Introducing Our Official Outlander Tartan Watch Collection

Key Takeaways

• MacKinnon Watches has signed a global licensing agreement with Outlander.

• We've created an official collection of watches and watch accessories featuring the Outlander tartans.

• Our tartan fabrics are woven in Scotland, and production, assembly and strap-making all happen in our Scottish workshop.

• It's a full-circle moment for our founders, Belinda and Matt, because watching Outlander during lockdown helped spark the idea for the business in the first place.

• The collection is available now, with worldwide shipping.

Our Biggest News Yet

We've been waiting a long time to share this one.

MacKinnon Watches is now an official global licensee of Outlander. Through that agreement, we've created the official Outlander tartan watch collection, a range of watches and watch accessories featuring the Outlander tartans. It brings together one of Scotland's most internationally recognised TV franchises and the tartan craftsmanship that sits at the heart of everything we make.

If you've followed us for a while, you'll know this isn't a random pairing. Outlander is part of how we got started.

Where It All Began

In 2020, Matt and Belinda were living and working in London. During lockdown, they started watching Outlander, and like so many Scots living away from home, they felt a strong pull back north.

That feeling didn't go away.

Inspired by the series, by their own connection to Scotland, and by a wish to celebrate Scottish heritage in a way that felt modern, they began developing the idea that would become MacKinnon Watches. So they took the leap. They traded big city life for a cottage on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness, and the business slowly took shape from there. The name comes from Matt's own family, the MacKinnons, who originate from Scotland's Western Isles and now live in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis.

You can read more about that journey on the MacKinnon Watches story page. But the short version is this: the show that helped start it all is now part of what we make. We still can't quite believe it.

What Is Outlander About?

Haven't watched it yet? Here's a quick catch-up.

Outlander is based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander novels. It follows Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe), a former World War II nurse who travels through a mysterious stone circle to 18th-century Scotland, where she falls in love with Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Their story takes audiences from the Scottish Highlands to the streets of Paris, and later to the Caribbean and colonial North Carolina. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

It's a big story in every sense. Gabaldon's books have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine making the New York Times bestseller list. The TV series ran for eight seasons and blends history, science fiction, romance and adventure into one tale.

Its success also inspired a prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, from Sony Pictures Television. It explores two love stories across time: Jamie's parents, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, in 18th-century Scotland, and Claire's parents, Julia and Henry Beauchamp, during World War I.

Tartan plays a big part on screen too. If you'd like to learn more about the real clans behind the show, we've written a guide to the Scottish clans and tartans featured in Outlander.

Inside Our Outlander Collection

Every piece in the collection is officially licensed and features the Outlander tartan.

We've made it the same way we make everything else. Our tartan fabrics are woven in Scotland, and production, assembly and strap-making are all carried out in our own Scottish workshop. Matt leads the making and assembly of our watches himself, so every piece gets the same care and attention to detail.

The collection includes both watches and watch accessories. That gives fans a few ways to wear it, whether you're after a full timepiece or you'd like to add a bit of Outlander tartan to something you already own. You can browse the full Outlander collection  to see every design.

Why an Official Licence Matters

Search online, and you'll find plenty of products described as "inspired by" the show. An officially licensed piece is different. It's been made with the approval of the rights holder, so you know exactly what you're getting and where it came from.

That matters to us, and we think it matters to fans too.

More Than Just a Watch

Why do people wear tartan in the first place?

For most, it's about belonging. A tartan might represent a clan name, a family story, a place, or a moment worth remembering. Scotland even keeps an official record: the Scottish Register of Tartans is a national repository of tartan designs maintained by the National Records of Scotland. That tells you how seriously tartan is taken here.

For Outlander fans, the tartan carries the story of Claire and Jamie. And for plenty of people with Scottish roots, the show sparked a real curiosity about their own heritage. We see it all the time with our customers.

Belinda put it well when we announced the partnership:

"Authenticity is at the heart of MacKinnon Watches. While we want our customers to love the design and quality, it's really about the history, craftsmanship and story behind our products."

And if the show has you curious about your own family's tartan, we can help with that too. Our custom tartan watches can feature your clan or family tartan, and our tartan finder is a good place to start if you're not sure which one is yours. You can also explore our wider Scottish tartan watch collection.

A Growing Family of Partners and Supporters

The partnership with Outlander is our latest milestone, but it isn't our first official partnership. We also worked with the Scotland National Team on a limited-edition watch featuring the team's official tartan, and it proved hugely successful around Scotland's return to the World Cup. You can still see our official Scotland National Team watches, along with our  University of Edinburgh collection.

We've been lucky with our supporters, too. Outlander star Sam Heughan wore one of our watches in the Galloway tartan during New York City's Tartan Day celebrations. We've also had support from acclaimed Scottish actor and Succession star Brian Cox, comedian Daniel Sloss, Sex and the City star Jason Lewis, and Grey's Anatomy actor Anthony Hill.

Not bad for a wee business that started in a Highland cottage.

Shop the Official Outlander Tartan Collection

Maybe you've been with Claire and Jamie since the first book. Or maybe you've only just finished the series. Either way, we hope you love these pieces as much as we loved making them. Shop the official MacKinnon Watches Outlander collection today, or contact our team  if you have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MacKinnon Watches Outlander collection officially licensed?

Yes. MacKinnon Watches has a global licensing agreement with Outlander. The collection features the official Outlander tartan.

What's included in the Outlander collection?

The collection includes watches and watch accessories featuring the Outlander tartan. You can see every piece on our Outlander collection page.

Where are MacKinnon Watches made?

Our tartan fabrics are woven in Scotland. Production, assembly and strap-making are all carried out in our workshop in Scotland.

Do you ship Outlander watches outside the UK?

Yes, we ship worldwide. UK delivery is free, and US orders include tariffs, so there are no hidden charges. See our  delivery and returns page for full details.

Do MacKinnon watches come with a warranty?

Our watches come with a two-year warranty from the date of purchase, covering mechanical defects.

Who founded MacKinnon Watches?

MacKinnon Watches was founded by husband and wife Belinda and Matthew Murphy. They started the business after moving home to the Highlands from London, and the name comes from Matt's family, the MacKinnons, who originate from Scotland's Western Isles.

Is the Outlander TV series based on a book?

Yes. The series is based on Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.