A sample paragraph from an eloquent essay by Lady Lubyanka on the collar within D/s relationships: that tangible symbol that often seems far more than mere symbol:
So I was thinking that a collar is like a promise. It’s a promise on the part of the submissive to serve and submit to a specific Dominant. On the part of the Dominant, it’s a promise to take charge of, and be responsible for that submissive’s well being whilst in their service. And with that in mind, personally, I could not justify temporarily depriving a previously offered and accepted collar from any submissive in My charge, for whatever reason.