I may be a cheapskate, but Iike well made plastic pieces and roll up-mats. I also like cheap wooden polish and romainian sets as well as what used to be cheap sets from the then eastern block. Also I´m very fond of the swedish club classic Tävlingspjäser Svensk Modell, especially the unfelted version played om masonite boards (but that is probably an aquired taste).
Cheap VS Expensive Chess Set
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Many (most) of my sets are secondhand, and the value (for me) is in the relationships and the experience I have made in buying the sets. For example, I remember a long drive to a regional location to pick up an inlaid board and pieces (perhaps of polish origin) … the gentleman I purchased it from purchased it many years ago and then he moved to Asia for work and the set remained in storage in Australia until he fished it out of a shipping container full of bricabrac for me. He was a really interesting fellow and the set is interesting too. I won’t sell it… I have no idea of the true historical provenance … but I will always remember to experience. It’s a playable, affordable set. Further, what is affordable to me - may be cheap or expensive to others - it’s all very subjective and relative to our own situations. I can’t afford an antique Jaques but I am happy for those that can and I enjoy seeing pictures on this forum. I have often thought … if I didn’t buy all these set that I have… or sold them … I could save to buy just one great Jaques… but that’s not my way because then I miss the experience and relationships of buying sets within my price range… and in some strange way that all contributes to my sense of value … so back to the story of the Polish set … it’s affordable (and perhaps, by many aspects noted above - cheap) - but it has high value to me.
I appreciate that the white knights when viewed from the left side look like croissants. 🤭