Buying a first wooden chess set

Nice pieces, but in an important match, I would object to using these. I like the modernistic design as art, but not as a serious playing set.

Traditional Staunton (which still admits some variety) is best.

When I was shopping for my set, the king's cross and the knight's design helped me rule out many sets. I eventually settled on

http://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-reykjavik-ii-series-chess-set-3-75-king.html

in rosewood and boxwood. 

Yes, that's a very nice set. 

Again, I'd never use a nice wood set for blitz.  If plain plastic was insufficiently hefty, I'd get a weighted plastic set (else, I might have a heart attack when pieces started hitting the floor during a violently played blitz game, and worrying about that possibility would distract my attention from the game itself). 

I've played thousands of OTB blitz games with assorted types of pieces, and have never felt plain solid plastic pieces made the game any less fun.  A set like this would be something to aspire to if today's budget does not permit such a purchase.

sftac

ps.  Portability is important, the point about a vinyl (leatherette) board (or rather pricier, the leather variation) rolled into a tube (I use mailing tubes cut down and painted to carry them) is a good one.  Solid wood boards are awkward, clumsy to carry about but perfect for really serious chess.

ShivamK16;

I'd wonder if they stand by their product and replace it (like the USCF did when mine started cracking from being carved while too 'green' / insufficiently "cured", at around the 14 month point).

sftac

I know this is a fairly old thread, but for anyone in the market for a new chess set should go for a luxury chess set. Luxury chess sets are a wonderful way to decorate a room. My luxury chess sets always been admired by my friends and guests. There are so many choices available online for these types of chess sets. Metal chess sets will also give somewhat luxury appeal but nowhere as good as luxury wooden chess sets will give. I'll always use my luxury chess sets as a centerpiece of my living room. But luxury chess sets are less practical and not perfect for daily or weekly chess play.

There are so many choices available for wooden chess sets on the market today but the best chess set is Dubrovnik chess set. The simple, practical design and moreover everyone can afford it. What makes this chess set valuable is that it is prized by Bobby Fischer. The double weighted pieces provide excellent stability for blitz play. I have owned many Dubrovnik pieces from Ebay including plastic ones, but I find chessbazaar reproduction to be pretty good and better. Specially their 2.0 one. 

http://www.chessbazaar.com/new-1950-dubrovnik-bobby-fischer-reproduced-chess-set-version-2-0-in-stained-crimson-box-wood-4-king.html

I hope this helps.