Hello... You are not, by any chance, the same Chap from "ChessReviews" are you?
If you are, Its lovely to see you again after a decade of radio silence. 📻 😁 Are you still doing Music?
If you're not the same Chap, please ignore me. Very nice comparison. Thank you. 👍
Hello!
I’m DT — an avid chess set collector. When I went looking to buy the newest version of the Ultimates, I realized there were zero side-by-side comparisons of all three generations. So I put this together.
If you want a full review, check out the video by Pushing Wood — I agree with everything he says.
These photos are meant to serve as reference to help you decide which version fits your taste.
Colors:
V1 (the vintage set) is a light cream.
V2 is a richer, more saturated yellow.
V3 leans toward ivory — and like any plastic, it may develop a slight patina over time.
Size & Weight:
Picture 3 shows the exact differences. V1 is the smallest, yet its king and queen are actually heavier than V3’s. V2 is the heaviest overall, and in terms of dimensions, V2 and V3 are nearly identical — with only tiny variations where V2 is slightly smaller.
Extras:
Both V2 and V3 come with extra queens, V1 does not.
I also included the height-to-base ratio, since that’s one of the key metrics FIDE and USCF use to determine whether a set is tournament-legal.
Build Notes:
V1 and V2 often have loose, rattly weights. V3 does not — just as Pushing Wood noted.
Design fidelity across all versions is excellent; aside from small differences, you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Availability:
V1 has been discontinued for years, but you can still find it on the used market.
V2 may still pop up here and there.
V3 is widely available as of November 2025.
Hope this helps someone choose the right set for them. Happy collecting!