The Birthstones bullet vibe from Evolved is a pretty simple vibrator in appearance, except for the "birthstone" attached to its base for a little added decoration. With that one exception, it is exactly what it seems: a basic, plastic bullet with a surprisingly powerful punch, hidden in that unassuming little case. I have personally found it to be best used for external (clitoral/nipple) stimulation, although it could be used, perhaps, for light (very light) penetration. I'd proceed with caution there, however, because although it's a small vibe, it's made of plastic and has a very hard, unforgiving surface that wouldn't likely be comfortable if inserted vaginally, and without a flared base wouldn't be safe to insert anally.

It's great for solo play, but it could absolutely be used with a partner as well, and when used for clitoral stimulation, depending on your sensitivity (or your partner's) it can definitely step over the line from teasing to take-me-there, providing some pretty satisfying orgasms. It is small and discreet, and easy to tuck into a purse or bag, so it would be a great choice for someone living with roommates, or for anyone else. It is pretty travel-friendly, as well.

This toy is made of plastic, making it a very safe (8/10 on EF's material safety rating) little toy that won't give you any trouble in its "care and keeping." It has a nonporous surface and is totally hypoallergenic, in addition to being latex- and phthalates-free. After pure silicone or glass, it is probably the next-safest toy material you can find.

It is almost completely odorless, and there is no texture to speak of. It has an extremely smooth finish but it is very hard and doesn't have any give at all. The smooth surface makes it pretty easy to handle for external stimulation; you won't need much lube (if any at all) to keep it comfortable with this vibe. In fact, its super-smooth finish leads to an almost too-slippery toy in the presence of any added lubrication.

The August bullet is solid white with a bright green stripe around the base and a green "peridot stone" attached at the end. It has a sleek and clean look to it, without straying toward a clinical appearance. At four inches long and just a little more than half an inch wide, it is small and discreet, as I mentioned above. The shaft is straight and is even in width up to the third inch, and from there it tapers to a medium point.

The size of this vibe is almost perfect for me, as it provides enough length that I have room to maneuver during play, yet it isn't too big or awkward to try and work with. I would say this vibe might work well for beginners or advanced users. It is quite basic and unassuming (as well as nonthreatening), but also powerful enough to enjoy no matter what your experience level is.

Ah, yes. This vibe's performance: just what I've been looking to talk about...

This bullet vibe features a dial on the base which can be used to turn it on and off. I found that although it doesn't claim multiple settings, the vibrations do tend to become a little more powerful the farther around I turn the dial. In addition, like most vibrators I have used in the past, it works best with a new battery. Once the battery starts to give out, it begins to offer weaker vibrations all around, and that leads to a slow but steady decline in the level of fun you'll get out of it, at least until you pop in a fresh battery.

At its peak performance, this vibe is definitely powerful and it can bring me to two or three orgasms in a row, easily. When it starts to give out, I will fight with it for ages before I realize it's only going to tease me if I keep trying, and I have to give it up (or get a new battery). As for battery life, it seems to do pretty well, as I can get a good amount of time and stimulation from it before I start seeing those tell-tale signs, and even when it starts to weaken it can keep going for quite awhile. Basically, keep a good battery in it and it will keep you happy.

It works quite well for pinpoint stimulation with the tip, but I've found that this toy functions best when I forget about the tip and use the shaft directly. The vibrations are easily felt throughout the entire toy, so this is no trouble, and I appreciate a slightly broader area of stimulation for the best results. Occasionally, as mentioned above, it can get very slippery when it gets wet. In these situations, it becomes a challenge for me to keep it in place for very long. However, all in all, it performs well and it is easy to figure out, as well as being reasonably easy to work with.

As for sound? This baby is very, very quiet. I do mean quiet. I have a small fan in my room and often when I am looking for solo time, I will turn that on just to be sure my roommates don't hear any of my toys from the other room. With this vibe, the fan isn't really necessary. More about that soon.

This toy is definitely one of the easiest that I own, as far as caring for it is concerned. Toy cleaner is certainly an option, but it is waterproof as well. As long as you make sure that the battery cover (the base with the gemstone) is screwed on tightly to keep it sealed, you can wash it with soap and water right in the sink.

I kept the original packaging--a small, clear plastic box--to store it in, but I hardly use this box, and I'll probably throw it out soon. The box is quite small and mine was slightly damaged in shipping, so it can be a pain to open and close, and the toy seems to fare just fine being stored right in the drawer where I keep my other toys.

You always think it only happens to other people, or to characters in movies--until it happens to you.

I mentioned above that this vibrator is quiet and discreet. This little story may give you an idea of just what I mean: I came home from work one evening after a long day, and decided that this very bullet would be a great choice to help me relax. I didn't even bother to take off my pants, which turned out to be a lucky choice. I didn't turn on my fan as I usually do, but in the end that didn't really matter. Within moments, my new roommate (and her boyfriend) came knocking at my door, wondering if I would like some of the pasta she'd made. I had just enough time to sit up on my bed when she opened my bedroom door, and there she was with the boyfriend, holding a bowl of pasta just for me. Needless to say, the vibrator was still going, and still tucked down inside my pants.

I tried to find a discreet way of telling them to just give me a minute, but neither of them got the hint and there they stood, waiting for me to accept their gift of food. Rather than embarrass my roommate or her boyfriend by exclaiming aloud just what they were interrupting, I simply stood up, crossed the room, and took the bowl. By then the vibe had definitely fallen out of its spot, so it wasn't pressed right against my clit to distract me, and it was clearly inaudible to the others now in my room.

To bring my long story to a short end, this vibrator is quiet enough to sit tucked into your panties and turned on while you have a conversation with another person, and as long as you're not in a library or a totally quiet room, they will probably never notice. (The moral of the story, though, is that it's always a good idea to lock your bedroom door for these kinds of adventures. I know I've started doing it.)