Ok so onward and upward. I noticed guck (wax I guess) in the groove of the 2 queen's collar. Only one place and same on both black queens but absent on the white queens. Carefully using my trusted #11 blades I'm removing said material. I'm disappointed in having to do this. I noticed other tiny clots of wax here and there (the queens and a bishop) in the folds which are easily removed but for a $400+ set I shouldn't have to. I'm starting to regret not ordering the padauk.
Dyaaaaaammmm.... Put that 10x jeweler's loupe away right now! I'm sticking with plastic sets for the foreseeable future. I don't have the fortitude to deal with $400 wood chess sets like you guys.
Regarding the above discussion on Central Park and chess wagering: Always interesting how far online discussions morph into topics that an OP could never have imagined when the OP started the thread.
Ugh. Have you dealt with Mandeep before? You should not have to go through this when you receive merchandise from a vendor that advertises itself as selling premium products (and charges accordingly). I hope for your sake (and for mine) that this is a one-off.
Dyaaaaaammmm.... Put that 10x jeweler's loupe away right now! I'm sticking with plastic sets for the foreseeable future. I don't have the fortitude to deal with $400 wood chess sets like you guys.
LOL I'm accustomed to working with detail so easier on me. Here's one of my drawings.
What's odd is the white queens are fine. Anyway, one queen's finished - one more to go.
Regarding the above discussion on Central Park and chess wagering: Always interesting how far online discussions morph into topics that an OP could never have imagined when the OP started the thread.
Ugh. Have you dealt with Mandeep before? You should not have to go through this when you receive merchandise from a vendor that advertises itself as selling premium products (and charges accordingly). I hope for your sake (and for mine) that this is a one-off.
First time with Mandeep. I'll be writing to him in a day or so. You ordered the padauk? We'll keep each other posted.
Dyaaaaaammmm.... Put that 10x jeweler's loupe away right now! I'm sticking with plastic sets for the foreseeable future. I don't have the fortitude to deal with $400 wood chess sets like you guys.
LOL I'm accustomed to working with detail so easier on me. Here's one of my drawings. What's odd is the white queens are fine. Anyway, one queen's finished - one more to go.
Do you have a black light? It might reveal even more interesting hidden details. 
Regarding the above discussion on Central Park and chess wagering: Always interesting how far online discussions morph into topics that an OP could never have imagined when the OP started the thread.
Ugh. Have you dealt with Mandeep before? You should not have to go through this when you receive merchandise from a vendor that advertises itself as selling premium products (and charges accordingly). I hope for your sake (and for mine) that this is a one-off.
First time with Mandeep. I'll be writing to him in a day or so. You ordered the padauk? We'll keep each other posted.
I need to learn to be more like you . . . not so anxious when something like this happens. It will almost certainly get resolved. I had a bit of a bad taste because the prices went up as I was emailing Mandeep about a misunderstanding on the price and I felt he should have charged me less. But that was "on me." I made the decision to purchase his negotiated price for a combination set and board. All will be well if the they "wow" me. By the way, I love that drawing. It gives me a sense of being present in that moment, watching her.
Dyaaaaaammmm.... Put that 10x jeweler's loupe away right now! I'm sticking with plastic sets for the foreseeable future. I don't have the fortitude to deal with $400 wood chess sets like you guys.
LOL I'm accustomed to working with detail so easier on me. Here's one of my drawings. What's odd is the white queens are fine. Anyway, one queen's finished - one more to go.
Do you have a black light? It might reveal even more interesting hidden details.
I'm thinking X-rays. 
Both queens are done. Good as new. I wish I had this kind of success with ear wax.
Regarding the above discussion on Central Park and chess wagering: Always interesting how far online discussions morph into topics that an OP could never have imagined when the OP started the thread.
Ugh. Have you dealt with Mandeep before? You should not have to go through this when you receive merchandise from a vendor that advertises itself as selling premium products (and charges accordingly). I hope for your sake (and for mine) that this is a one-off.
