Okay so I thought before I began to properly write about collars I should make a post in which I can describe how I see the various kinds of collars normally worn for BDSM purposes in at least vague categories. This post may well get edited later to add more kinds :) Beware! Some of these categories have some kinds of cross over, but this at least will roughly explain how I'm tagging posts. I've tried to keep from linking to specific manufacturers in this just to make it a bit more neutral.
Dog Collar:
Firstly there's the traditional "dog collar", this should be known to most people. Its a strip of leather with a regular buckle and single D-ring next to each other, both situated at the "front" of the collar.
Example: Dog Collar
Leather Buckle:
The second most common kind is the slightly less traditional "BDSM Collar" or "Leather buckle collar", this is a leather collar that features a fastening method (either roller buckle, locking buckle or poppers) usually at the back. The front may have attachment points (D or D&O rings), spikes, letters, inscriptions, etc.etc.
Example: Leather Buckle (BDSM Collar)
Fabric:
Then there are collars made of lace, silk and other associated soft things, these I'll called "Fabric Collars" although some people would refer to them as chokers, and others define them as not serious collars.
Example: Fabric Collar
Darby:
Moving away from leather there are the traditional form of police restraint called a "Darby Collar", which have a sort of D shape, with a curve at the front for a neck, and the back of the D is a straight bar of metal to join the two ends of the curve.
Example: Darby Collar
Chainmail:
A collar distinguished by its material and hence consistence is a "Chainmail Collar" (sometimes "chainmaille"), formed from links of chain in the same way as traditional armour these are flexible and mostly made of metal, although rubber and even UV reactive links are possible. There are various chain weaves that can lead to a very variable appearance and thickness.
Example: Chainmail Collar
Segmented:
Related to chainmail there's a whole family of similar stuff I call "Segmented Collars", which are really a meta-type, its everything made from different pieces, so chunks of jointed metal, or chain/metal/leather interspersed. These tend to be rather random and individual.
Example: Segmented Collar
Turian:
One of the general metal collar shapes is the "Turian Collar" or "Eternity Collar", most manufacturers of this design take their cues from those in Gor, although some look back to more historic roots. These are metal collars that are formed in a ring from rounded steel (reminding everyone of a certain age of Sonic the Hedgehog) often in two parts, with a joint on one side to allow them to swing open and a locking point on the opposite side, usually a screw, padlock or internal locking system.
Example: Turian Collar (internal lock, smoothly made)
Example: Turian Collar (padlock, historical inspiration)
Flat Metal:
The other classic form of metal collar is the "Flat Metal Collar", which essentially is a flat metal band that wraps around the neck and may be secured with padlock, internal lock etc. These can be thick and chunky or thin and elegant
Example: Flat Metal Collar (thick, internal lock)
Example: Flat Metal Collar (thin, padlock)
Example: Flat Metal Collar (very thin, screw down)
Steel Rope:
Also there are now rounded collars being formed from loops of steel cable, which tend to get called "Steel wire collars", "Steel rope Collars" or some combination of the two. These are simply a length of coiled steel wire rope that has been joined either with a locking mechanism or a padlock.
Example: Steel Rope Collar
Contour:
One collar that is defined by the shape of it is the "Contour Collar" (I've also seen these referred to as "Drop Collars" I'm fairy sure), these are shaped to go down over the collar bones. Normally if made of leather they use a right angle jointed bit of leather tack (whose name I can't recall), these slope down to a point over the collar bones. Confusingly "contour collar" also seems to be another name for medical neck brace in some parts of the world.
Example: Contour Collar (in leather)
Example: Contour Collar (in metal)
Posture:
Another collar defined by shape is the "Posture Collar", these are made of wide amounts of leather (or sometimes bands of steel wire) that are designed to enforce a certain chin-up posture in the wearer, or just to give more space for attachments.
Example: Posture Collar
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