From ownership claims to love messages: How to make your collar unique

I think we can agree that a collar is often a very special item with symbolic meaning in many situations. Of course, collars are also worn purely as accessories, and if that applies to you, that’s perfectly fine – but in that case, this blog post might not be for you. Here, we’re talking about three ways to make your collar a bit more personal by adding a more or less obvious message.

Why add a message?

The reasons for this can vary quite a bit. Still, based on our many years of experience, we have a good understanding of the most common ones – here are the penumbra top 3:

1. Expressing ownership

What could be better than receiving a collar from your favorite dominant partner? Exactly – a collar that explicitly says, “You belong to me now!” Whether it’s a simple “owned,” a more extended “property of…,” or anything else you can think of, adding a personal touch helps keep this gift’s significance unforgettable.

2. Dedicating the collar to a person

We frequently create engravings with the name, nickname, or pet name of the person wearing the collar. For those unromantic readers thinking, “But my ‘Snugglebear-Cutie’ already knows their own (pet) name!”, here’s the reasoning behind it:
Of course, they know this, but an engraving with their own name says, “This collar belongs to a specific person – me.” And that can feel pretty special. It means the collar was chosen specifically for the wearer, making it a personal gift that no one else can use in the same way.
Alternatively, the collar can be a gift to oneself. In these cases, we often engrave the person’s own name, making the collar entirely unique to them.

3. Love messages

We can only call this section by that name because, let’s be honest, we’re all a bit unique, aren’t we? After all, “I love you, little cumslut” might not make every heart skip a beat, but phrases like that do come up quite often. Of course, the charming, purely romantic classics are included too. Or small poems… Sometimes, we even get a bit emotional when creating the engravings.
We probably don’t need to explain why you might want to add a love message to your collar, do we? These messages are often found on the inside of the collar, meant only for the eyes of the giver and the wearer.

What engraving options are available?

1. Use our standard fonts

You can choose from five different fonts and select the one you like best.

2. Send us your own design

For each engraving, you have the option to upload a file with your custom design. We regularly engrave handwritten messages or personal symbols. Please ensure that your design is in black on a white background and in high resolution.

3. Get a custom calligraphy design

We work with a fantastic calligrapher who has crafted many beautiful lettering designs for us. Your calligraphy will be handcrafted, then digitized and stored with us. Your design will, of course, be used exclusively for you.

Now, where can I place the engraving?

To add a personal touch to a collar, penumbra offers three options, which we’ll briefly introduce here.

Subtle yet noticeable: the outside engraving

The exterior engraving is located on the side of the collar, on the left side of the neck, unless otherwise arranged with us. On darker base leathers, the engraving stands out primarily through a change in surface texture. This means it’s very readable but doesn’t immediately jump out at first glance. On lighter leathers, the message is more immediately visible. For vegan leather alternatives, the engraving is always clearly visible.

Where can I find this option?
When customizing your collar, simply click on the “more options” button, then select “sideways engraving collar.” An exterior engraving is only available on collections without an external pattern or lace overlay.

Completely private: the inside engraving

The inside engraving is ideal for hidden messages meant only for the wearer (and possibly the giver). This engraving can only be read when the collar is removed, as it is located inside the band.

On darker lining leathers or dark vegan alternatives, the engraving does not stand out immediately, as it is contrasted only by a change in texture, not by a change in color. On lighter interior materials, the engraving is more immediately visible.

We are often asked if the engraving scratches the neck. Based on our experience, this should not be the case. If you feel any discomfort, applying leather conditioner to the engraved area may help make it soft and smooth again. For very sensitive necks, an interior engraving might not be the best choice; in such cases, we recommend opting for an exterior engraving.

Where can I find this option?
When customizing your collar, simply click on the “more options” button, then select “inside engraving collar.”

Very visible: the collar tag

A collar tag might be the perfect solution if you want something particularly eye-catching. We offer our charms in anodized aluminum in eight different colors, ranging from vibrant to subtle, and in eight different shapes. The choice of how prominently you want your message displayed is entirely up to you. We’ve been told that some clever individuals use the option for double-sided engraving to have both a nice and a not-so-nice side 😉

We attach the charms with split rings, so you can easily attach, remove, and swap them yourself without risking them falling off. The charms are made from aluminum and are, therefore, nickel-free.

show me the tags