Bound by diamonds ball gag - gags discontinued by Cal Exotics - review by Hannah Savage

This ball gag is part of California Exotics line of Bound by Diamonds bondage & fetish products. It has a large PVC ball in the center, pierced with a polyester strap. This strip of polyester is connected with nickel-free iron rings to a fabric strap with an adjustable cinch and d-ring. There are clear crystals glued to the fabric to add a glamorous effect, and boy do they sparkle! Unfortunately, this gag just didn't fit me right.

The PVC ball tastes, smells and feels like one of those rubber balls you get from the 50-cent vending machines at the grocery store. It has a 1.75" (4cm) diameter and is clear. Theoretically, clear was a good color choice, but since you can see right through it, the area that they cut out to put the strap through looks jagged and poorly done, and small chunks of the PVC come out when the strap is moved. I was shocked at how difficult it was to fit this ball into my mouth, but when I did I realized the next fault in this item: the patent leather strap.

The seams on the strap have a very rough edge which is twisted to fit through the ball, and these edges rub against your lips and face pretty harshly even when wearing this for a very short amount of time. This could have been easily remedied if these seams had been turned over and sewn to leave finished edges. Also, you don't want to get a lot of water on the polyester, so cleaning the ball can be a bit of a challenge. Although the shiny, coated part of the strap resists water, the unfinished edges do not, and I would hate to have water slip into the ball and create mold. To clean this I pinch the first rings together and spin the ball under a slow stream of water, keeping the strap out of the stream.

I do, however, like the sturdiness and flexibility of the fabric straps. The d-ring closure is completely adjustable so it can fit a large range of heads. I have a rather small head, and the diamonds on the strap were on and past my ears, just like in the image on the box. The only downside to this type of closure is that there is no way to quick-release it, so make sure to have a non-worded form of communication with your partner to be able to let them know when/if you are uncomfortable.

Overall, I think that this gag is more form over function, and if used as a first-time gag, could lead users to the wrong impression that all gags are uncomfortable, itchy and/or ill-fitting.