Just about the time I thought it was safe to get back in the water....  We spent some time arguing the merits / demerits of the HOS Zagreb '59. I used some great Dubrovnik / Zagreb -like sets when I was stationed in West Germany in the early 1970's, some were so great you hated to part with them, others were a slight bit better than some of the cheapest plastics sets we use today.  I've never used the HOS Zagreb '59 series set. Whatever I use today it needs to be heavily weighted and stable.  Part of the reason I love -- dare I say it -- HOS PLASTIC Marshall set. Cheap when compared to a wood set yet capable of with standing a beating. The NOJ Dubrovnik set is nice, BUT... expensive especially since the prices are quoted in EUROS, and only comes with 2 queens though for a little more you can get 4. The other minor quibble is it is not technically regulation size coming in a a hair over 3.5 inches.  For a little more $$ you can get the NOJ Dubrovnik II with a 4 inch king. Today I open my junk mail and found this notice from HOS for a genuine Dubrovnik set BUT a standard 3.75 inch king:

https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-dubrovnik-series-chess-pieces-3-75-king.html?utm_source=HOS&utm_campaign=d3dde0075e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_04_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95811ea3d7-d3dde0075e-237233217&mc_cid=d3dde0075e&mc_eid=e7a1b6548c

Are they going to be as good as NOJ sets?? I seriously think not!!  Do I expect they will be better than many of the Dubrovnik / Zagreb -like sets available in wild today?? Far and away!! IF we use the HOS Zagreb '59 as a "Standard" then the NOJ Dubrovnik  is the really High End, it is also in Europe, no outlets, etc.. If you want a "standard" size" set you need to buy the Dubrovnik II w/4.0" inch King.  IF we assume that HOS has produced a faithful reproduction of a Dubrovnik set, then this set cuts the baby in half: Full regulation size 3.75" king which is taller that the Original Dubrovnik 1950 set of 3.5", the NOJ Dubrovnik II also 3.5" king, and smaller than the NOJ Dubrovnik II w/4.0", its has two additional in favor of it: You can get it starting at $200, and the availability should not be an issue.  Now the BIG question is: How will it stack up to the "Standard" HOS Zagreb '59?  Given that I've have never handled one I do not know. I do remember using some dream sets in Germany in the 1970's (Long before HOS or any of today's "Chess Boutiques" existed), and many of those were like HOS "Zagreb '59" sets ie they used the Dubrovnik  as a starting point and created a more refined set, properly weighted, and eye appealing. In those days "historical accuracy" was not as big a thing as it is today. We have been debating the issue of today's "Reproductions" of Jaques' Original Staunton set with those produced by HOS, OS, CB, et al, while completely forgetting that even within Jaques' itself there never was a single design, rather that the design itself evolved over time. Hence you have the Anderson Design, the Marshall set, etc. etc., that is "famous" only because because there were the particular sets that were associated with some of the games most notable Master's. It is unfair to compare some of the BEAUTIFUL sets being produced today by companies such as HOS, OS, CB, et al companies that enforce Quality Control, to ensure that not only is it BEAUTIFUL, but designed to its intended purpose: a game of chess that can get to be a bit -- shall we say -- physical at times. Compared to some of today's sets some of Jaques' early sets are rather uninspiring. One of the major things I LIKE -- LOVE -- about the Eastern Staunton  ie the  "Dubrovnik" and it descendants of which there are many  is the simple design. They can take a beating!!! The problem is there are way too many poor reproductions out there these include improper weighting, if weighted at all, bases too narrow, proportions out of whack, etc, etc, etc. Comparing the the Historic Dubrovnik 1950 set with say the "Zagreb '59 (and its copies) is like trying to compare Jaques Historic 1849 Staunton  set to any of today's beautifully carved Staunton sets, sets that have under gone a lot of Quality control, or even to some of the truly futuristic sets such as the "Empire Series", which in its own right is quite beautiful.  What is true is that both the "Dubrovnik" sets and its many reproductions including the NOJ Dubrovnik II, the NOJ, Dubrovnik II w/4.0", many of its 1970's  copies and now HOS, and whoever many or may NOT be creating "reproductions" of this set and comparing them to HOS "Zagreb '59", and its copies is that both are Eastern Staunton style sets, and there are many, many Eastern Style sets produced in the 1970's and probably 1980's that probably -- actually did -- barrow design features both from classical Western Staunton pieces, as well from Eastern Soviet style sets. These sets were carefully weighted, had a more refined look,  especially in the knights, and there was a balanced "feel" about the set. Like I said this is one set that once you have actually handled one, you *know* what a great set should feel like. Until the most recent discussion on the HOS Zagreb '59 here, I have heard very little about the set or know anyone who has ever owned one, few unbiased reviews. IF anyone actually buys this HOS "Dubrovnik" set (for practical purposes we'll call it the HOS Dubrovnik III ie a variant of the Dubrovnik 1950 set which is being promoted as exact reproduction of the 1950 set just like the NOJ Dubrovnik II  w/4.0" king the chief difference is the size of the king 3.75" --vs -- 3.5" or 3.75" -- vs -- 4.0" ) but who either has or has used the Zagreb '59, {or any of its clones [is now the time to say "Send in the Clones"?. Yeah I know bad pun. ] )I'd like to hear how both sets compare, they also are priced very similarly. For me it is all about stability , about "the feel". Historical accuracy aside, it come down to the "feel".  If one set is significantly top heavy that does me no good, if they are approximately the same, then it comes down splitting hairs: ie one is NOT an EXACT reproduction of the ORIGINAL Dubrovnik 1950 set. I'm Mr. Pragmatic: I am quite happy with my NEAR reproduction "Collector's Series w/4.0 king", so if it comes down that both sets feel exactly or almost the same, then you jump on the set you can at an excellent price.

