The FIDE chess set. Not everyone's cuppa ...

It looks great, which is understandable when you consider that the set was designed to fit a 50mm (2") chess board. Here's the dimension table for the FIDE set. Interestingly, the king and pawn diameters are very close to dimensions recommended by the scaling formula:

(S) x .765 = (Kd) x .765 = (Pd)

or

[50 x .765 = 38.25 x .765 = 29.26]

King Diameter = 38.25 mm

Pawn Diameter = 29.26 mm

Good posts, Lou.  The glass eyes on the MI knights are a hoot.  The blocks gave me a good laugh too.  Thanks!

Best,
Bob

The Mechanics Institute set is sold exclusively through the House of Staunton and their affiliates. My set is in rosewood, which I got a couple of years back on sale for $187.

Thanks, BurnAmos, I've just placed an order for this set from Regency. I've always liked the size and design of this set, but didn't want to buy it from Chess Bazaar. Never again!

• WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHESSBAZAAR

Had a bad experience. Received a set that was rife with problems with 8 or 9 pieces. Tried on 5 occasions to contact them via email with narry a word in response. [P.S. - The problems were so extensive, and the overall quality was so poor, I was seeking for a full refund, as per their "100% Refund" guarantee (fat chance!).] Got AMEX invovled, after about 6 weeks AMEX dismissed the charge. Apparently, they wouldn't respond to them either.

I've done business with a lot of different chess vendors over the years, and I've had my share of problems, all of which were resolved quickly and professionally, with the exception of CB. I can't do business with people who won't communicate.

This was my experience. You mileage may vary. Personally, it's not worth the hassle. If I can't get a set somewhere else, then I don't need it.

Chessbazaar shipped me broken soviet pieces,but they gave me new set.There quality is not the best but there are only store witch sells Botvinik-Flohr pieces

I'm glad things worked out for you. They may make good on 99 out of 100 orders, and perhaps mine was the 1 in a 100 that wasn't worth the effort, but from others' stories here on the forum I think the number might be a bit higher than 1%. Personally I'd rather do business with a company that stands behind their products (again, my experience only). So, like Santa Claus, I've scrathed them off my list. They may make a boat load of money, but they won't get any of mine.

Personally my favorite is Noj from Slovenia,there sets are expensive but at least I know that I am getting quality product,Does anyone have this chess set,if you do please post some pictures http://www.broncochess.com/

The Noj products are top shelf! I only wish I could afford them. Not familiar with Bronco Chess. Are they a new company?

I never heard of Bronco chess sets until now.  Visiting their website, I see they are made in the city where I live, namely Denver, Colorado.

They must be a new startup, and like many startups they may fail.  Of course, they found an angle, the popular "environmentally conscious" one, which means it may be a big seller among all the gullible greenies from here to the west coast.  Perhaps they will sell a few to Denver Bronco fans because of the name.  Collectors?  Fuggedaboutit!

Frankly, from the looks of them I don't think they are worth $200 let alone $500.  Wait for the going out of business $49.95 closeout.  I know that's cynical, but the popular green nonsense rubs me the wrong way.  It's just a reason to charge an outrageous amount for lesser quality and have the true believers crow how they are saving the planet.  Truth is, it's just an excuse for an austerity program.

If they really want their products all natural, they should be true to their Bronco name and construct the sets from road apples (horse dung for you foreigners).  At least that would be unique.  Here's another bizarre, surreal and in my opinion perverse option: a taxidermied mice chess set.  Except for the formaldehyde, that's all natural if not entirely "environmentally conscious," at least to fringe groups like PETA.

I think I'll live with what I have.

Arlindo, My set is from ChessBazaar. I forget what I paid for it. They're selling now for $108.

Pull the trigger Chuck, I have and I love this set

Great looking set Ron. I have this set in my collection too!

You can purchase an extra set of queens (or any other pieces) by using the contact email on the FIDE site.

Still waiting for Chessbazaar to copy this set with the caveman knight.

Despite FIDE's new knight being unimpressive when seen from the side, I can learn to love it by staring at the piece either from the front or the back if I can help it.

Have the people who commented here played with their replica 2013 FIDE pieces yet?

[EDIT]

Figured to share my opinion from another post:

King is 95 mm tall and weighs 56 g.