Carol Parkey is disarmingly open about her new line of business.

We are sitting in the cafe at Borders book shop in Brighton. Carol reaches into her shopping basket and produces an expensive-looking jewellery box.

"These are our erotic rings," she says, passing a smooth, shiny halo across the table.

The eyes of fellow coffee drinkers increase to the size of saucers as she produces an array of what look like small, chunky silver bracelets. A man at the next table stops mid-sentence and gapes.

The rings are just part of Carol's new business, Erotic Ribbons - a collection of intimate jewellery.

They are beautiful pieces of craftsmanship and staggeringly expensive, ranging from £150 to £8,000.

Carol and her partner Andy Barker are convinced there is a market for them.

She said: "We could not have launched a business like this anywhere but Brighton. I'm originally from Hertfordshire but I couldn't have done this there - it's so Middle England! People would not have been as supportive as they are here.

"We need to get away from the image that things like this are dirty and smutty and be more open-minded.

"These are beautiful and tactile and sensual. They are about celebrating lovemaking and relationships rather than 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am'. They are also lovely pieces of jewellery."

Carol, 42, of St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, had been in the conference business for 20 years but when she moved to Brighton two years ago, she decided she needed to be around for her daughter Victoria.

She said: "I needed a business I could run from home and one that would fit around her lifestyle.

"Then I met someone who was into these rings and we began discussing how awful and cheap they were and how the ones that cost £5.99 from a High Street sex shop made you sore.

"I kept coming back to the idea that they could be something beautiful and when I researched it, I found there was nothing available in precious metal.

"Also, lots of the products available, like vibrators, are all 'rush, rush, rush' - there is nothing that encourages you to take your time."

Carol has developed a range of products for women too. The Wand looks like an exotic drop pendant to wear round your neck but doubles as a clitoral stimulator.

She said: "It's a secret - the woman knows what it is for and her partner knows. But to everyone else it is just a lovely, solid silver necklace."

Once she was sure of her market, Carol went to see her bank manager. Being Brighton, the man at NatWest took it in his stride. Carol said: "He said our products had the 'wow factor' and gave me the money!"

She is hoping to catch the attention of some famous names and sent one to cheeky TV host Graham Norton.

Erotic Ribbons produces 15 rings, from circular to C-shape, made of silver, white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Each is made to order and can be encrusted with rubies, diamonds or sapphires, or personalised with engraving.

Carol said: "It's important to get the exact fit but you can have a lot of fun with a sizing kit."

Carol and Andy are developing a range of studs for clubbers and their 'secret collection' also caters for the sadomasochistic market.

She said: "Some people like to wear a chain and padlock until they see their partner again but they are usually big, chunky and masculine.

"Ours are feminine and sexy and discreet and you can wear them in a business environment and no one will know. One partner wears the lock, which looks like a lovely piece of jewellery and the other wears the 'key' which slips into it and unlocks it.

Carol and Andy work with local jewellery designers Sam Le Provst and Mikki Alford to create original, quality pieces.

They have asked friends to try them out and be brutally honest about them.

Carol said: "Everyone has been very positive. I'm convinced there is a market for them. They can be commitment rings, alternative wedding bands or a gift for a significant anniversary. They are something really personal. They are also an investment, if you do nothing else but put them in the bank."

Initial interest in the products, some of which are on sale at She Said in Ship Street Gardens, Brighton, has come from the gay market.

Carol said: "Gay men are used to using them and they love these, especially the weight and the fact they are precious metal.

"But they can enhance and improve anyone's sex life. Lots of straight people are completely new to the 'ring' scene and we've found a lot of 40-year-olds who have never heard of them.

It is a family business and Victoria also has an input.

Carol said: "She is only just learning about the whys and wherefores of reproduction but she knows a lot about what I do and has come up with some fantastic ideas of her own.

"However she doesn't want me to tell the other mums at school about it - it's too embarrassing!"

Despite her openness, there are two important people Carol has still to tell about her new business - her parents.

She said: "I'm a bit nervous - I think they would much rather I was a childminder or ran a B&B!"

Carol's web site is www.eroticribbons.com