Sterling Silver Badges!!

**MacSpadger** · 20th September 12, 05:45 AM

I received a postcard this morning telling me it has arrived in Glasgow, but it will be held there until I pay a £31, (That's over $50), customs charge.
I thought yesterday was International Talk Like A Pirate Day, yet here I am, being plundered!

This does, in fact, mean that I have ended up paying more than I would have for a Scottish made sterling silver badge from the likes of ClanCrestSilver. Ah well, you live and learn, I can only hope the quality is as good, if not better.

**creagdhubh** · 20th September 12, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by MacSpadger

I received a postcard this morning telling me it has arrived in Glasgow, but it will be held there until I pay a £31, (That's over $50), customs charge.
I thought yesterday was International Talk Like A Pirate Day, yet here I am, being plundered!

This does, in fact, mean that I have ended up paying more than I would have for a Scottish made sterling silver badge from the likes of ClanCrestSilver. Ah well, you live and learn, I can only hope the quality is as good, if not better.

Customs charges for only $139.00 US (plus shipping costs to Scotland I am assuming)? Aww mate, I'm sorry to hear this. As you said, hopefully the quality is good and to your liking!

Cheers,

**MacSpadger** · 20th September 12, 06:26 AM

Shipping was $45, which Ronan explained before I committed to purchase, this made a total of $184 and I was quite happy with this. I am aware that the US has high postal costs.

However, the UK customs charge has bumped it up to $235. I don't mind paying Ronan for the badge at all, not in the slightest, I'm happy my payment will help the Scottish Tartans Museum, I just feel I'm being punished rather excessively for not buying from within the UK.

Pirates, I tell ye'!

**creagdhubh** · 20th September 12, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by MacSpadger

Shipping was $45, which Ronan explained before I committed to purchase, this made a total of $184 and I was quite happy with this. I am aware that the US has high postal costs.

However, the UK customs charge has bumped it up to $235. I don't mind paying Ronan for the badge at all, not in the slightest, I'm happy my payment will help the Scottish Tartans Museum, I just feel I'm being punished rather excessively for not buying from within the UK.

Pirates, I tell ye'!

I know what you mean. There has been a plethora of discussions on this forum regarding customs fees, duties and tariffs. Those darn pirates!

Cheers,

**MacSpadger** · 21st September 12, 07:55 AM

Well, the badge has arrived and is indeed of a very high quality. This has helped placate the ire of the customs sting a fair bit.
The badge is made from argentium silver, which is very shiny indeed, so much so that it has made taking pics with my puny wee camera very difficult. I am very pleased with the central casting in particular, which seems to be modelled on the image found in
W.A Johnston's book The Scottish Clans & Their Tartans. I have a copy of this from 1929, but it was first published in the 1890's.

I prefer this image to more modern versions, even though it looks more like a rook than a raven!

As you can see, the centre cast portion of the badge is a faithful copy, and the detail is very high, I'm just sorry I can't get a better shot at it. The proportions are all very pleasing to the eye as well, with very precise lettering. The badge itself is quite lightweight and fine, you could easily wear it on a balmoral without the weight pulling the fabric back down towards your lug.
To compare, here is a pic of the new badge next to one from the early 1900's, which is very chunky in comparison, (as well as having it's sharper detail blurred through over a century of wear and polishing).

As you can also see, the argentium silver appears bright next to the old silver, which was polished a week or so ago. My Piobaireachd Society kilt pin is also argentium silver, and I have never needed to polish it, so I am presuming the clan crest will be the same.
All in all I'd say it's a brilliant piece of kit, I don't mind spending the money as it's defintely heirloom quality material. I am pleased with it, all I need to do now is do justice to it by playing my pipes well when I am wearing it.