The Chestnut A

The so-called Ruby G is a slender glass dildo marketed as a g-spot toy. It's performance in that area is less than stellar, however, and it's much better suited to deeper explorations. It shines at locating and stimulating the a-spot, or Anterior Fornix, and since it's also far more of a burnt orange color than any ruby I've ever seen, I have dubbed mine the Chestnut A.

The usual cautions for glass dildos apply -- always use caution when using glass or other hard materials, lest an overenthusiastic thrust bruise the cervix or other sensitive areas. This is especially true with long, thin toys, as it's hard to visualize exactly how much of it is actually inserted.

Like all glass toys, the Ruby G will perform well for temperature play. Chill it, or warm it, in a glass of water of the desired temperature, and have fun.

While beginners will find the size comfortable, it's not necessarily an ideal first glass toy, as the g-spot is easier to find and there are better tools for that job than the Ruby G. This toy is better suited to those who are specifically looking to stimulate the a-spot, or perhaps those who need a straighter than average toy for their particular g-spot.

Glass is one of the safest materials for sex toys. It is non-porous, and can therefore be sterilized for sharing between orifices or partners. It is odor-free, phthalates-free, safe for those with allergies to certain materials, and requires little, if any, lubrication. It's also great for temperature play, as it can be chilled, or warmed, to taste by placing it in a glass of water before playtime. The Ruby G, like most glass, requires minimal lubrication, if any.

It's important to note that glass is a firm material, and users should exercise appropriate caution, particularly when using this toy on a partner. Many women choose to save glass or metal for solo sessions only, and use a softer material such as silicone with their partners.

Borosilicate glass will not shatter if broken, but is instead designed to break into chunks if tragedy should strike -- dropping it on a hard surface such as the edge of the bathtub might break it. The human body is not capable of producing the force necessary to fracture one of these toys in use, but for safety's sake, it's wise to always check for chips or stress fractures before playtime.

The Ruby G is not a textured toy, although on mine the smooth surface is marred by minor imperfections from the glass blowing process. These dents have no effect upon performance.

The Ruby G, or Orange A as is more accurate, is long and slender, with a modest diameter between an inch and an inch and a quarter. It's eight inches long. One end features a slightly curved tip, while the other end is topped with a round ball. Either end can be inserted.

Since it's not in any way phallic or realistic, the Ruby G is a discreet toy. If found, a less worldly snoop might be convinced that it's a tool for darning socks or some other crafty device. For travel, it won't make any embarrassing sounds en route, but it's a bit too long and solid to make it past security in a carry on -- it would be considered a weapon. In checked baggage, you'll want to make sure it's wrapped in plastic wrap or a plastic bag inside of its padded hiding place, because then if your bag is searched, you'll at least know that strangers didn't handle it directly.

First I'll address the Ruby G as a g-spot toy, a job at which it earns a ranking of between two and three stars. The ball end gives the g-spot a passing nod on each thrust, but it fails to either provide direct pressure, like the Pure Wand or the Icicles #17 do with their similar ball ends, since those toys have a curve designed for g-spot play, or to give the pleasing sensation of several balls in succession, like you might find on many other glass toys.

The curved tip fared even worse. It was difficult to reach the g-spot with any accuracy, and the tip kept turning away from the spot when pressure was applied. My first test of the Ruby G ended in disappointment, and another toy was called in to do the job.

Fortunately for the Ruby G, it got a second chance, and this time it proved much better suited to the task at hand, which was stimulating the a-spot, or Anterior Fornix. This is the sensitive spot further back from the g-spot, closer to the cervix. Here, the long, slender shape of the Ruby G paid off, and since less of a curve is needed to reach that spot, the hooked tip proved perfect.

While I had trouble keeping the toy tip-up during the g-spot test, it was much easier with more of the toy inserted, so that the ball end could work as a handle. A slight back and forth motion, made easier by the ball, stimulated the a-spot perfectly, and while other toys that reach that spot do so while stimulating other things at the same time, the Ruby G wasn't really doing much in any other spot, which made it easier to isolate the sensation.

Overall, the Ruby G is the perfect toy for finding and stimulating the a-spot, which makes the Ruby G a pretty silly name for it. Therefore, I'm rating the Chestnut A a solid five stars as an a-spot toy.

Glass can be used with any lubrication, and it requires very little of it, so the user is free to choose whatever works best for their body, as well as any other toys involved in the session. For cleaning, it can be wiped down with a toy wipe, cleaned with toy cleaner, or washed in hot water with antibacterial soap. Should sterilization be required, glass can be run through the dishwasher on the top rack, boiled, rinsed in a ten percent bleach solution, or wiped down with alcohol, although many folks prefer to keep alcohol well away from any object meant to visit their nether regions.

Whenever I wash a glass toy, I always pad the bottom of the sink with a towel, lest I drop the toy. It makes extra laundry, but that seems a small price to pay for guarding against toy loss.

As for storage, the safest choice is a padded bag to keep it from clinking against other glass, and a storage location unlikely to tip over or fall on the floor, but the Ruby G is small enough to be discreetly hidden almost anywhere.

Like all toys from SSA Glass, the Ruby G arrived wrapped in bubble wrap inside of a red faux velvet bag. The bag is adequate for storage, provided your toy is not stored in a way likely to jostle it against other hard materials, while for gift giving you might wish to dress it up a bit. Although in most situations, if a dildo is an appropriate gift, the packaging is not necessarily an issue.