This vibrator makes a fairly nice clitoral vibe---it's strong, but not overly so and it has a pretty nice range of vibrations. It made a great warm up. It was also excellent to use on my lover's penis and balls, he enjoyed the vibrations because they weren't too heavy for him. We used it during sex and mutual masturbation. I also found it created a nice sensation when used on the nipples.

The material was fairly smooth and rigid with a bit of drag to it, which I found to be overall unpleasant for penetration but generally pleasant for all manner of external play. The texture is good for beginners, since there isn't much of one at all. The toy only had a very faint plastic smell that was easily ignored.

The design of the Precious Metal Gems vibe is pretty standard, not much more than a traditional plastic vibe with an added fake gem on the end. I found it a little shorter and a little more bulgy than other, similar vibes I've tried. The length and general shape made it a little less comfortable in my hand and a little more difficult to hold onto, however, it was a nice toy to start out with because it was inexpensive, small, and fairly standard. Its size made it easy to hide, and I've carried it around in my pack before with no problem. It isn't particularly discreet looking, though.

The controls were a very standard and easy to figure out turn dial. The farther you turn the dial, the more intense the vibrations become. The vibrations themselves were fairly evenly distributed, although more toward the end of the toy, which made it convenient for clitoral stimulation. It was only moderately noisy, quiet enough that someone in the same room might hear it, but they probably wouldn't be able to tell what it was. Supposedly it's waterproof, but after examining the construction, I decided not to risk trying it in water.

The toy is fairly easy to clean with antibacterial soap and hot water or rubbing alcohol. It's a bit more difficult to clean around the gem and where the toy attaches to the base. It's compatible with all types of lube: water, oil, or silicone. I stored mine in a padded bag.

The Precious Metals Gems was fun while it lasted, and its untimely demise might have been an individual flaw with the unit I purchased, but I'd personally recommend it to anyone looking to try a less expensive vibe before purchasing a higher quality model.