I'm Abandoning Ebony/Ebonized Chess Setss

I've seen some "Certified Ethical" ebony sets, but the vast majority is poached. And what is the point? A nicely stained maple and walnut set seems less likely to crack anyway.

Zombie, my point exactly.

If ebony is being poached, why spend a dime to support a crime?

If you want something rare, consider red sandalwood. Many think it looks nicer than ebony, and there's still some NOS stock available. But once it's gone, don't expect any new sets, as red sandalwood is on the endagered species list. It's banned from export in India, and import in the U.S. and most other countries.

300 pounds (UK) at Regency Chess.

http://www.regencychess.co.uk/sandringham-series-red-sandalwood-chess-pieces-4-inches-p-191.html

I have never owned an ebony set, for a while I have planned on getting a decent ebony set in about the 200-250$ range.  A 4" set, that fits a decent 2.375 board I got a year or 2 ago.  The board is in this color...  isn't this an ideal color for an ebony set?  What do yall think?

The one i have has some flaws, but it was worth the 40$ I got it for on auction.  Companies just don't seem to do 'those auctions' like they used to.  I did recently see a personal collection of rosewood HOS Sultans(coffer and all) go on ebay for 400$  I felt bad for the owner.

The Chess Store did those auctions a lot back about 14-16 months ago maybe longer. I got one for $16 and a another for about $22 beautiful veneered Spanish boards costing $129 ti $149 (2 1/4" and 2 3/8").  Now that was way cheaper than cost, way cheaper, and I never even saw a ding or scratch in them.  Soon after that all their listings on eBay are "buy it now"

I have to at least somewhat agree with Mr. Louie here. At least 9 of my ebony pieces have cracked. I'm still waiting to send them back to my Indian vendor to have them repaired or be replaced.

It really isn't all that worth it if people simply like the black wood for simulating rich black plastic. (Surely, a black plastic set would have been the cheaper alternative?)

NOW, having said that,

What I would love to see is a set made of Tasmanian Myrtle and Blue Mahoe. (Peach-pink and Silver-Slate-blue might be a nice combination!) haha