First time with Mandeep. I'll be writing to him in a day or so. You ordered the padauk? We'll keep each other posted.
I need to learn to be more like you . . . not so anxious when something like this happens. It will almost certainly get resolved. I had a bit of a bad taste because the prices went up as I was emailing Mandeep about a misunderstanding on the price and I felt he should have charged me less. But that was "on me." I made the decision to purchase his negotiated price for a combination set and board. All will be well if the they "wow" me. By the way, I love that drawing. It gives me a sense of being present in that moment, watching her.
All problems aside this is a beautiful set. The details are very refined. I own the Sher-E-Punjab set from Chessbazaar and it's a Toyota to Danum's Lexus.
Hi Brymr,
Thanks for the review! Nice set and very nice pictures. I'll be interested to see what Mandeep has to say about the Rook and King that are cracked.
By now, it seems to me that one should certainly expect 1 or 2 cracked pieces in each new chess set. So strange, considering the price of these sets... It's a good thing you guys are here to share your experiences, to manage our expectations, and to show how do deal with the suppliers.
Thanks!
P.S. You will be able to enjoy your beautiful pieces for a very, very long time, by which time you will have forgotten all about the 1 month delivery time, the clotted wax you needed to remove manually, and the fact that you needed to arrange two replacements pieces (which I guess could easily take another month).
@ Brynmr "All problems aside this is a beautiful set. The details are very refined. I own the Sher-E-Punjab set from Chessbazaar and it's a Toyota to Danum's Lexus." Thanks, this really lifted me back up and got me excited again about my order.
Hi Sir,
First of all I am so thankful to you for your appreciation for the quality of my chess set. I have also seen the problem in the Rook. Normally we check each and every chess piece before dispatching any order but I could not understand how my staff did this mistake. Anyway I extremely sorry for this flaw in the Rook of this chess set and I am ready to replace you the ebony Rook.
Thanks
Mandeep
Hello Mandeep, thanks for dropping by and reviewing my review. The king has a crack in the base as well as the rook which I hate because it is so beautifully patterned. It's a hairline crack and I don't know if it will grow or not. All the other pieces are fine. I can provide pictures if you like no problem. Please advise. Thanks again.
Hello Mandeep, thanks for dropping by and reviewing my review. The king has a crack in the base as well as the rook which I hate because it is so beautifully patterned. It's a hairline crack and I don't know if it will grow or not. All the other pieces are fine. I can provide pictures if you like no problem. Please advise. Thanks again.
Just to let you know, I got in touch with Mandeep , so he can make it right with you on this chess set,
as that alot to pay out along with the wait !
Hello Mandeep, thanks for dropping by and reviewing my review. The king has a crack in the base as well as the rook which I hate because it is so beautifully patterned. It's a hairline crack and I don't know if it will grow or not. All the other pieces are fine. I can provide pictures if you like no problem. Please advise. Thanks again.
Just to let you know, I got in touch with Mandeep , so he can make it right with you on this chess set, as that alot to pay out along with the wait !
Hah! I did the same thing. 
Hi,
Please don't worry we will dispatch you the ebony King along with the Rook.
Thanks and regards,
Mandeep
Hi,
Please don't worry we will dispatch you the ebony King along with the Rook.
Thanks and regards,
Mandeep
Awesome!! And no logo on the king please!
Hello Mandeep, thanks for dropping by and reviewing my review. The king has a crack in the base as well as the rook which I hate because it is so beautifully patterned. It's a hairline crack and I don't know if it will grow or not. All the other pieces are fine. I can provide pictures if you like no problem. Please advise. Thanks again.
Just to let you know, I got in touch with Mandeep , so he can make it right with you on this chess set, as that alot to pay out along with the wait !
Much appreciated!
Regarding the above discussion on Central Park and chess wagering: Always interesting how far online discussions morph into topics that an OP could never have imagined when the OP started the thread.