Did the original Valdai sets use varnish? It would be nice to see the same finish on the reproductions as well. I believe Chess Bazaar uses polyurethane, while Retro Maximum may be using the original coating.
A very curious Valdai reproduction by ChessBazaar (& other repros)
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Dec 20, 2024
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#3
BobbyStaunton wrote:
Did the original Valdai sets use varnish? It would be nice to see the same finish on the reproductions as well. I believe Chess Bazaar uses polyurethane, while Retro Maximum may be using the original coating.
I don’t know what they used, but most look fairly glossy. It does look like RetroMaximum is using the same coating—or at least something that emulates the original coating perfectly.
Dec 20, 2024
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#4
I have several of the RetroMax sets. I started with the Tal. It was so nicely made that I ordered another of his sets, the ‘Soviet Latvian’, and by then his Valdai set was unavoidable.
So, expensive? I guess that depends on what you value (different for us all - personally, I also liked the idea of supporting a Ukraine-based maker).
Playing with the red felts, was distracting (nice as they look in the photos). They ended up bothering me so much that I replaced them with green. Definitely a personal quirk of mine - one of my OCD twists!
Original felts:
Replaced with green:
Dec 20, 2024
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#5
baudouin27 wrote:
I have several of the RetroMax sets. I started with the Tal. It was so nicely made that I ordered another of his sets, the ‘Soviet Latvian’, and by then his Valdai set was unavoidable.
So, expensive? I guess that depends on what you value (different for us all - personally, I also liked the idea of supporting a Ukraine-based maker).
Playing with the red felts, was distracting (nice as they look in the photos). They ended up bothering me so much that I replaced them with green. Definitely a personal quirk of mine - one of my OCD twists!
Original felts:
Replaced with green:
Nice! I refelted two of my sets purple and lavender. I’m in the process of polishing them after removing the mold lines which is ruining the felts, but that’s okay, because the purple I will refelt using a less saturated color as the purple is too noticeable on the board, and the lavender I will replace with a higher quality felt (the same brand as the purple). I ordered a bunch of different colors, most of which dark and desaturated enough I think.
So yeah, I’m a big fan of colors other than dark green, but I’ve learned my lesson; not everything that looks flashy and exciting is actually going to work well on the board; it shouldn’t be too noticeable. Brown, dark gray, burgundy, and lavender work much better.
While perusing chess posters I noticed these Valdai set photos by Victoria Ivanova. Fans of the pattern may appreciate them.
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Something-About-Da-Vinci-Posters_i13396519_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Choice-to-Make-Posters_i13395846_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Game-Over-Posters_i13396629_.htm
and a few others that don't feature the characteristic bishop
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Soul-of-a-Mustang-Posters_i14534912_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-megalomania-an-improved-version-Posters_i15825923_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Heart-of-a-Knight-Posters_i13396256_.htm
(Although the last one is not from the same set. The bishop is a different style.)
WandelKoningin wrote:
Here is a truly strange set by ChessBazaar I just came across!...It’s certainly an acquired taste, but in case you like a highly idiosyncratic set
I'd be tempted for the novelty, but OMG CB's prices lately, especially for this!
Jan 6, 2025
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#8
mjeman wrote:
While perusing chess posters I noticed these Valdai set photos by Victoria Ivanova. Fans of the pattern may appreciate them.
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Something-About-Da-Vinci-Posters_i13396519_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Choice-to-Make-Posters_i13395846_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Game-Over-Posters_i13396629_.htm
and a few others that don't feature the characteristic bishop
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Soul-of-a-Mustang-Posters_i14534912_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-megalomania-an-improved-version-Posters_i15825923_.htm
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Heart-of-a-Knight-Posters_i13396256_.htm
(Although the last one is not from the same set. The bishop is a different style.)
Ohh those are cool! I love the one with the knight’s shadow. The Last Supper is hilarious as well.
Jan 6, 2025
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#9
mjeman wrote:
WandelKoningin wrote:
Here is a truly strange set by ChessBazaar I just came across!...It’s certainly an acquired taste, but in case you like a highly idiosyncratic set
I'd be tempted for the novelty, but OMG CB's prices lately, especially for this!
I know! They seemed to be the cheaper option at the start of the year, but now some of their sets similar to HoS sets are more expensive!
ChessBazaar does have a clearance sale at the moment with a 50% discount. My wife and I bought each other a set yesterday for our upcoming birthdays or other significant events. I got myself the 1940s Soviet Staunton set. 😎
You should have a look at the slightly imperfect section as well; they have the Valdai repro in black and white lacquer. Quite interesting. I would probably contact them to ask what the imperfections are before you buy though.
The 50% clearance sale puts those items at a more reasonable price. The green Valdai would require about 60% off for me to consider it. For novelty colored pieces, Herman is on the right track with plastic.
Jan 6, 2025
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#11
mjeman wrote:
The 50% clearance sale puts those items at a more reasonable price. The green Valdai would require about 60% off for me to consider it. For novelty colored pieces, Herman is on the right track with plastic.
Their Knubbel set is also heavily discounted. If I wasn’t exclusively into Soviet sets I would definitely get one.
I love the red Modolets, but they're so hard to find. I do have a black Modolet I and brown Modolet II underway. I can’t wait to weight the Modolet II with tungsten grain. It will make such a nice analysis set.
Thanks for the tip, but I already bought the CB Knubbel about 18 months ago or so for well less than half its current list price. I had it out to track a daily game recently. The red Modolets is particularly striking. Not only for analysis, but especially after weighting, those would make good weather-proof sets to play with in a park with an opponent who is not a stickler for Staunton.
Here is a truly strange set by ChessBazaar I just came across!
It’s clearly a modern interpretation of the Soviet Valdai sets—essentially a reproduction, but with Stauntonized knights that bear no resemblance to the Valdai knights. But then also the choice to stain the black pieces green!
It’s certainly an acquired taste, but in case you like a highly idiosyncratic set (also available in sheesham and ebonized): Reproduced Russian (Soviet Era) Series Chess Pieces in Stained Green Ash Burl / Box Wood
Kadun reproduction
Kadun also offers a reproduction with modernized knights that are unlike the originals. I would share a link, but you can only order from them if you live in Russia, so what’s the point?
Original Valdai set
For reference, below is a ’60s Valdai set. As you can see, neither reproductions above make an attempt to accurately reproduce the knights.
Retro Maximum reproduction
The only authentic reproduction I’ve come across is by Retro Maximum. You can order it here: Valdai Nobles Chess Set Reproduction
It’s a really beautiful reproduction, but it’ss quite expensive. For that amount, you can easily get an original early ’40s Valdai set. Unweighted though. I believe Retro Maximum’s repro is lightly weighted.
Early Valdai sets
Below is an early ’40s Valdai set, which is characterized by bulkier and more rounded bases, shorter crowns on the royals, and a much smaller bulb on the bishops. The knights also tend to be much more consistent, as the later ’60s knights often feature knights that can vary quite a bit in their muzzle shape.