[HELP] CB Dubrovnik 3.0 - Photos and doubts

Hi, after looking on different sets, I finally purchased the C.B Dubrovnik 3.0 version in Boxwood and Budrose wood.

The delivery was quite fast, considering that is sent from Asia to Europe (Spain on my case), and the packaging is very adequate.

IMO, the feeling of the pieces is very great, weighted, and seems very stable when you drop it, landing well after wobbling a little bit, so is just what I expected from the bulky stands.

Now, I'm going to put some photos here, I tried to put some details, but I'm not a professional photographer.

The first thing that I noted when opened the package, is that seems that some pawns on the black side, are more clear than other pieces. I know that there are another post talking about the same, on a set with more darker knights, and people told that is related with type of wood.

It's ok for me, I'm not sure if open a request to C.B, but at least this pawn (top right), seems very different compared to the other pieces, to the point that I'm not sure if is made with another wood. I hope if some experienced eyes can help me here. I can put more pics if needed.

Now some pics about the black pieces, trying to show the grain of the wood, and the color.

Note on the next photo, the difference between the pawns, specially the second from right, and the bishop. Are they made with another wood (sheesham maybe) or is just the wood?

What do you think about the set? Did you noted the different tonalities on the black pawns? Look at the next photo.

My conclusion at the end is that is a good set for the price that it have, and a good repro of the "Fischer" Drubrovnik, maybe not the most precise on the knight carving, and other details, but I feel that is an enjoyable set to play at home and study as well. My feeling when I opened the set was very well with the exception on the tonality of the black pawns, that I consider that are so much clear than the other pieces.

Hope that you enjoy the photos if you are considering to purchased, In my case I visited recurrently other posts to decide at the end which set to purchase.

For the moment is my 2nd purchased set, and I think that this wasn't be the latest set that I'm going to buy, so maybe I need to prepare some explanations to my wife. xD

Thanks all for your help and your contributions to this section on the forums. Really appreciate it!

It's strange...in some pics they look exactly the same and in others they look lighter. Light is a tricky thing to a lens. One pawn looks a little lighter than the others but again...Your eyes are the best judge.

In terms of you question about the wood type, the following photos seem to indicate two different types of wood.

However, the color and tone of the black pieces in the other photos seem to be very similar. I guess it depends upon the lighting and angle. I think this is borderline for me. I am not sure if it would bug me enough to ask for an exchange. I once received a set from HoS where two pieces stuck out like a soar thumb. HoS was kind enough to send replacements for free.

@jtorrex to me the set looks fine, even the pawn that you are concerned of. This off-colour is quite common. I got slightly different boxwood (white) pieces too. But you can always ask the trader to swap the piece. I am sure they will do that. 

Agreed. That set looks fine (great, even) to me. Almost all my sets have or have had some slight color variation between the pieces and I'm fortunate in that it doesn't bother me. I think, in my mind, I accept and welcome natural variation due to the differences in wood, but don't tolerate variation due to poor craftsmanship or lack of attention to detail.

Hope you enjoy your new set!

First congrats for the set. One of the most iconic and full of history available to the general public.

I tend to agree with MCH818. Seems they mixed wood qualities. 

Here some pictures of my dubrovnik pawns:

Staunton Castle: Dub 1950

Boxwood and Padauk (blood rosewood)

Chess Bazaar: Dub 3.0 (Fischer) same as yours

Boxwood and Sheesham (Rosewood)

All my padauk sets are red under direct light and have a darker tone with indirect light.

If you can send more pawns pictures under different light conditions, it will be easier to diagnose.

Good luck if you decide to ask for replacements! They never solve quality issues in the first try. But if you are resilient enough, they will eventually replace them (That happened to me).

Gracias tío, un saludo y suerte con el proveedor!

Some color variation is to be expected in budrose pieces, your pieces look fine. In Sheesham, differences in structure and color can be much worse.