Who said we'd never get back on track?!?

@azbobcat: You seem to believe that the HoS Dubrovnik set is new. It's actually been out since several years. It's pretty good, and by far my favorite out of the three HoS sets I own (Reykjavik II, Zagreb and Dubrovnik), but I slightly prefer the ChessBazaar Dubrovnik set. Of course, neither of them comes close to the Noj Dubrovniks. By the way, I posted some photos and measurements comparing the three sets in this thread a couple of days ago:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/which-dubrovnik-set-do-you-like-better-chessbazaar-or-house-of-staunton?page=8

However, it deserves to be said that most people in that thread don't seem to share my preference of the CB over the HoS Dubrovnik. In your case, since you stated your preference for heavy pieces, there's a good chance that you'll like the HoS set, which is ultra heavy (by Dubrovnik standards).

By the way, I don't understand why the Zagreb and Dubrovnik are discussed together in this thread. Other than the opposite colored bishop finials and being named after Croatian cities, I don't see what they have in common.

@azbobcat: You seem to believe that the HoS Dubrovnik set is new. It's actually been out since several years. It's pretty good, and by far my favorite out of the three HoS sets I own (Reykjavik II, Zagreb and Dubrovnik), but I slightly prefer the ChessBazaar Dubrovnik set. Of course, neither of them comes close to the Noj Dubrovniks. By the way, I posted some photos and measurements comparing the three sets in this thread a couple of days ago:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/which-dubrovnik-set-do-you-like-better-chessbazaar-or-house-of-staunton?page=8

However, it deserves to be said that most people in that thread don't seem to share my preference of the CB over the HoS Dubrovnik. In your case, since you stated your preference for heavy pieces, there's a good chance that you'll like the HoS set, which is ultra heavy (by Dubrovnik standards).

By the way, I don't understand why the Zagreb and Dubrovnik are discussed together in this thread. Other than the opposite colored bishop finials and being named after Croatian cities, I don't see what they have in common.

This discussion has devolved completely. There are 2 insightful comments out of 10 and the rest is rubbish postings by sm and mudslinging at said member. Can we have this locked please? I used to come here for fun ffs.

From my perspective it's not all bad. I've learned a ton of interesting stuff here. Thank you! I picked what I needed and left the rest.

My knowledge of chess pieces; their manufacturers, their styles, their strengths, weaknesses and historical relevance, etc. has greatly increased and I keep this Post, along with a couple of others, as a 'follow'.

Me? I don't mind the diversions. The entire Post is a great trip.

There are dozens of professional people who are very skillful at restoring chess sets. www.ivoryrepair.com is very good at repairing chess sets. Ron Fromkin who is based in Florida can restore chess sets of all types at very low price.

 Since it seems the annoyance is cleared up I took the privileged of unlocking this thread since it has so many interesting pictures. I hope the admin who locked this thread agrees with me, no need to keep it locked up anymore.