My new Blackwatch

[Oldhiker]

The "Black Watch" is a handsome tartan because they copied (stole) it from the Lamont's. We are proud to have them use our colors

::::::ducking::::::: LOL

[IEScotsman]

I had no idea the Black Watch was such a controversial tartan. Hmmm, can someone direct me to a link with deeper history or explanation? I would love to learn more without infringing on the delicate debates often avoided here.

[SnakeEyes]

If there weren't any debates, and we all knew everything about Kilts, there'd be no reason for X Marks. Good Thread folks.

Oh yes, and nice Kilt Splash! You look good.

[David Dalglish]

I for one think the Black watch tartan is beauiful, it look great.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I know OldHiker was just kidding, but just in case anyone is confused, the Black Watch is not based on the Lamont, but the other way 'round. The Lamont tartan, like many others, is based on the Black Watch. In this case, Lamont is the Black Watch tartan with a white line added to the green.

There are a large family of tartans that are based on Black Watch, including many standard clan tartans. Many were originally military tartans and later adopted for use as clan tartans (like the Black Watch itself). It was very common to "create" a new military tartan by adding a color stripe or two to the Black Watch.

Others are based on the Black Watch as a nod to the military history of the tartan, but were never themselves used as military tartans.

Here's a partial list just of Black Watch variants that I can think of off the top of my head this morning:

Lamont
Forbes
Gordon
MacKenzie
Robertson Hunting
MacLachlan
Fraser of Lovat
MacNab
Cairns
Scottish National
MacRae Hunting
Murray of Atholl
Tyneside Scottish
Baillie

The list goes on and on.....

[Oldhiker]

yes I was kidding.

.....and I swear the Lamont's were just watching the Campbell's sheep (maybe a little too closley). All other charges are disputed.

Mom they started it first.

[Erisianmonkey]

I swear the Lamont's were just watching the Campbell's sheep (maybe a little too closley).

[scoutniagara]

Yes, I was kidding.

.....and I swear the Lamont's were just watching the Campbell's sheep (maybe a little too closley). All other charges are disputed...

I also, heard, that while watching the Campbell's sheep, they invented rubber boots.


...just kidding.

[ckelly327]

I wear a SWK Black Watch sometimes and in two years I have only been called out on it once. I'm Irish and was wearing it at a Hibernian golf tournament when one of my fellow golfers asked me if I knew the significance of the tartan and I told him I was and we left it at that.

One day I went over to fix my mother's computer and had on the Black Watch kilt. After taking in the fact that I was wearing a kilt her first response was that she loved her Black Watch skirt when she was in high school in the '50's. She didn't even have to ask me about the tartan. Our local Irish shop stocks the Black Watch kilts all of the time or they will order them as asked. The history is either not understood or it's just history and it's a nice tartan that goes with most anything.

My two cents.

[Riverkilt]

Jeez Matt,

You've upset my grandfather Murdoch...he's thrashing in his grave...Gordon - a Black Watch variant???? Really?

Murdoch's maternal grandmother was a Gordon...after all those years of stories about the evil Campbells in my childhood...

Goes to show, Pogo was right. We have met the enemy, and he is us.

Ron