Black Watch? Yay or Nay

**Nerts** · 8th November 13, 12:35 AM

A coworker got this kilt for a real deal and was wondering if the tartan is indeed Black Watch as he was told. I'm pretty sure it is based on the (limited) searching I've done, but I thought I'd put it out to the masses for confirmation.

Also, just curious what this might be worth? Apparently it's quite old.

Thanks!

E.

Piers' Kilt.jpg
Piers' Kilt 2.jpg

**MacGumerait** · 8th November 13, 01:18 AM

Well , I think that it is the Black Watch " Ancient " tartan , but I don't think it's an old kilt . TartantownLTD is a modern day company .

Cheers , Mike

**CDNSushi** · 8th November 13, 01:31 AM

I'm not the tartan expert on the site... But I'm willing to try to expand my horizons... I found two sources for thread counts for Black Watch... But neither seems to be what you have in the photo....

b24 k4 b4 k4 b4 k20 g24 k6 g24 k20 b22 k4 b4. <- random Google search for Black Watch thread count

B44 K4 B4 K4 B4 K32 G32 K4 G32 K32 B32 K4 B4 (STA 207) <- according to tartanregister.gov.uk

B28 K6 B6 K6 B6 K32 G32 K6 G32 K32 B32 K6 B6 (STA 1) <- (thread count for Campbell tartan according tartanregister.gov.uk)

The tartan in your photo looks similar, but not quite right.

EDIT. Nvmd. Maybe it IS correct after all... I was just looking at it a bit wrong. Lol. Yeah. Now I think it IS Black Watch.

**MacGumerait** · 8th November 13, 02:12 AM

CDNSushi , I understand where you are coming from .

When it comes to the Black Watch Tartan , there are way more variations than one would think .

Comparing thread counts on the variations of this tartan can drive one a bit batty .

Cheers , Mike

**PEEDYC** · 8th November 13, 03:18 AM

I am no expert or even close but I think this is the Campbell (family) tartan which the Black Watch was originally based on.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 8th November 13, 05:41 AM

Yes, that is Black Watch, ancient colors - which is the same tartan as Campbell, ancient colors. And no, it does not appear to be an old kilt.

**MacLowlife** · 8th November 13, 06:32 AM

I am getting to be an old man, but I remember the introduction of ZIP codes - in 1963. The label has a zip code, therefore it can't be any older than 50 years old. I use that as a handy check. Of course, it could be a lot newer.

AFTER FURTHER CHECKING, it is not actually a USPS Zip Code. I can't find any place in the US with the zip code 14262. However, there appears to be a place called TARTANTOWN in Port Coquitlam, BC, where the OP lives. Perhaps the proprietors could explain the significance of the 5 digit sequence. Any help from North of the Border?

Finally, "old" is a relative term. I believe we can agree the kilt was probably made after WWII, but probably before the beginning of the 21st century. To most of us, that means it is "modern" if not quite new. But to a person born in 1986, when I last darkened the door of an institution of higher learning, something made in 1960 might well be "old".

**Nathan** · 8th November 13, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by PEEDYC

I am no expert or even close but I think this is the Campbell (family) tartan which the Black Watch was originally based on.

Or rather, in my opinion the Campbell family tartan was based on the Black Watch since they were so instrumental in establishing the original British Highland Regiments. The use of the standard government set predates the concept of Clan tartans by quite some time.

**usonian** · 8th November 13, 01:36 PM

Yes, that definitely appears to be Black Watch, ancient colors. AKA Campbell (as already mentioned) and also Hunting Grant, Hunting Munro, and Sutherland District. (See Matt's article A Tartan by Any Other Name for more information about shared tartans!) A number of vendors and/or mills list Black Watch and Campbell separately, using modern colors for the former and ancient colors for the latter... but it's the same tartan.