Original French language version
A second English translation I received
[Comments and difficulties with translation are between square brackets]
The return of the chastity belt: from a luxury security
precaution... to ready-to-wear
-- By Thierry BOINET --
ANNECY (AP) -- Invented by Francesco Carrara in the 15th century [this is actually incorrect -- see Dingwall], and on sale until 1973 in the very famous London department store Harrod's, the chastity belt is not a myth or a museum relic. It is very much alive today, and for sale in certain boutiques, where about ten different models are offered, from ready-to-wear to.... made to measure; from a leather belt to one made entirely of metal, covered with rubber and wearable indefinitely; without forgetting the belts made of precious metals inlaid with gemstones, manufactured, blow-by-blow, by a retired small-time metalsmith located on the shore of Lake Geneva for a well-off clientele, frequently from Geneva.
These notorious contraptions, mentioned by Rabelais in his "Panurge" have been made for various supposed reasons down the centuries: morality, respect for social taboos, propriety, etc. Today, as the representative of the M.G.L. company of Rue St. Denis in Paris explains, this twist -- turning a belt into a prison -- is particularly in demand among a clientele with sadomasochistic tendencies; however, others don't hesitate to lock up what they consider one of their most precious possessions.
Jean Philippe, 32, of "International Esthetic Men", a homosexual boutique on Rue des Vinaigriers, says that the clientele for this type of item is both male and female: "I frequently do business with women, which is unusual in this store. They're looking for a belt for their husband or their lovers. When they come here, they know what they want: above all something which is discreet when worn under pants, and something secure.
We have several models of that type. For example, we sell more leather chastity shorts than we do metal belts." These are a kind of shorts without a trouser fly, fastened at the waist with a lock. The most in-demand model remains the leather chastity belt for women. The prices range between 600 and 1,000 French Francs. These belts are manufactured at a small leather workshop in Paris, which will make them according to custom measurements. This type of belt takes the form of leather panties, the front part of which has two small openings, and is fastened at the waist with a lock.
Male chastity briefs are also sold by the Paris manufacturer. [Difficult to translate sentence:] A la facon d'une culote, la braguette, en position "haute" est bouclee sur la taille (reglable) par un cadennas. "The problem", we are told by M.G.L., "is that the person who wears this belt can't keep it on for more than a few hours, for reasons of hygiene. Leather doesn't allow frequent showering at all. So the same models are also made using a thick latex material." These cost about 1,000 to 1,400 French Francs. For forty to fifty percent of the clientele for this type of item, the chastity belt is a fantasy, the M.G.L. salesman explains. It belongs to the same category as handcuffs, chains, leather clothing, harnesses, and the panoply of items for sadomasochistic men or women. For these people, it is a matter of a sexual game, lasting several hours -- since it would be difficult to wear the models discussed above for very long, for reasons of comfort and hygiene.
Two types of metal chastity belts are also offered for sale. One is directly inspired by the notorious Venetian belts of the 17th century, and exists for both men and women. It is made in the Netherlands, entirely out of very thin [or high quality?] plates of stainless steel, and sells for about 2,500 French Francs.
The waistband of the belt is made up of a plate jointed with two hinges. A second, stainless-steel plate, larger except that it is narrowed where it passes between the legs, is pierced with two openings, and is joined (riveted) to the first plate at the back, and is fastened to it at the front with two padlocks. The male version also has a metal cage in the front of the belt, where it imprisons the male attributes. "This model is secure", remarks M.G.L., "but the problem is that it's a bit heavy, and also difficult to wear indefinitely. Following the advice of one of our customers, we've created a model of our own, a ``haute couture'' belt, also in stainless steel, but lighter and covered with a waterproof rubber foam. It can be worn indefinitely, and, unlike the previous model, doesn't cause rash or irritation" -- so its manufacturers assure us. "We also sell this belt to our clientele of sadomasochists. It doesn't show under a skirt or pants, and allows the Master to permanently constrain his or her slave, physically and psychologically, by forbidding the slave all sexual relations. But it also fills the needs of the other part of our clientele, the jealous husbands and boyfriends, who are willing to spend thousands of Francs for a chastity belt (almost 3,000 French Francs for this model) in order to ensure a ``monopoly''."
The _ne plus ultra_ of chastity belts is made on the French shore of Lake Geneva, near the border, by a retired small-time metalsmith who wishes to preserve his anonymity. After he made his first hand-crafted belt, several orders, for female belts only, were placed with him by rich men, notably native citizens of the Gulf and the Emirates who were passing though Geneva. These belts are made to custom measurements, and are engraved and inlaid with precious metals and gemstones -- a true work of jewelrymaking, inspired by the 16th century belts displayed in the Cluny Museum in Paris. At the beginning of his business success, he got an order from a client at whose villa he had worked on the ironwork of the balconies. Word of mouth among the closed world of high finance did the rest. As for the price, that depends on the metal and ornamentation used. The production of this contraption is very limited, three or four per year.
[Something missing here?]
Despite their high prices, these items sell well, and on average about thirty a month go into the boutiques. The age range of the purchasers is between thirty and forty, and the customers, even though they know they have special tastes, are very demanding that this type of item be worth its price.
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Original French version
Second slightly different English translation
Page last updated 97-Jan-27 by: Altairboy@aol.com