Crest pictured is from Clan Standard

Description:

A stag’s head affrontee, issuant from a crest coronet Or, all within a chaplet of rock ivy Proper ensigned with the coronet of a Marquess

What's all that mean?

Just like the badge, a stag's head faces the observer (affrontee).  The stag is emerging (issuant) from a crest coronet of gold (or).  It is within a garland (chaplet) of rock ivy depicted in natural colors (proper).  Directly above that (ensigned) is a coronet of a Marquess.  A Coronet of a Marquess has four balls, two visible, on short spikes, alternating with four strawberry leaves, three visible. 

Badge or Crest?

Many people are confused by “badge” and “crest”. They are similar as they both contain the clan symbols. The Gordon crest has ivy around it; it is properly called the Chief’s crest and is used by the Chief only. The Chief's crest does not have a belt around it.

Putting a belt around it makes it the “chief’s crest belted” which is commonly called the clansman’s badge. Scottish heraldry allows the clansman to wear their chief’s crest belted. This allows the clansman to be identified as a clan member but not confused with the Chief.

Okay, so why does the Gordon Highlanders cap badge have the crest? Shouldn’t they wear the badge instead? Look close, the Gordon Highlanders cap badge is differentiated by having 12 tines on the stag’s head instead of 10. It was authorized by the Clan Chief.

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