I have a pin for each Kilt and I'm with the Wizard here, gives a bit of Bling. Not all of my pins are actual kilt pins, some are brooches that I have stumbled across and thought would look good on my kilt although all are metal without jewels (or glass) and about kilt pin dimension. Just a personal preference. I also think that online, something with the word brooch in the description is about half the cost of another thing with the words kilt pin in the description and I'm a sucker for a bargin.

Haven't got around to Ron's rubber band trick yet but suppose I should as I wouldn't like to lose any of them (Not that they are unique, irreplacable or particularly expensive.)

As for it being the Queen's excrement. That's the wonderful thing about history, you can pin your principles (see what I did there...) on whatever bit of plucked, historical fact you fancy and ignore the rest if you so chose. Shame the sentiment had to be expressed in such a sneering way though.

Seems a bit odd NOT to enjoy wearing something so innocuous because you take a personnal, pricipled stand against the actions of a Monarch who passed on more than a century ago... like it's going to make a difference to her.

It's not that important where the wearing of pins began, more that they are worn now and in the opinion of some look nice. If you chose to not wear them or wear only the trad blanket pin type that too is fine. Each to his/her own.