Review SC Commemorative Signature Series 3.75" Staunton Chessmen

Staunton Castle "Mandeep Saggu Collection" just launched not so long ago a new set "Commemorative Signature Series 3.625" Staunton Chessmen by MANDEEP SAGGU". 

Frank Camaratta designed this set, based on what he thought the Cooke set should have looked like. He called it back then "Camaratta Signature Series Cooke Luxury Chess Set - 3.625" king".
This design was used in Sinquefield Cup chess tournament in St. Louis and still is till this day albeit with slight changes here and there over the course of years.

The main characteristic of this design is of course the knight with it's spiked mane.

Who cannot love this chubby fat head horsies? I dare you say it and I'll ask admin to kick you out!

House of Staunton discontinued this original 3.625" design some time ago. From all versions with this knight HoS is selling, I like this 3.625" version proportional wise the best. When I saw SC brought out this 3.625" version, I was just stunned how identical his version look to Frank's version. Suddenly I have suspicion who Frank's supplier might be

I rendered Frank's picture in 3D, printed it out and looked at it through my IMAX Super DeLuxe 3D glasses that I supposedly had to return it after the movie but conveniently forgot, they're just the same! 

Mandeep's set comes with the usual extra queen, red box with his name on it instead the regular SC house style grey box, a certificate of authenticity with the buyer's name on it and the date of purchase and an extra pair of king's cross.

This set comes in two flavor: boxwood/ebony and distressed boxwood/ebony. It also has king's side stamps, and the king is marked with "Mandeep Saggu".

Measured specifications (boxwood first, then ebony)

King 3.67" (93.3mm) / 1.76" (44.7mm) - 86.15g/92.02g
Queen 3.03" (76.9mm) / 1.57" (39.9mm) - 78.98g/80.02g
Bishop 2.76" (70.2mm) / 1.49" (37.96mm) - 53.23g/53.18g
Knight 2.43" (61.85mm) / 1.44" (36.71mm) - 50.67g/55g
Rook 2.15" (54.78mm) / 1.48" (37.62mm) - 64g/60.03g
Pawn 1.94" (49.31mm) / 1.2" (30.48mm) - 29.44g/25.53g

Weight set: 1.6kg

note: KH is measured with felt so 3.625" sounds about right.

Impression:

This set is just gorgeous, and I cannot repeat it enough the knights are just godly! What can I say, I just like my horsies round and big, chubby rules! The set is turned/carved impeccable as I'm used to from SC, slightly on the heavy side for my taste but that's just a matter of preferences I guess.

The king's base is really wide, I find 2.25" (57mm) board suits the best. Lower than that then it's really tight.

edit: after longer look at 2.125" (55mm) board, actually I like that more. So I guess this set is suitable for 2.125" to 2.25" board.

This set is definitely a keeper and highly recommended  

Complementary pictures:

On 57mm (2.25") board

On 57mm (2.25") board

On 55mm (2.125") board

On 55mm (2.125") board

I was just looking at this set yesterday! Ah man what a great looking set, simply awesome. How is the play handling?

I haven't played with it yet, just received it a few days ago but the balance is fine because of the wide bases / design, except for the king because it's base is so huge it's really too bottom heavy for my taste. Fortunately you don't move the king around that much, that is if you can finish the game before the end game starts lol

Congrats! Would you recommend non weighted after holding them or that's going to far?

I'd say it's a perfect set. Any set with a rook that doesn't look like a midget right next to a knight is a great set, in my view.  Any set with a rook that doesn't look like it's been carved out of leftover wood is a great set, in my view.  Add a fantastic-looking knight to that and ... just wow.  Thanks for sharing the pictures and the info on the dimensions and weights.

I can play with or without weights no problem, but my preference has always been light or no weight because that's what I was used too back in the days when I was playing on competitive level. As I don't know your preference I can't tell you if it's good idea for you or not.

But if you're not sure, you can ask Mandeep to make it double weighted instead of triple weighted, I think that's a good compromise.

Cheers. It is a great set, my favorite Jaques style set is / officially was now, SC Walter Grimshaw and now it's been replaced by this set  

Very cool! Thanks so much for the advice. I'm with you on light to no weighted pieces. But I also know a lot of folks are not fans. Enjoy the set it's definitely a beautiful set.

Nice photos as always, Michael! I love this set!!! I cannot stress that enough. This is suppose to be a Cooke set with Frank’s Sinquefield knights. All of the pieces are properly scaled up from SC’s 3.5” Morphy Cooke set. I am using this set now to study a game I played here at chess.com last weekend. The proportions (height of the pieces and thickness of the stems and bases) pieces relative to each other are just wonderful. The mitre cut on the bishop is not too thick or too deep. It is just right and similar to a Cooke bishop. Also the queen is slightly shorter and more petite relative to the king like in a Cooke set. The only thing I do not prefer is the weight. I wish it was a little lighter like the CB version. Other than that, it is perfect for me.

Cheers guys! 

@MCH818 you have worded it so perfectly, I was thinking to copy and paste your remarks for my review but it wouldn't feel right lol

My knowledge of all the chess designs out there is not that extensive as I was just start to collect chess not so long ago, but I do believe that next to already established iconic sets like Jaques and other English manufacturers from that time (BCC, Whitty etc), Dubrovnik, Lardy and Chavet, this Frank Sinquefield design will also join that legendary rank.

Great looking set!

It's hard to imagine anyone not liking this set. It ticks all the boxes for me, and remains on my permanent wish list. Congrats sir!

Feel free to copy anything I say. Just leave out the swear words. Haha!

One other thing I've never understood - why aren't the tops on the pawns actually spherical? They seem to be a bit squashed looking. I see that on most Indian-made sets and I can't understand why.

The CB version is also beautiful, but with slightly differences in some pieces. The knight is skinnier with slightly higher base, the bishop mitre cut is deeper, taller queen and slightly thicker stems.