Years ago, the forms one used to submit badges to the S.C.A. College of Arms offered circular fields for the requisite emblazons. For some reason, a lot of people developed two misapprehensions about badges from looking at these shapes: that they ought always to be round, and that there's no difference between an annulet and a bordure, when used in a badge.

The fact is, a badge can be displayed on any field, no matter whether it was submitted on a form that had a circle on it or one that had a square on it or even one that had an escutcheon on it (as might be the case if you converted an old device into a badge). There is no "badge shape".

And there is a big difference between an annulet and a bordure. An annulet is a circle that doesn't touch the sides of the field (unless it's an annulet throughout, and then it only touches the outside edges of most fields in about four places). A bordure is a line that goes along the outer edge of the field, all the way around, with no gaps.

These, for instance, are all valid ways a fighter might wear, "Argent, a stand of cattails slipped and leaved proper within an annulet per pale azure and sable."

These are all valid ways to wear, "Argent, a stand of cattails slipped and leaved proper within a bordure per pale azure and sable."

The difference is immediately obvious. Take note: None of the images used to represent one are legitimate representations of the other.