I’m really excited about this review. Not just because it’s always great to follow up a bad review with a good one. But because it’s nice to come across a company based in the UK who aim to craft top quality, body safe toys.
I have a special love for dildos, as I’m sure you’ve seen. Silicone is fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but I also love metal. I’ve tried several stainless steel products now, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. And then towards the end of last year I was contacted by Crowned Jewels, artisanal dildo makers based in the UK, who hand craft pleasure toys out of titanium. I have to admit, I had been eyeing them up for a long time.
At the end of last year, I was contacted by CJ who asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of their latest creations, in Aluminium. This was a material I had not tried yet, so I was extremely curious to give it a jolly good try. I selected the Eros Grande and a few weeks ago, I took possession of it. I was beyond excited.
Just picked up this gorgeous piece from @crownedjewels. The wax seal is a beautiful touch. pic.twitter.com/RYzgpZUkfK
— The Big Gay Review (@thebiggayreview) February 4, 2016
Crowned Jewels also craft butt plugs and cock rings and have several different designs for dildos. They craft using Titanium, Sterling Silver and gold, and of course, Aluminium. Follow them on twitter @crownedjewels for all the latest news.
The Eros Grande was sent to me free of charge by Crowned Jewels in exchange for an honest review.
First Impressions
The Eros arrived in a large, round tube package, kind of like what you see posters mailed in. It was carefully sealed. Inside, there was tissue paper surrounding the main dildo packaging. As I pulled it out, I have to admit, I may have gasped a little. You know how much of a sucker I am for nice packaging, but this was something else.
The Eros is presented in a faux leather style tube, with a ribbon running all the way around, and is held in place with a wax seal at the top, embedded with the CJ logo. That’s right, a Wax Seal. It’s like Henry VIII himself has given it the seal of approval. It’s an honestly lovely touch, and CJ hand seals every product they send out like this. Now that is dedication.
As you open the lid you’ll find the Eros inside a cloth storage bag, which has the logo printed in white upon it. This is also wrapped in black tissue paper. It really does feel like an event unwrapping this toy. I pulled the Eros out of the bag and took a few seconds just to admire it’s natural beauty. It features a curved shaft and features a large bulbous end, as well as a narrower, smaller end. Overall, the Eros measures around 8 inches in length.
At it’s widest point, it is 4.5 inches in circumference, and has a narrower 3 inch circumference at it’s smaller end. At it’s narrowest, it’s 2 inches round the middle. It weighs a modest 192g which is perfect for those who have never used a metal dildo before.
Like anything metal, it attracts fingerprints SO EASILY that within seconds of taking it out of the box, it was smudged. But a simple buff with a lint free cloth got it shining again. The beauty of aluminium (like stainless steel) is it’s versatility. You can warm it up or chill down and engage in some truly titillating temperature play. I couldn’t wait to give it a go. So how did it fare? Was it a royal flush? Well read on and find out…
In Use
In short, the Eros Grande is an absolute delight in use. Because of it’s smaller size, I’m able to pretty jump in straight away and I also don’t need to use as much lube as I normally would. Also, because it’s metal, I can party on down with some silicone lube – meaning I could take this out and about in the bathroom for some bubbly fun:
Never pass up on an opportunity…. Make every moment count. pic.twitter.com/BSU6gKLCXl
— The Big Gay Review (@thebiggayreview) February 12, 2016
How does it feel? Pretty frickin’ amazing, actually. Starting with the smaller end, it slips in with absolutely no trouble at all, and thanks to that curve, it naturally finds my prostate like a magnet. The curve acts like an awesome anchor so I can really focus that pressure in the magic spot. The smaller end is only about 3 inches insertable before you get to the curve, and I found that before long, I was just itching for it to reach in a little bit further, so it was time to switch it around.
I slipped in the larger end, and again, this went in almost criminally easy. Thanks to it’s slightly longer length and larger surface area, this found my p-spot and then some. Once again, that curve in the shaft provides a nice anchor point to really manoeuvre the Eros into the most ideal position for stimulation. To that end, I also reckon this could be a great little dildo for g-spot stimulation as well, in a similar way to the Pure Wand by nJoy (which inevitably, this will most likely be compared too).
The only downside (and I use that word VERY loosely) because it’s not really a negative at all, more of a personal preference – I wish it was just a little bit heavier, to allow for even more intense pressure. But that is down to the material and as I said, is more of a personal preference rather than being an actual negative of the toy. Also clutching at straws here, but maybe it would be a little bit nicer if the storage bag was made from, oh I don’t know… some sort of satin-esque material? The included bag is nice, don’t get me wrong, but having a nice silky satin bag would elevate it. But as I said, i’m clutching at straws.
However, with that said, every session with the Eros always ended the same way – with a satisfying climax that always left me breathless and wanting a little bit more. This is great for everyone, although size queens maybe feeling a little unfulfilled, but as a first metal dildo, it’s beautiful, stimulating and just feels so wonderful. It has me itching to try out more of their wonderful creations. Hooray for home grown talent!
Clean-up and Maintenance
Clean up is as simple as rinsing thoroughly with warm water and some toy cleaner. Aluminium is non-porous so is really easy to look after. As I mentioned earlier, the oils from your skin will naturally leave smudges on the surface but a buff with a lint-free cloth shines it back up nicely and then you can pop it back into it’s provided storage bag, ready for next time.
Summary
Well what can I say? It just ticks all my boxes. It’s a work of art in terms of style, it’s a great material that feels amazing and it’s produced by a British company, meaning you don’t have to spend massive amounts of money importing products from overseas. That’s always a good thing, right?
As I mentioned earlier, my only ‘criticism’ is that I just prefer it to be a little bit heavier. And even then, it’s a poor criticism. The price? Is that a bad thing? It retails for £96.99, which puts it in the same price range as the nJoy line. Is it comparable? I don’t know, having not experienced anything by nJoy but it feels like it is actually worth that price. It’s definitely a luxury item.
I honestly cannot find anything bad to say about this. It’s good quality, the packaging is amazing and the people behind the company have been so incredibly friendly and helpful. You really cannot go wrong here.
Where To Buy
If you want to pick up an Eros, you can do so from the Crowned Jewels website.
You can also now order the Eros Grande directly from SheVibe (US/CA/UK/AU), along with several other models from the Crowned Jewels Line-up.
RRP £96.99
I would like to thank Crowned Jewels for sending me the Eros Grande free of charge in exchange for my honest review. This does not sway my opinion or experience with this, or any other product we review for the blog. Affiliate links have not been used in this post.
The Lowdown | Crowned Jewels EROS Grande Aluminium Dildo
Pros: Body-safe aluminium allowing for exciting temperature play, and the slightly weightier feel can provide more direct pressure for more intense stimulation.
Cons: It’s on the pricier side, and for those who like a bit of stretch may find this just not satisfying enough.
Bottom Line: As luxury, metal dildos go – this one is beautiful, hits all the right notes and everything is just right, right down to the packaging. Would take pride of place in anyones collection.
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