For all those hard to shop for Chavet chess set collectors out there.

@Eyechess The CE set is more heavily weighted than the originals. Personally I prefer the slightly lighter set but I think many buyers prefer heavier these days. Maybe a partial reason for the amount of cracks in some sets?

@lighthouse I'm actually surprised no one has bought this one. It's in reasonable condition and has a Chavet box, which most don't. But many won't be prepared to fill that crack in the knight.

@Pawnerai I like the size 5 for analysis. If I was buying one now, I would probably go for this https://www.ebay.fr/itm/143998209004?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=709-53476-19255-0&campid=5338722076&toolid=10001   

I am a fan of the Chavet too. Here is a small library size that I have been working on. It came from France in a horrible filthy state. The modern Chavet sets are quite appalling...but then I am a fan of vintage of late.

[edit] My original post was negative so I am rephrasing it. I love the set @GreyStoic. The grain on the white side is beautiful. I am not crazy about the dot/knot on the queen or the eyes on the knight.

Haha! Well that shows you how much I know! Thanks for your understanding. I thought that knot was like the knight posted by @Pawnerai recently. The eyes remind me of a glass eyed Lardy set. It is very interesting.

A clearer shot of this very small set. It is quite heavy so a nice addition to my other small Lardy.

I like it very much mr Grey! What's the size of the king? Do you happen to know the model/type?

Agreed. A size 5 (3.5"/90mm King on 2"/50mm sq Board) is a nice comfortable size. I actually play better OTB on the size 5 over size 6. Personally, I see the whole board better in my field of view. It's unfortunate that most manufacturers put less craftsmanship and detail in the smaller size 5. My modern Garbage Chavet No.5 set gets a lot of everyday use. No need to give them any special care. They go back into a loose pouch when done. 

95-100mm pieces do have the heft and more presence for display. Can't argue there. It's nice to have different sizes for different occasions.

I believe a size 5 Chavet was used for the 2000 match between Kasparov and Kramnik. You can see some pics of it on Getty images. Kramnik preferred a smaller set so they went with this. I think that set even had a wonky rook, so customers aren't singled out for flawed pieces based on who they are!

It wouldn't be a Chavet without at least 3 wonky pieces, 6 loose weights and tool marks on half the bases. It's become their trademark. Hah! 

Alright, here’s the question, then.

Does anyplace have the size 5 Chavet style for sale.  Perhaps, Chess Empire could be convinced to make this smaller version.

I give a link above to a size 5 for sale. The size 5 is a current Chavet production set, afaik, so I would buy that from them. They may be temporarily unavailable due to the pandemic, but I'm sure they will be back as long as Chavet is still in business. They stopped making size 6 of any sort a few years ago and the B210 hasn't been sold since the 90s, so I'm ok with buying a copy of that elsewhere, but I would stick with Chavet for the size 5? 

I still have 5 Chavet size 5 sets unweighted and unfelted. 2 Chavet sets size 5 weighted and felted and 1 Chavet size 6 unweighted and unfelted.

I left a Chavet set size 5 weighted and felted at a bar where I play regularly, but I think I still can recover it.

Nice stash! Did you buy these to resell?

That modern Garbage Chavet No5 on eBay.fr you linked to just sold for 170€ + shipping ($202 USD + shipping). Yikes! And I don't believe the pieces were even weighted. Just felted. Uhh... maybe I should start taking special care of my own set. Nahhh! LOL

Not really. It was by accident. I ordered 4 size 5 sets weighted and felted but received 4 size 5 sets unweighted and unfelted. The shop (Variantes) offered me a nice discount for the sets that I originally ordered. The time we would use these sets (the unweighted for blitz and the weighted for competition) our club merged with another one and the sets were not needed any longer.

Understand. See a nice size 6 on the board in the pics. I think this was the last version before they were discontinued? Nice to have some set aside in case you lose or break one. I have three of the old size 6 left, just in case

Just saw that! If the sale was a result of my posting the link then I should get commission.

Oh, man, all those sets! Nice photos, too. I'm jealous.

That said, even with all the problems I experienced in the buying process, I absolutely love my Staunton Castle Chavet set.