Drueke 5" King set #38 w/box :) !!

You should have presented a short bio of Sir Alan Fersht.  I didn't know about the man or his accomplishments, and I imagine most chess players don't.  Here is the entry on him at Wikipedia.

Yes a GREAT Bio that. One wonders how he even had time for chess. 

In general, I agree with the 0.78% rule for matching, however things can get tricky fast.
When I first got my 6" set from ChessBaron about a decade ago, it had a 2" base.  I bought a nice 2.5" board for it(0.78%).  Then years later I got 2 vinyl boards sized 2.75" and 3".
After trying it back, and forth many times(my 6" set), over days.  I realized the best board was easily the 3".  The base of the king plays a HUGE part in pairing the square size.  But some sets vary.  Height, and factors like knight girth,(and the girths, and tapers of other pieces) can really make a larger set feel crowded, even though the king's base may be perfectly sized.
It had turned out that the height and width of my knight(as shown in pics) on my 6" set, mixed with the height of the entire set, made the set feel 'properly spaced' on a MUCH larger board, than the 2" king's base suggested.(the set fit perfect on a 3" board)
 The first pic above shows the 6" set(that needs a 3" board) and a 4.4" set that is so girthy it requires a 2.75" board.  However the bases of both sets are almost exactly the same width.
 IN this 2nd pic above, a 3rd set has been added.  This 3rd set works like a charm on a 2.5 " board.  But notice, the ball on the pawns gets larger as the sets require smaller squares(also notice their base tapers). The 6" set's rook has the smallest diameters(but is much taller).  The bishop's tops also get fatter just like the pawns did.
 This pic really shows what makes the 6" set require so much space(a 3" board really is ridiculously large).  Look at the knight on the rights girth/width.  He looks like a sheet of plywood.  This mixed with his height and the height of the whole set fully trump the .078% rule.  
It works this way for any set(I've learned).  You really have to take into account all parameters. But, the best judge is just you, you need to see the set on atleast 2 boards, and make the call based on 'feel'.
 

Point well taken, BigKingBud.  By the way, the center knight in the last photo is quite attractive and well proportioned.  What is the specific name of the Staunton to which it belongs, and where did you buy it?

Best,
Bob

Those are Chess Bazaar.  I got them for less than 200$ during a sale they were having.  Ebony.  
 http://www.chessbazaar.com/reproduced-1849-staunton-chess-set-version-2-0-in-ebony-box-wood-4-4-king.html

That reminds me of a point that I wanted to make earlier also.  NEVER trust Chess Bazaar's recommended square sizes.  I don't know how they do things in India, but their recommendations are almost ALWAYS too small.  Sometimes WAY TOO small.
Like I said guys, buy a vinyl board in every single size(sometimes you can get em for around 1$ a piece during sales).  And ALWAYS 'try' your chess set on a few different sizes for days(even weeks), before you dump good money on the board for said chess set. 

I would never have guessed Chess Bazaar, BigKingBud, and at that price.  Apparently you bypass the middleman when you go to the source.

Excellent recommendation regarding vinyl boards running interference for a future, much more expensive purchase.

Yes, I think they were like 195$ And that included shipping.  I have NO IDEA how they do it.  House of Stauntons's version of the 1849 costs 4000$(with 30$ shipping ha)

 http://www.houseofstaunton.com/catalog/product/view/id/15018/s/the-original-1849-staunton-series-luxury-chess-pieces-4-4-king-with-natural-boxwood/

Even though I'm sure the HOS set is much nicer, cooler and even more accurate(you can compare yourself, mainly the knights)...  4000$? vs 200$  IDK how HOS stays in business these days.
 
 

I like the Chess Bazaar knight better.  HOS is wearing out their welcome with their prices despite the quality.  At that price, I'd go with a Jaques.

After Frank Cammarata sold the company Shawn went for the guady and baroque, and now he goes back to what I call second-mortgage tradtional.

You have to wonder about a company who sells sets with these knights. 

First up is the I-caught-my-hoof-in-the-light-socket knight.

Second we have the My-hair's-up-in-curlers-so-I-can't-play-tonight knight.

And lastly we have the I'm-not-a-serpent-but-I-play-one-on-the-chess-board knight.

I wonder who buys these.  No one who plays chess, that's for sure.

Actually, I think most people who buy the pricier(over 200$) chess sets aren't very good at chess.  You'll notice at most clubs and tournaments, that the best players are always using these 1-5$ plastic sets.

So yeah, if I'm not mistaken, lower level players tend to want more "gaudy" sets.  IDK why(maybe becuase they don't understand how distracting such a set is when playing a game), but that is just what sells.  Most of HOS's newest sets(like the ones in your post), they just look like they came straight from Chess Bazaar.

Yes, some -- perhaps most -- aren't even weighted, and this inexpensive set is almost invariably used for blitz.

Knowing the current management of HOS, you may be correct about their sets coming from Chess Bazaar or a similar supplier.

I believe chessbazaar is a company made up of a few of the main indian carvers.  They carve for HOS and other companies, and then they carve their own stuff and sell it on the side.
They actually are even starting to come up with some new chess stuff I've never seen, like these minimalist chess boards.   http://www.chessbazaar.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=60&q=Minimalist

They keep on(with such innovation and good prices), and they are definitely gonna run the american companies out of business.  I mean what's new? American companies do not even make the chess stuff they sell to start with, NONE OF IT.
 

Nice acquisition Ronbo, thanks for sharing

Thanks Mike ! I must say your collection of Soviet Era sets has re-energized me in that direction!! Cheers -R

You're welcome Ron, welcome to the club! 

More pics, plz? I like the dark color very much. By the way, about what year was that 5" set made? Congrats

I h I have this set with matching board. $1000. Check out my Facebook marketplace site in Portage Michigan