I will have to admit - I almost didn't accept the assignment for this vibrator. I have several traditional vibes like this one that I received as part of kits, freebies or wound up in my stash somehow and I have HATED them. They are noisy, the battery compartment rattles horribly, as a general rule lacking in power and appear in such lovely colors as Pepto Pink and Boring Beige. It's quite safe to say I had very low expectations.

Boy was I surprised! The first thing I noticed upon taking the hard plastic vibe out of it's packaging (which, by the way, was very tasteful- a clear plastic box with little bronze and white bubbles swirled over it) was how pretty the color is. With the type of finish it is, I would imagine it's quite difficult to capture without a reflection and it is a bit different than the color it appears to be in the photos. I received the bronze vibrator and it is a beautiful warm, bronze- more on the brown end of the bronze spectrum than the gold end. It is a very classy, elegant color and doesn't look cheap like some metal colored plastics do.

The next thing I noticed was the gem in the end of the dial, something I had somehow missed in the initial overview of the photo. My first thought was 'Oh, that's cute!' which was followed quickly by 'Bet it will fall out the first time I use it.' Wrong again. It's sitting here, shimmering at me mockingly, still firmly attached to the dial. I've even dropped it and it's still firmly in place.

Unscrewing the end cap, I dropped two AA batteries into the compartment, noting that the manufacturer had included a plastic sleeve for the batteries to slide into. This little sleeve, I have found in other cases, typically falls into two categories. The first is the 'so flimsy/hard it's worthless' category or the second 'death grip on the batteries so you spend 30 minutes trying to get them out' category. The sleeve for this vibrator is thick, but not overly hard, and the batteries slide right out, no crowbar required! There is also a little rubber ring nestled between the end cap and the vibrator which does a very effective job at keeping moisture out of the battery compartment and thus makes this vibrator waterproof.

Alright, it's pretty, I'll admit, but looks will only get you so far. It's time to check out the reason we all get a vibrator- how well does this thing vibrate? As it turns out, loudly. Powerfully. With NO battery compartment rattle. Ahh... Now, this is no Hitachi, however, side by side comparison with other traditional style vibrators around it's price point, it's top end vibration is stronger and smoother than any other I've experienced. The range of vibrations starts at low and thrummy and continues up to a high buzz that should appeal to a large range of people, with the possible exception if those with extremely sensitive clits or clits that require an extremely high or rough vibration to orgasm.

A few things to mention with this toy- it is hard plastic, so be careful with how you poke about with it! The product cannot be boiled or run through the dishwasher, so if you intend to share, slip it inside of a condom (a little hint- the length is one that allows you to fully slip it inside the condom and tie the end in a knot so you won't have to worry about it falling off mid romp.) A definite up side to hard plastic is that there are no lube limitations on it so if you have a favorite, go ahead and use it! Last, but certainly not least, I would not recommend this toy for anal use as it could very easily slip inside as there is no flared base to prevent it from doing so. Slippery lubed up hands are NOT good devices for hanging on to a vibrator fast escaping up you or your lover's bum!

I was very pleasantly surprised by this vibrator. It appears to be quite well made and performs consistently every time I use it. The vibrations are very smooth, with a bit of thrumming on the lower speeds which I really like.

This is still a pretty vibrator (and yes, the gem is still firmly attached!) and it still performs better than others in its class. The finish has not faded, which is a good thing - sometimes the finish on less expensive toys is not as awesome as it should be and can flake off or fade as it ages. It is true that this vibe doesn't come out to play nearly as often as some of its higher-end friends, but I can still appreciate the higher-than-expected quality of this pretty classic.

I think that this is an excellent gift for someone's first vibrator because of its simple design, non-tacky packaging, better than average performance and unintimidating appearance.