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Nov 04, 2024

Unbound Flick Review: A Ring Vibrator | WIRED

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If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

9/10

Jewelry that doubles as a vibrator is nothing new. If we go way back—I’m talking ancient Rome—there’s a good chance someone, somewhere along the line, used a piece of jewelry to rub one out just for the heck of it. After all, the Romans were known to be quite creative when it came to sexual pleasure.

But it wasn’t until the 2014 launch of the Crave Vesper, a necklace that contained a mini vibrator to stimulate all your favorite erogenous zones, that the union of jewelry as vibrators or vibrators as jewelry became a legitimate product. A product, I might add, that everyone wanted in their collection of jewels and vibes.

Now, 10 years after Crave Vesper hit the market, we have Unbound’s take on the concept. This time, it’s a stylish, eye-catching statement ring called Flick. Flick’s launch date is no accident. As the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the cocktail ring, Unbound wanted to come up with a piece of jewelry that not only pays homage to the iconic cocktail ring but also to the cultural revolution of the 1920s. It was a complicated time for women as they tried to navigate how to harness self-expression authentically against a backdrop that had yet to allow all women to vote. Flick embodies that spirit of boldness and celebration, inviting modern-day adventurers to explore their sensuality in style.

Unbound is not a brand that’s new to me, which means I already knew I wasn’t simply getting a vibrator in a box with generic-looking instructions. But even for Unbound, the Flick's packaging went above my expectations: clean lines, a commitment to only two colors—turquoise and pink—to enhance the overall aesthetic, nail art stickers, and a postcard signed by all the people who made Flick happen. It didn’t just look welcoming, it felt right.

Although I knew I needed to wait for a full charge to properly indulge in Flick as a vibrator, as a piece of jewelry there was nothing to wait for. I slipped on the ring and it fit perfectly. This isn’t because Flick is a one-size-fits-all ring but because it has four band sizes that can easily be changed with the included screwdriver.

Unbound Flick

Rating: 9/10

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When it came down to vibrations, I’m going to quote my Grammy here: Woah, Nelly. Considering the size of Flick and the fact that it’s comfortable to wear, you could tell this wasn’t just a quickly thought-up novelty piece. The compact motor that seamlessly fits into this ring delivers orgasm-inducing pleasure. If you’re wondering how that's possible, Unbound has a cheat sheet on its website to explain how the company's toys come together and work so well.

This isn't Unbound's first attempt at a wearable vibrator. In 2018 the company launched the Palma (no, not the ereader). Although Palma was fun, it was also heavy, cumbersome to wear, and pretty pricey for what it offered ($128), and it lacked the intense vibrations the Flick has. With Flick, you get three intensities that, if you keep pushing the small button under the ring, cycle between two vibration patterns. I’ve never been big into patterns, I’ve always been—or rather my clitoris has always been—more into steady intensities. That said, the fact that the second-intensity speed is plenty for me speaks volumes about the power of this little gadget.

The Flick is marketed as a wearable ring vibrator, but jewelry is for everyone. While there was once a time when people with penises usually donned only a wedding band, before then and since jewelry of all kinds has always been for every gender. It’s this gender-inclusive vibrator aspect about Flick that’s my favorite part—the second being the intensity, because sometimes a woman feels like being selfish.

Unbound Flick

Rating: 9/10

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At its core, Flick is technically a bullet vibrator. It can be used anywhere on the body—emphasis on the word “on” because it doesn’t have the necessary shape or standards for internal use. As a person with a clitoris, once it was fully charged, that’s when I finally used Flick and it brought me to my first “Woah, Nelly” exclamation.

When my partner, who has a penis, came over, I first used Flick on his nipples—I’m all about starting slow—then on his frenulum, then his perineum. Even before I incorporated my mouth and hands to simultaneously stimulate other parts of his body, the man was on fire. I also tried with him what I did to myself, by simply placing Flick on his mons pubis (the delightfully sensitive mound on the pubic bone), so he could feel the vibrations on a deeper, more penetrative level without actually being physically penetrated.

My partner, despite being hesitant about anal play, even let me use Flick near his anus to “give it a try” based on his body’s response to Flick in every place else where I had used it. Although hesitant to admit his enjoyment, Flick certainly delivered. I found that the best way to stimulate myself and my partner was to turn the ring around, so my hand essentially became a palm vibrator.

I love Unbound Flick. I wish it would hold a longer charge—I get about one hour on the highest intensity level, two hours on standard—but life is fleeting, and that's kind of the mantra of the Flick. For what it offers people of any gender and its intensity levels, it's a bargain. Also, because it's made of zinc alloy, it’s friendly with all the lubes, which isn’t something you often find with quality vibrators. I have a sneaking suspicion I won’t be leaving home without this ring fully charged for a very, very long time.

Unbound Flick

Rating: 9/10

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