Introducing Our Doddie’5 Tartan Collection for MND Research

Key Takeaways

• We've launched the Doddie'5 Tartan Collection in partnership with My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, the charity founded by Scottish rugby great Doddie Weir.
• Every purchase includes a contribution from us to the Foundation.
• The Foundation funds research into effective treatments for motor neuron disease (MND). In the US and many other countries, its most common form is known as ALS.
• The range includes three tartan watches, an Apple Watch strap, a standard watch strap and a handmade watch case.
• Each colour in the tartan tells part of Doddie's story: Scotland, Melrose RFC and Newcastle Falcons.

Why We've Partnered With My Name'5 Doddie Foundation

Some partnerships take a lot of explaining. This one doesn't.

Doddie Weir was one of the most recognisable figures Scottish rugby has ever produced. He won 61 caps for Scotland, picked up championships with Melrose and Newcastle, and toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1997. Off the pitch he was just as hard to miss, usually in a tartan suit you could spot from the back of the stand.

He was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in December 2016 and went public in June 2017. Five months later, he launched My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Doddie died on 26 November 2022, aged 52, but the Foundation he started hasn't slowed down. They have now committed £24 million to MND research.

So when the chance came to bring Doddie's tartan into our workshop, it was an easy yes. The Doddie'5 Tartan Collection is what came out of it.

What Is Motor Neuron Disease?

If you're reading this in the US or Canada, you might know it by another name. MND is the umbrella term used in the UK, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common type of MND. ALS is the name you'll hear more often in North America.

MND affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord that control your muscles. Over time, people lose the ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe, and there's no cure yet.

The figures in the Foundation's guide to understanding MND are stark. MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time, and the risk of dying from it is around 1 in 300. About a third of people die within a year of diagnosis. More than half die within two years. And for 98% of people living with the disease, there haven't been any new treatment options in decades.

That isn't good enough.

Doddie said it better than anyone could: "MND isn't incurable, it's just underfunded." That line sits at the heart of this collection, and it's on our collection page for a reason.

What Your Purchase Helps Fund

With every purchase from the collection, MacKinnon Watches makes a contribution to My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Their goal is simple: faster routes to effective treatments that slow, stop or reverse the effects of MND.

When you're living with MND, time matters. That's why the Foundation funds research at every stage, from getting bold early ideas off the ground to developing and testing treatments in the lab. They back high-risk, high-reward projects that other funders might pass on. They support trial centres across the UK so more people with MND can access clinical trials, and they invest in early-career researchers who'll shape the next decade of MND science.

People affected by MND are involved at every stage of that work.

Our part is small, we know. But it adds up, and every watch, strap and case in the range puts a little more behind it.

The Story Woven Into Doddie's Tartan

Look closely at the strap and you'll notice it isn't a random check. Every colour points back to a chapter of Doddie's life:

• Blue and white for Scotland, his home nation.
• Black and yellow for Melrose RFC, where he played his first senior rugby.
• Black and white for Newcastle Falcons, where his professional career really took off.

Rugby fans recognise it instantly. When Scotland played New Zealand at Murrayfield in November 2022, the players wore Doddie's tartan on their shirt numbers to mark five years since he launched the Foundation. Supporters have worn it to walks, hikes, bake sales and packed stadiums ever since.

Like every tartan we use, it's woven in Scottish mills. Curious whether your own family has a tartan with a story behind it? Our Tartan Finder is a good place to start.

What's in the Doddie'5 Tartan Collection

There are six pieces in the range, and each one suits a slightly different kind of wearer.

The Doddie'5 Tartan Watch

The watch comes in three finishes: rose gold, silver and black. All three pair the Doddie tartan strap with a Miyota quartz movement, hardened mineral glass and 3 ATM water resistance. You can pick a 40mm case with a 20mm strap or a 36mm case with an 18mm strap, and the design is unisex.

Not sure which finish to go for? Generally speaking, silver is the easy everyday choice, rose gold feels a bit warmer, and black gives the tartan a bolder, more modern frame.

The Doddie'5 Tartan Apple Watch Strap

Already wear an Apple Watch? The Doddie'5 tartan Apple Watch strap is compatible with all Apple Watch models and sizes. Before you order, check the engraving on the back of your watch. That's your case size, and it's what you'll select (not your wrist measurement).

The Doddie'5 Tartan Watch Strap

Got a traditional watch you already love? The Doddie tartan watch strap lets you put it in Doddie's colours. Just choose the correct lug width so it fits securely.

Both straps are finished with premium leather on the underside for comfort, and you can personalise that leather backing with a surname, initials or a date.

The Doddie'5 Tartan Watch Case

Handmade with premium leather and lined with the tartan, the Doddie'5 tartan watch case holds one watch. It's handy for travel or for keeping a watch safe at home, and it works with any MacKinnon timepiece, not only this collection. You'll find more storage options in our tartan watch rolls and cases.

Made in the Highlands

We are a family business from the Scottish Highlands. Matt and Belinda moved back from London to start MacKinnon Watches in 2020. We assemble all our watches ourselves, and many of our straps are handmade in Scotland.

Every piece comes with a 2-year warranty. Through our pledge, we plant a tree with every order. We ship worldwide with free UK delivery, and you can check timings for your country on our delivery and returns page. One thing to keep in mind: personalised items can't be returned, so double-check the spelling before you order.

Doddie's tartan also sits alongside our other official collaborations, including the Scotland National Team tartan collection.

A Gift That Carries a Bit More Weight

Plenty of watches get bought as gifts.

This one says more than most. For rugby fans, Scots at home and abroad, or anyone who's watched someone they love live with MND, Doddie's tartan speaks for itself. Wear it to the match or wear it every day. Either way, you're helping move MND research forward.

Wear Doddie's Colours and Help Fund MND Research

Every piece is made with care in Scotland, and every purchase includes a contribution from us to My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Have a look through the range and find the one that fits you best.

Shop our MND charity tartan watches

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Doddie'5 tartan?

It's the tartan linked to Doddie Weir and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Blue and white represent Scotland, black and yellow represent Melrose RFC, and black and white represent Newcastle Falcons.

Does buying a Doddie'5 tartan watch support MND research?

Yes. With every purchase from the Doddie'5 Tartan Collection, MacKinnon Watches makes a contribution to My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which funds research into effective treatments for motor neuron disease.

Is MND the same as ALS?

ALS is the most common type of MND, and while MND is the umbrella term used in the UK, ALS is the name more often used in the US and many other countries.

Who was Doddie Weir?

Doddie Weir was a Scottish rugby player who won 61 caps for Scotland and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1997. He was diagnosed with MND in 2016 and launched his Foundation in 2017. He died in November 2022, aged 52.

Will the Doddie'5 Apple Watch strap fit my watch?

It's compatible with all Apple Watch models and sizes. Check the size engraved on the back of your Apple Watch and pick the matching option when you order.

Do you ship the Doddie'5 Tartan Collection outside the UK?

Yes, we ship worldwide, with free delivery within the UK and tracking on every order.

Can I personalise a Doddie'5 tartan strap?

Yes. You can add a surname, initials or a date to the leather backing of both the Doddie'5 tartan watch strap and the Apple Watch strap.