A Few Steps On Buying A High End Chess Set...

Here's a list that I follow when I first purchase a high end or custom safe queen type chess set as well as some aftercare maintenance thereof...

1) Make the call... Contact the seller first and express any concerns you may have and more than likely they will understand and attempt to oblidge your request on purchase. Also ask about a custom order, although expect additional charges and some waiting time...

2) When you first get the set, inspect it carefully, and should you find a piece that is unsatisfactory, (it happens), ask in a nice way to get it replaced. If there is a shipping charge involved, although it's sometimes not fair, then dish it out to obtain a really good match. Also it pays to send in the bad piece as well along with a matching good piece from the set so that the seller can send back a perfect replacement match for the set.

3) Once your set is complete and you are satisfied for the money spent do a very light coat of wax on the set to help keep the moisture in the wood. I use Renaissance Wax as most of you know and have had nothing but very good experiences with it. It's simply the best imho.

4) Obtain a good wood storage box for the set if it didn't already come with one. It will help with it's own additional moisture and with temp control when the pieces are in storage. Then keep it in an safe enviorment which is temp stable (Like not around a heater vent etc). 

5) Get some of the Boveda Humidity Packs available online that I've recommended before and place one every six months or so in the storage box with your pieces.

6) It won't hurt either to place a glass of water near the pieces storage box and replace the water regularly as it evaporates or gets obsorbed...

7) I also obtain for each piece jewelry velvet storage pouches, available online, so when the pieces are in their storage box they don't rub together or touch one another etc.

Finally, don't forget or be afraid to play them now and then, afterall, they were not only made to be admired :) 

a nice chess set is like a nice set of dinnerware or crystal glassware, you take them out for those special occasions.  

Plastic chess pieces, cups and plates function just the same😁

kenardi wrote:

a nice chess set is like a nice set of dinnerware or crystal glassware, you take them out for those special occasions.  

This is very true. 

True, there are many reasonably priced chess sets in wood or plastic out there. They are all perfectly playable IMO. Collecting high priced chess sets in the hopes of making a proffit down the road are slim. The only one making a nice proffit off these high end sets is the retailer.

Yeah I'll just keep putting my $ in my camaro I know that will bring me lots of green down the road😁. I will admit some of those bone and wood sets are pretty nice though.

This is all good stuff but it sort of implies modern playing sets are collectable which I don't think is really true. If you're going to buy something that was mas produced in India even if it's sold through a seller here that you like you should play with it. The chances of it being sold again for its retail value are slim to none. If you want to buy a collectable, spend a little more and get a Jaques or something. Those sets will hold their value over time. I believe modern sets can be collectable, don't get me wrong, I'm only talking about the mass produced playing sets that comes out of India here. Absolutely buy the best set you can buy if you want to buy the set and use it, though, and these seem to be good tips for keeping it in good condition.