@azbobcat and @eyechess,
What do you think about the Camaratta Signature Series Cooke Luxury Chess Pieces With Natural Boxwood - 3.625" King? I'm thinking about this set, with either Genuine Ebony or Mopane (leaning towards Mopane right now).
It is not so much what *I* think but what *YOU* think. 3.625" for a King is a bit too small for me, that said this is a nice looking set, I love the various selections of wood available. I only which they would do this with all their sets. As to Ebony.... It is well known that Ebony is prone to cracking. In fact in some of their more expensive sets HOS offers a "No Crack Warranty", so for this reason I rule out the Ebony set. One thing in favor of Ebony is it takes a really nice shine or so I have been told. As to the other woods... see if you can find someone knowledgeable in woods to help narrow your choice. Ideally you want a wood that will not crack under normal conditions. Mopane is considered a NEAR BLACK wood, and I think I read that it is going to become scare in the not too distant future. Will it crack like Ebony? I have no idea, but it would be on my short list as well. Another one that would be on that list would be the Bocote and Natural Boxwood as well as the Lignum Vitae and Natural Boxwood set. If I remember correctly it is one of the densest and heaviest woods in the world and is not prone to rotting, and can take a high polish . Those would be my 3 picks and then I'd do my research
@azbobcat and @eyechess,
What do you think about the Camaratta Signature Series Cooke Luxury Chess Pieces With Natural Boxwood - 3.625" King? I'm thinking about this set, with either Genuine Ebony or Mopane (leaning towards Mopane right now).