Help me choose which set to consider purchasing.

Other than a very inexpensive “many games in one box” set of chess pieces, I’ve never owned a good set. I’ve made my own board and now I want to buy something, but what to buy? Which company to buy from? What size to get? What weight? So many questions. The squares are approximately 2.21” (5621mm) so what size should i be looking at? The playing surface is sugar maple and purple heart, so what color is recommended? I can’t justify spending a ton money but i can afford a better than average set. Any advice?

I can recommend Staunton Castle as I find them producing quality sets on par with the best up there and their prices are reasonable even cheaper for some similar sets when I was comparing them. Their after sales support is also excellent, do note they're a small business so they're not always fast with their communication / actions. So I'd say go browse through their wesbsite and see what they are offering and compare that to other retailers. If they are about the same price then I definitely go for the SC one.

As for what set that's hard to say without knowing your preference and what kind of styles you like, just like what mister MC said.

But what ever you decide, do it sooner then later as it seems every retailers are upping their prices. I just heard from mister RichardG that SC is raising their prices but offering 20% discount at the moment. I think they do that for the transition to their new prices, once the discount offering is over, the new prices stay.

Hi Wits,

With so many choices, this decision will have you at your ‘wits-end’ for sure. 😊

Re: suppliers, I have purchased three sets from Chess Bazaar and can recommend them. Full transparency - my most recent purchase - the Shera Series in rosewood had issues with the lacquered finish but the Chess Bazaar team have been fully understanding, responsive, apologetic and are replacing the pieces. All fine and I remain a happy customer of theirs. The first two sets: 2016 Bridle Knight Series and GM Blitz Edition - both in ebony and boxwood - I love. Indeed, I reckon that GM Blitz edition with a reasonably ‘classic’ look and its one-piece knight would look fantastic on your beautiful board - which I think I have seen in another thread.

Re: size, check out Lou Balch’s excellent thread that I have referenced below. This is an excellent thread.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/a-system-for-sizing-chess-pieces-and-boards-long

Re: colour - I think black and boxwood pieces would be a wonderful contrast for your board - purely personal taste to be sure - but I like the idea of pieces that contrast to the colour of the squares.

Anyway - Enjoy your search and I am sure whatever you eventually choose will be fantastic. 👍

OK, I'll be the contrarian and suggest you stick with a domestic vendor, irrespective of the criteria you develop.  Your "international" flag narrows it down to a specific planet but you'll have to take it from there...

Okay I'll be the devil's advocate then. If I have to choose only one set for the rest of my life, it would be a Dubrovnik set. Why would some people ask, well I'll tell you why. It's the jack of all trades! Yes yes, now I wat 1 line to let the it sink in.

*LINE*

The 1950 knight version is the most handsome horsie. 

*Another LINE just to be sure*

It's a workhorse meaning it's robust, no fragile thingies sticking out. It's appropriate from playing in a bar to chess Olympiad.  Although it gives powerful vibes, yet it is elegant so put it on a classy board and you'll have a display set.

There you go. Jury dismissed. 

 

The collective suggestions are greatly appreciated. I’ll likely be in $200-300 range as I’m not a collector, now if i were buying another guitar.... I prefer simple over elegant, single over multi-colored pieces. This will be mostly for study and occasional slow play. Weighted for sure. I tend to oscillate between natural wood and stained finishes. Thanks remembering me @Powerdigit !

(BTW- i am in the US)

Good choice mister Wits! Show us your simple Dubrovnik set in ebonized black/boxwood on your beautiful purpleheart board., when you have it. I think it will look stunning!

Huh, what?  Thanks for remembering my new board. I actually like the style/set below. I know it’s fairly low budget, but perhaps I’ll step up on another day. Does anyone have experience with TheChessStore.com? And thank you everyone for steering a first time buyer down the road to parting with some dollars.

Or perhaps this one, just a bit larger and may fit my board a bit better. It’s not like me to be low dollar, having spent thousands on guitars and equipment but one has to reel in the spending during the current times.

I like that set!  Often at 3.5" everything looks "squatty" but these look very nice and tapered.  Good find!

Unfortunately the on-line reviews in can find on The Chess Store are very poor. 

Reviews for the sets?  The 3.5 show "5 knights".  The Dubrovnik doesn't have any reviews.  As for reviews of the company itself, I'm sure these guys will be very helpful...

haha no worries mister Wits, that's why we're here for to help first time buyers to avoid their first mistake Like you said, maybe someday you'll step up, that's the mistake first time buyers make. Don't go for the 'cheaper' set but bite the bullet and buy what you really want even though it's some few bucks more. Because when some time down the road you step up, your first set will be a waste of money that you could have put into the set you really want. I've been down that road before so I know this first hand

No need to thank us, we like to spend someone else's money

Here is a set on Etsy similar to the first one you posted from The Chess House but I like better. Although I haven’t purchased from them, Chess by India gets generally good reviews here. The odd thing is that if you go directly to their website, the price is lower but the photos do not look nearly as good of the set. If you are interested, I would check with CBI first to learn which photo is more accurate. CBI on Etsy

You don't have to keep sets you buy.  If you regret purchasing certain sets after you do more research, you can sell them and recoup 70 to 80% of your cost.  If you are in a hurry to get something, my quickest recommendation is the boxwood 3 3/4" set sold by Staunton Castle called the Executive.  This one satisfies a lot of requirements, not the least of which is price.  It could be had for around $120 and unless Mandeep raises prices after restocking, it should be in that ballpark.  This is a middle of the road Staunton design which you could sell later for $80 - $100 meaning your lost cost will be minimal.  There are hundreds of reasons not to buy this set, but if I was to recommend a set in ten words or less it would be this one.  And I think most players would be happy to have this wood set as a second to take to places after they have put mega bucks into a showpiece set. 

It is possible, if not likely, that the 4" Collector II Series sold by HoS is made by The Chess Empire. TCE sells it for $300 on their site but $275 on Etsy under a slightly different name but with the same photos! I ordered it from TCE in Ebony without staining (special request) after communicating with Rishi at TCE. He gave me the Etsy price. I could have gotten it in stained ebony or padauk for that price as well. TCE also sells an ebonized version for $250. The carving is exquisite to my taste. The set is medium weighted for its 4" size. I think it is fine on a 2.25" board, which TCE recommends, though it might be a smidge better on a 2.35" board. If you would like, I can send photos with the set on a 2.25" mousepad via message.

To echo what others have said, based on my limited experience with SC - I have purchased two sets from the company - you will get a beautifully crafted product from SC as well.

It’s amazing to receive so much feedback. Thank you. I do really like the Morphy set as well as the Conquest Series 4” Premium Staunton, but SC is quoting about one month to receive it. Seems like a long time, but maybe I’m just used to the whole amazon prime norm now. Is a month standard? 

A very high demand after Netflix's QG.  Cleared out stock all over.  Took weeks to restock.  Took over 4 weeks to get my last SC order about two months ago.  Some board makers are booked solid for product to the end of 2021.

Update: i just ordered the Conquest Series 4” Premium Staunton set from Mandeep at SC. I’ll be back to let you know how it looks with pictures in about a month or so. Again, thank you all for your expert advice and suggestions. And for helping me spend my money.  

My God whatever you do, don't get the Conquest Series 4.

 

 

 

 

 

jk