We use premium-quality materials that look and feel good, with an emphasis on balancing comfort & durability with a clean, professional finish. Our collars are strong, lightweight and proudly made in the USA. Our collars feature either a durable industrial-grade polyester ribbon or 100% cotton fabric for the styled top layer. The bottom lining layer of the collar is a durable, densely woven nylon webbing that provides a smooth, flexible (not stiff) structure & durability to the collar that makes our collars more comfortable and resilient than fabric-only collars (which have a tendency to lose their shape and show signs of wear much faster). When choosing the 'Hardware Color' -- either gold or silver, for the metal components on your collar(s), this selection pertains to the following standard supporting hardware components that come with the collar: the round split ring (if it's a cat collar) // or D-ring (if it's dog collar) + the metal length adjuster + optional bell). These hardware components are made of: nickel (silver option) or nickel-plated zinc (gold option). The main standard hardware differences between cat collars & dog collars are: Our cat collars include a round metal split ring (as shown in all product photos) for attaching optional tags/bell. Our dog collars include a D-ring instead of the round split ring (for attaching a leash). Breakaway buckle clasp is the standard default choice for cat collars. Non-Breakaway buckle clasp is the standard default choice for dog collars.The standard side release buckle clasp/clip that comes with our collars is made of a heavy-duty black or white plastic — available in breakaway and non-breakaway options. Both look virtually identical on the outside, though they function differently. Metal buckles are NOT included by default, but can be purchased as an optional upgrade for any collar order (note: metal buckles are available in NON-breakaway versions only). NOTE: If you select the "Non-Breakaway" buckle option (for the Buckle Type) on any collar page, this does not imply that you will receive a metal buckle on your collar. You will receive a standard plastic NON-breakaway buckle clasp (just like what you see in the product photos). Metal buckles must be purchased as an upgrade in addition to the collar. They are not included by default.