First off, this thing will look different in different types of light. Example:
When I first got it, I opened it in my room with no lights on (it was sunny out, but no direct sunlight). Later, when I got it out, I had the florescent dormitory lights on. And the toy's surface looked the way oil does on water! I was extremely alarmed and tried scrubbing the thing off, but when I turned on the bathroom's incandescent lights, the splotches became less visible. Which was very reassuring. I scrubbed it off anyway.
Note that this vibe is waterproof, so washing with warm water and soap is easy- you don't need to worry about accidentally splashing water on the battery compartment and killing the vibe. The funky oil-on-water splotches haven't gone away, even with vigorous scrubbing, but they only show up in man-made lighting.

Next- what is up with the giant gemstone on the bottom of the thing? Seriously? Completely random and tacky/gaudy to boot. Luckily, though, it's very secure. I am unable to pry it off using a screwdriver, so that's good.

The packaging was very nice and fun. It was a clear plastic box with swirls and other stuff printed on it. Unlike the other 2 vibes I've gotten, which were adorned with naked women (because I just LOVE seeing naked porn stars on every side of my brightly colored vibe box), this was a nice, sweet package. Heartthrob's review actually has some pictures, for those who are curious. I was very pleased to find out that not all vibe packages are lurid and embarrassing to be seen with.

The Gem has decent power to it, and is fairly quiet. About average on both fronts, really, but a little above average on the power. It has a turn-dial on the bottom, so it's easy to use- just twist to turn the power on, twist to up the power, and untwist to turn off. The dial is a bit short, and it tapers, making it a bit difficult to grab a hold of. Not very hard, just a little more difficult than I'd like while I'm in the middle of enjoying myself.

All and all, the Gem is a fairly average, good, cheap starter vibe. Being waterproof is a plus. For advanced people, or people who have starter vibes, I'd suggest looking elsewhere, unless you want a starter vibe that happens to be waterproof.

I don't really USE this particular vibe much. It's just that I have others that I prefer. However, that doesn't make this a bad vibe, or even merely a decent vibe. It is rather a good vibe, especially as a starter vibe. If I ever did anything in the shower, this would be perfect, since it's waterproof. Overall, I'm still pretty lukewarm about this vibe. But if I didn't have other vibes, I would love this one!