/Design: The JCobra
Erotic Luxury for Men
There are innumerable sex products designed for women, some functional, some pretty, many luxurious. But it's rare to see erotic luxury products for men. Lelo has the Bo and Jimmyjane has the Iconic Ring, both cock rings equipped with vibration. Why aren't there more?
Some men seem to associate sex toys with sexual dysfunction, perhaps because the majority of sex products for men are marketed with promises to fix some perceived problem. Maybe men aren't motivated to buy sex products because they feel they don't need them.
But what if there were a product that made orgasms more intense, a product that didn't 'fix' a man's erection but complement it? Jelle Plantenga has been working on a line of products for men which enhance sexual experience with a design that's both ergonomic and aesthetically beautiful.
His first product is the JCobra, a cock ring that is shaped to conform to the body and extends to apply pressure to the perineum. I asked him a few questions about his design, his inspiration, and his goals.
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First, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born The Netherlands, where I'm currently based, and I have always been a creative soul, always seeking new ideas through products and ventures. And I've been interested in beautiful bodies and the sensual side of life. Because I’m very open, people feel comfortable talking about sex with me and they appreciate my advice, especially in regards to using toys to increase their pleasure.
How did you get the idea for the JCobra?
I was looking for a stylish cock ring at the beginning of 2006 and found one at Mi-Su, a great company based in the UK and a real pioneer in the world of erotic luxury. Although the style of the Mi-Su cock ring was what I was looking for, I did not really liked the feeling of a standard O-shape (a round ring). I began to wonder how to create a more ergonomic version by slightly bending the form so that it would also give pressure to the perineum.
I called a silversmith friend of mine and we experimented in his workshop; the result was the JCobra prototype. It was a good beginning but I felt it could be improved further. The prototype was not hitting the perineum – the spot between the balls and anus – enough, which has sexual health benefits when pressure is applied. So I decided to re-design the first prototype with a silversmith from the UK and the JCobra was born.
After selling the .999 Fine Silver version of the JCobra for a few years to a very select number of international shops and consumers, I received great feedback from users, so I decided to sell the JCobra commercially to make this product more accessible. I created Velv’Or as brand name with help of a great friend of mine, the branding consultant Eddie Mendes from Viswhaaw. Velv’Or represents the life of the Penis – Velv comes from Velvet meaning Soft and Or comes from Vigor meaning Hard. The brand represents both elegant style and erotic function.
Tell us a little about the JCobra. Why should men wear it?
The JCobra by Velv’Or is the only oval-shaped ergonomically bent precious-metal cock ring - it’s more a piece of jewelry than a pleasure product. However, it also has sexual health benefits. A man can wear it all day for the pleasure of being 'encircled' while his perineum is massaged, which will increase his sexual health and make him feel more confident. And during sex, it will apply a good amount of pressure on the perineum which results in a harder erection and a stronger ejaculation. The JCobra by Velv’Or is the only cock ring with this unique feature and is not sold strictly to enhance erections. Beside the bespoke precious metal versions, Velv’Or will very soon launch matte black, sand-blasted silver and red medical-grade anodized aluminum versions in 45mm, 50mm, and 55mm.
There are plenty of erotic luxury designs for women, but surprisingly few for men. Why do you think that is?
Because there just hasn’t been a person like me yet who firmly believes this market exists. Also, most men still think that they can get along well enough without the help of a product. Most heterosexual men even think cock rings are only for gay men, so they never think about buying one until they hold a JCobra in their hand and hear the story behind it. This is one of the reasons why I am launching a commercial version. More men can enjoy the pleasure of a JCobra.
Beside this reason, I personally think, especially for the heterosexual market, that there is only a limited number of products men are willing to try and the cock ring is one of them. As you know there are also plenty of p-spot stimulators out there, but many men will say no. Women are used in having things inside them.
What plans do you have for the future in terms of design?
I have some great ideas for the JCobra:
- a ring with a lasso attached to become the first triple functioning cock ring
- a ring with the option to attach a mini-bullet vibe underneath the perineum
- and the crème de la crème: a double-vibrating version, which charges on a cradle
Besides the JCobra, there will be a bent cock ring without the perineum extension. Instead, there will be a pressure point on the top of the ring to apply firm pressure to the base of the penis shaft.
Another one of my aims for the future is launching a very stylish penis workout booklet to explain a lot about the penis and the way it can be trained like any muscle in the body.
You can find out more at his websites, Jelle Plantenga and Velv'Or.
The JCobra by Velv’Or is the only oval-shaped ergonomically bent precious-metal cock ring - it’s more a piece of jewelry than a pleasure product. However, it also has sexual health benefits. A man can wear it all day for the pleasure of being 'encircled' while his perineum is massaged, which will increase his sexual health and make him feel more confident. And during sex, it will apply a good amount of pressure on the perineum which results in a harder erection and a stronger ejaculation. The JCobra by Velv’Or is the only cock ring with this unique feature and is not sold strictly to enhance erections. Beside the bespoke precious metal versions, Velv’Or will very soon launch matte black, sand-blasted silver and red medical-grade anodized aluminum versions in 45mm, 50mm, and 55mm.
There are plenty of erotic luxury designs for women, but surprisingly few for men. Why do you think that is?
Because there just hasn’t been a person like me yet who firmly believes this market exists. Also, most men still think that they can get along well enough without the help of a product. Most heterosexual men even think cock rings are only for gay men, so they never think about buying one until they hold a JCobra in their hand and hear the story behind it. This is one of the reasons why I am launching a commercial version. More men can enjoy the pleasure of a JCobra.
Beside this reason, I personally think, especially for the heterosexual market, that there is only a limited number of products men are willing to try and the cock ring is one of them. As you know there are also plenty of p-spot stimulators out there, but many men will say no. Women are used in having things inside them.
What plans do you have for the future in terms of design?
I have some great ideas for the JCobra:
- a ring with a lasso attached to become the first triple functioning cock ring
- a ring with the option to attach a mini-bullet vibe underneath the perineum
- and the crème de la crème: a double-vibrating version, which charges on a cradle
Besides the JCobra, there will be a bent cock ring without the perineum extension. Instead, there will be a pressure point on the top of the ring to apply firm pressure to the base of the penis shaft.
Another one of my aims for the future is launching a very stylish penis workout booklet to explain a lot about the penis and the way it can be trained like any muscle in the body.
You can find out more at his websites, Jelle Plantenga and Velv'Or.
- 10/04/2010
