Which one?

[David White]

I need a new Balmoral the question is which one that would work with every kilt I have. I know that some don't like dicing if your not in the military but it seems to add a splash of color. I think black goes with every outfit. Suggestions?
http://www.glengarryhats.com/balmoralhats.php

[Snowbear]

If you want the dicing, go for it. Just remember what it means.

My favourites at the web-page you link to must be the royal blue, or with the dices: black with red/white/black dicing.

To know what the dicing means, here is a cutout from http://www.scottish-history.com/kilt.shtml

The diced (or orange checkered) band around the base of the balmoral indicates loyalty to the House of Hanover, i.e. the King/Queen of England. Highlanders generally do NOT wear the diced Balmoral, but choose to wear the plain dark blue bonnet; many lowlanders may choose wear the diced cap as they are intermingled with English blood and loyalties. Some Lowlanders also will not wear the diced cap. It is a matter of loyalties as some Lowlanders and Highlanders are loyal to the highlands, and would not wear the diced cap, even after all these years.

[Jock Scot]

If you like dicing then have it. In the highlands there are certainly some who will not wear a bonnet with dicing, but in truth there are no hard and fast facts that I have ever found to confirm,one way or the other,the validity of the stories.Some do very much adhere to the anti-dicing thing, though. As to colour; any one you like, but here in Scotland black, duck egg green(hard to find these days it seems) and light grey seem to be the most popular. Just so you know, bonnets of any sort are rarely worn with the kilt these days here and before certain people start chipping in with their mischievous comments, the flat tweed/tartan cap is very rarely worn with the kilt here, these days.

[haukehaien]

If you want the dicing, go for it. Just remember what it means.

To know what the dicing means, here is a cutout from http://www.scottish-history.com/kilt.shtml

The diced (or orange checkered) band around the base of the balmoral indicates loyalty to the House of Hanover, i.e. the King/Queen of England. Highlanders generally do NOT wear the diced Balmoral, but choose to wear the plain dark blue bonnet; many lowlanders may choose wear the diced cap as they are intermingled with English blood and loyalties. Some Lowlanders also will not wear the diced cap. It is a matter of loyalties as some Lowlanders and Highlanders are loyal to the highlands, and would not wear the diced cap, even after all these years.

We've had this discussion a time or three (or hundred!) and there's no real evidence that dicing indicates any such thing. Summarizing that thread, we note that
a) Several Highland regiments (raised by the Crown) do not wear diced headgear.
b) In some regiments, dicing or not is a function of rank.
c) In many pipe bands, drummers wear diced headgear and pipers don't. Why? Because they've always done it that way.
d) Some people in Scotland do believe that the dicing has meaning, but choice of wearing or not had more to do with whether or not they had grown up wearing diced or undiced headgear.
e) Some historians believe that diced headgear indicated support for the Jacobites, not the Hanoverians.
f) At the time of the Jacobite rebellions, allegiance was generally indicated by a cockade, not the presence or absence of dicing.
g) The real and absolute true meaning of dicing is "Look, the bottom of *my* hat looks like a checkerboard*."

If you like dicing, wear it. If not, don't. But it has yet to be demonstrated that dicing has any political/historical/national meanings whatsoever. You can find a lot of information on the internet that says otherwise; however, you'll look long and hard to find a site that cites a contemporary source as to meaning.

*Unless you have three-color dicing in which case I don't know what it means.

[Jamais Arriere]

How 'bout that. I never knew that the dicing had a meaning. Both my Glens and Balmorals are diced. Because I like it.

[ForresterModern]

If you like dicing then have it. In the highlands there are certainly some who will not wear a bonnet with dicing, but in truth there are no hard and fast facts that I have ever found to confirm,one way or the other,the validity of the stories.Some do very much adhere to the anti-dicing thing, though. As to colour; any one you like, but here in Scotland black, duck egg green(hard to find these days it seems) and light grey seem to be the most popular. Just so you know, bonnets of any sort are rarely worn with the kilt these days here and before certain people start chipping in with their mischievous comments, the flat tweed/tartan cap is very rarely worn with the kilt here, these days.

Okay, Jock but what about "diced" flatcaps? What does that mean?


I have Balmorals with and without dicing, in many colors, and one diced glengarry. I personally like the non black solid color balmorals with matched color dicing.

Jock, can you show us an example of the "duck's egg" green of which you speak, and possibly any specific suppliers thereof?

[Jock Scot]

Okay, Jock but what about "diced" flatcaps? What does that mean?

Well, well, well look who has turned up! As to the meaning of diced flat caps------I have no idea. Well, on second thoughts, actually I have, but I am quite sure the mods would not appreciate the answer!


I will see if I have a picture of a duck egg green bonnet lurking somewhere.I wish I could find a supplier, but I have been trying to find a replacement for years now. This bonnet must be well over twenty years old and well used,abused even,so the colour will have faded somewhat. Here you go, the bonnet,Annie and me.

[macwilkin]

If you want the dicing, go for it. Just remember what it means.

My favourites at the web-page you link to must be the royal blue, or with the dices: black with red/white/black dicing.

To know what the dicing means, here is a cutout from http://www.scottish-history.com/kilt.shtml

The diced (or orange checkered) band around the base of the balmoral indicates loyalty to the House of Hanover, i.e. the King/Queen of England. Highlanders generally do NOT wear the diced Balmoral, but choose to wear the plain dark blue bonnet; many lowlanders may choose wear the diced cap as they are intermingled with English blood and loyalties. Some Lowlanders also will not wear the diced cap. It is a matter of loyalties as some Lowlanders and Highlanders are loyal to the highlands, and would not wear the diced cap, even after all these years.

The auld myth just won't die. While this legend is oft-repeated, I've yet to see any reliable source documenting this story.

haukehaien's post is spot-on.

T.

[Redshank]

I will see if I have a picture of a duck egg green bonnet lurking somewhere.I wish I could find a supplier, but I have been trying to find a replacement for years now.

When you find a supplier let me know can you Jock, I dislike these modern mass produced Balmorals as they are too small across the top resembling a girls beret in my opinion, I much prefer the old style larger ones

[David White]

Well, well, well look who has turned up! As to the meaning of diced flat caps------I have no idea. Well, on second thoughts, actually I have, but I am quite sure the mods would not appreciate the answer!


I will see if I have a picture of a duck egg green bonnet lurking somewhere.I wish I could find a supplier, but I have been trying to find a replacement for years now. This bonnet must be well over twenty years old and well used,abused even,so the colour will have faded somewhat. Here you go, the bonnet,Annie and me.

Now that is nice Jock!