With solid construction, some silicone grease and possibly an O-ring could make eyedropper conversion a possibility worth experimenting with.

Writing Performance

The engraved nib is very pleasant to use, with a little bit of feedback rather than a glossy smooth glide. Ink flow sits around medium to low, and reverse writing lays down an extra fine line. During fast writing, the plastic feed keeps up just fine.

The floral engraving gives the nib a special look that photographs beautifully up close, but it is the overall writing feel that makes the upgrade easy to recommend.

Buying Advice

At $125 for the pen alone, the Meteor Shower is an extremely good value. The engraved nib at $110 brings the full package to $225, and for a handcrafted celluloid pen with a hand engraved Jowo nib, that feels fair for what you receive. The pen is available directly through the Vazir website. If you value artisan detail and want something a bit different from the usual production pens, adding the engraved nib is the way to go.

Conclusion

The Vazir Meteor Shower brings something different to the table: interesting handcrafted celluloid, solid construction, and an optional engraved nib that elevates the entire package. For the price, it is one of the most compelling fountain pens in its class right now.