A collectable or collectible is typically a manufactured item designed for people to collect. In this respect, they are distinguishable from other subjects of collections, which may also include natural objects (e.g., butterflies) and objects manufactured for purposes other than collecting (e.g., stamps). Some objects designed for other purposes, such as toys, become so popular among collectors that they marketed specifically to that audience. The high price for certain older Star Wars action figures is a good example of this phenomenon since the figures were originally intended to be purchased as toys rather than collectibles. The earliest collectibles were included as incentives with other products, such as cigarette cards in packs of cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and sometimes became the subject of collectible crazes. Eventually many collectible items came too sold separately, instead of used as marketing tools to increase the appeal of other products.

Rings

A finger ring is a circular band worn as a type of ornamental jewelry around a finger; it is the most common current meaning of the word ring. Other types of metal bands worn as ornaments called rings, such as arm rings and neck rings. Rings worn by both men and women and can be of any quality. Various ring shapes and styles exist. The following are but a few. Flat wedding bands are the simplest form of ring. A flat wedding band consists of a strip of metal bent around into a loop and joined where the ends meet. Half-round rings, also called D-shape rings, are flat wedding bands filed half-round on the outside. Sleeve rings are rings that consist of a thin inner ring or sleeve, with several other rings stacked onto it to form one solid ring. Either the rings soldered onto the sleeve or the ends of the sleeve can be upset to keep them all together. A little of both can also be done. Solitaire rings are rings with a single large stone as a centerpiece, usually a diamond. Eternity rings are rings with stones, usually diamonds, of the same cut and size, set in one row all around the ring. The stones are usually round or square, and the setting is usually either claws or a channel setting. When the stones do not continue around the entire ring, but stop halfway around the finger, it is a half-eternity ring. Trinity rings or Trilogy Rings are three rings worn at one time. Cluster rings are rings with a group of stones in a cluster setting, forming the focal point of the ring. The cluster setting usually consists of one large stone in the center surrounded with several smaller stones. Tension Rings are a type of ring in which a single gemstone is held in place by pressure rather than prongs, a bezel or other mounting. The metal setting is actually spring-loaded to exert pressure onto the gemstone. In the United States and Canada, ring sizes specified using a numerical scale, with quarter and half sizes. An increase of a full size is an increase of 0.032 inch in diameter, or roughly 1/10 inch in inside circumference. Generally, sizes in quarters and halves will not relate conventionally to anything on any known ruler. On one finger alone, a person may vary more than a whole ring size- depending on time of day, work performed, and other swelling-inducing activities/conditions. Therefore, in most cases quarter-sizes are meaningless unless one needs precise accuracy with a particular ring.