Hello Everyone,
I'm back from the post office and I think I like what I got.
The package was treated by customs in Germany, but all went well and I just collected it after paying the small import fee.
The collar was carefully packed into bubblewrap and suspended between loosely balled packing paper - nicely done.
While I'm usually picking low-key colours for my day to day wear, I decided to do quite the opposite for my first collar - as expected, the colour really stands out.
The finish is glossy and smooth to the touch, so I think there won't be any chafing.
Upon closer inspection the welded ring is a bit rough in the finish, especially right next to the bead other than that the collar feels sturdy and competently put together.
I suppose that this could be fixed with a Dremel and a buffing wheel.
Following my quick inspection I pulled the little lock out of the drawer it had been sitting in since a week after I ordered the collar.
The collar closes easily around my neck - no risk of pinching in hair or skin by the way - and after slipping the shackle on I clicked the little lock in place.
The sizing guide was accurate, but I am left wondering if I would like it to be just a little bit tighter around my neck. I may need to explore this with a leather collar later, but for now I am happy.
When centered on my neck it leaves a about a 1,5 cm (0,59 inch) gap all around my neck.
(Sadly there will be no photos of my neck for privacy reasons, which is sad for you all because I think that the collar looks lovely on my neck.
)
The hinge is placed in a way that it does not stick out into the back of my neck, in fact I can barely feel where it is without angling my back really far.
I won't oil that hinge any time soon, unless it starts to bind - it gave a little squeal when closing which, I found fitting for this device.
The lock I use is an ABUS 65/20 brass body lock, with an advertised shackle height of 11.5 mm and a shackle diameter of 3.5 mm.
(It's key is currently suspended in the middle of a small frozen coke bottle, the spare is at a friends house whom I would have to call up and drive to...
)
There is just the right amount of play so the lock can move about a bit, without allowing any significant gap in the collar which would be a pinching hazard.
As I am typing this, I am noticing that the collar never fully warms up to my body temperature which serves as a little reminder of it's presence every time I move my head.
I'm curious if I will be able to sleep comfortably (or at all
) wearing it - not that I have much choice in this matter now...
If any issues should come up I will update this post, but as of right now I can recommend checking out
https://www.dungeondelights.com.
-PutStringsOnMe