Yes, they are affected a lot by the type of light, but I think that is beautyful, sometimes is more red, sometimes is more brown. And exactly, reviewing again all the pieces, the major ¨problem¨, affects only one pawn, which is more lighter than the others on one side.

Thanks for your comment @MCH818, yes, on my case not sure to ask for a replacement, I'm quite happy with the set, and as I commented before, the discoloration affects more intensively only one pawn. Maybe I will write anyway to C.B to ask if it's possible to purchase a pair of pawns, but not sure for the moment, I'm a little bit concerned for the logistics, contamination, etc, just for 2 pawns.

Hi @aln276, yes, the set is awesome for me, it covers a lot what I expected from it. The point is that being my first wood set, and being myself sometimes to much thorough, it was a doubt that I need to ask here, because I know that are people with the same set, and also people with a lot of experience buying these equipment.

Hola @ferpesan,

Thanks for your pictures, comparing my color to your sheesham, it's true that yours appear to be more brown than mine.

Here is another picture of the "rare" pawn:

I'm going to comment it to C.B, but not sure yet if I'm going to reclaim some replacement, at the end, the set is fine, just have some color variation on minor pieces, but I think that I'm ok with it.

Hi @chessmaster_diamond, thanks for your comment, is better to know it from people with more experience on that. As I commented, is my first wood set, so I was a little bit worried about it, because I didn't know if it was critical or not, but now I'm more "calmed" thinking on having a "normal" set.

The wood looks fine to me. I mean, I do see the slight color variation you're referring to when you're pointing it out and 2 pieces are side-by-side. It's definitely not a 99-100% match. Maybe 95% match? In that last photo you posted (below) with the group shot of the black pieces, I honestly don't see anything wrong with the pieces as a set. 

But now that it's in your head, letting it go will be difficult. It doesn't cost anything to contact CB and see what they say. Just for kicks, let's hear their responses. Good luck! 

Hi @lotsoblots,

About the carving on the pieces, and quality seems all well, I'm pretty happy with it, in fact, I expected a more "poor" feeling, but it's great.

Regarding the tones, I was concerned a little bit more when opened the package, because due the light, seemed that pawns was completely different from the major pieces.

Anyway, as I said, I'm gonna ping just C.B to ask some questions, but I'm doubting for asking replacements as seems that this is completely normal. 

Thanks for your time!

Hi @Powderdigit, thanks for answering my thread.

Yes, seems that is completely normal, but as I explained, this is my first wood set, so I was doubting initially because I wasn't sure if these was normal or not.

For the moment it's gonna to stay here , maybe I write to C.B, but not sure at all to require replacements, as I explained before, I think that is not worth it only for 2/3 pawns with a lighter tonality.

Hi @Pawnerai,

Seems that is due to the wood, I observed that it varies a lot depending on the angle and the light that is receiving, the tonalities changes in a wide range. Is beautiful, or at least to me, I never seen this properties on wood material.

On some photos, trying to put more detail on specific areas, the variation is more prominent, but if you put it all together, is not a detail that you can notice easily.

Agree with you, as I'm sometimes a little bit paranoid with details like these, and now is on my head, I'm gonna write C.B, at least to see  their answers.

Anyway, all was perfect for me related to the purchase, nothing to reclaim out of this, the only point,  I'm giving importance to minor details, and I'm very noob on buying these kind of material.

Thanks for your answer, and best regards.

Giving in time redwood pieces going to be dark and you will not see that variation in color. That is what I don't like about redwood/bloodwood pieces. I will be avoiding them in future purchasing. CB is slow concerning replacements from my experience.

Just leave it in the sun , will soon turn darker !  

Really? If this is going to happen is very well for me! In my case I don't need a replacement at all, the pieces are well crafted without issues, but I'm curious about the opinion of C.B. The point is color tones only, and it only affects 2 3 pawns. Thanks for your reply @ogouriev