Which company makes the best chess sets?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I look at each set individually. If I were going to buy one set, I would look at some of the places that make the better sets, and more of them. House of Staunton, Official Staunton, and Noj would be the first places I would look. Empire Chess also makes very fine sets.

As I’m typing this I realize the best is not necessarily perfect. With that in mind Chess Bazaar has had a good number of sets that I have bought.

So there you see I am answering the question without giving a single answer.

I know that the Frank Camaratta designed sets are the best so I would go to House of Staunton or his site for those.

To be fair that was the worst picture out of what was posted on Amazon in my opinion. For $270 delivered free in 2 working days,
 I do not think that is a bad set for the money. Looks like it is priced fairly to me, in my opinion. Here is a much better picture from all the pictures that they have on that set.

I didn’t say that every set Frank put his name on was one I would buy. If you look at the sets he created like the HoS Craftsman series or like some of the others, you will see they are the best.

Once again it would be best (all puns intended) to not only look at some photos but to actually look directly at and handle the pieces.

Did not see that set on the HOS website under any name of Tal. But the first picture you posted was from Amazon as it is exactly the same. Also, the pictures Amazon gets are from the HOS anyway. And the $270 is it worth it.........the question is up to the individual and the style of the set they like.

For me if I may add my opinion. The best is made by NOJ of course. But Mandeep Saggu makes the best sets for the money hands down at this moment. Again my opinion but he and his dad carved for the best retail companies in the world at one time. If he could source maple and walnut his Dubrovnik set would turn heads. I asked him and he can't source the wood he told me. As it is he makes a great Dubrovnik set for the price.

OMG! Thank you Tundra....I totally agree,word for word. I actually have both styles of the Tal pieces....One from EraRetro and the Noj version....Both very nice,but Noj gets the Blue Ribbon.

My two sets from Mandeep,bought earlier in the year, were absolutely eye opening in quality and very a nice price,for what he gives you and I only have one experience with HOS....My most recent actually and to be honest,I was very pleased with all aspects of dealing with them.From ordering it at a nice discount,with the Layaway Plan(Kinda' surprised me how I was able to get such a discount and still buy over time)to communications and the ultimate perfection of the set/fancy leatherette certificate cover and a nice metal description plate...plus extra felts....very nice touch.

Just my two cents.

To arrive at your verdict you must be unaware of how 'Tal chessmen' is used. It does not only mean the one set in the famous photo but the development the design took from around 1940 onwards. If you look at Chuck Grau's opening post of this thread https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/from-tallinn-to-tbilisi-the-evolution-of-the-tal-chess-pieces

you will see the Camaratta Tal set is a reproduction of a Georgian 'Tal' set, dated 1959 by the author.

Forgive me for not reading the sales pitch. So, obviously, the sales pitch is not correct. Did you take a look at the other thread? Do you agree that the Camaratta reproduction is very accurate? Won't you just say ' oh I got that wrong''? But you will want to be the bull in the room, so be it.

The toxicity continues. Wow. Can't we just be civil to one another? I love strong opinions but there's no need to be rude. I'm oudda here.

The key to understanding @DesperateKingWalk is to not take offense at his perceived aggression. He states his opinions very strongly (perhaps too strongly) and we have had our differences in the past. But no-one can say he doesn't love our mutual hobby of collecting chess sets!

He is the lovable junkyard dog of the chess forum lol

Oh, the desperatekingswalk guy will now convert to agreeing that Noj makes the best chess sets, all of them.

I never said Noj was the best. I just pointed out that now you would believe so. Quit being so serious. Please beat me down. Well, at least try to. Of course you will fail in such an attempt.

I am half Italian, by the way

Dude, I own 6 Noj sets. Of course you cannot buy one because you are not allowed.

Kyobir Chess Sets, Inc.

We're currently producing our very first chessboard

I strongly suggest you take a step back and take a breath.

Yes, I did say the Noj sets were and still are perfect. That does not mean they are the best.

If I had to decide on a perfect set it would Frank Camaratta’s Craftsman Series set in Blood Rosewood.

What makes the best set?

1. The quality of the pieces are very high in both design and manufacture.

2. The price is reasonable and not too high.

3. The customer service is of a high quality.

You seem to be a pretty smart guy. You recall postings from quite awhile ago and can produce the quotes. Unfortunately you have misinterpreted or misread what has been written.

You see, “perfect”, and “best” do not mean the same thing.

Also you appear to be taking this all too seriously.

And I was not nor am not lying. I am of 50% Italian heritage.

@Eyechess You have to be careful using the symbol "%" since Desperate gets a little confused when it comes to math.

Desperate is not interested in a helpful explanation ever. As soon as he manages to misunderstand you once, you are no longer entitled to your own intentions. To correct an interpretation desperate made is sacrilegious. Yesterday he told some friendly guy who was just making conversation: "You should not doubt me".

I give you desperate's logic in a syllogism: *A: If I make a certain sense of something, then it was possible to make that sense of it. B: You tell me to make another sense of it. C: I could make a certain sense of it. Hence, what you are trying to do is bullshitting me, and you are a liar.

Eyechess just told you Noj for him is perfect but "best" for him includes a very affordable price. He also asked you to not take everything so seriously.

Maybe your next book should not be "Apology in chess forums" but just Wittgenstein, Philosophical investigations. The meaning of a word is its use.

The only one who is caught is you in your spam. Come to my side. Wittgenstein: Der Fliege den Weg aus dem Fliegenglas zeigen. To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle. I am a fly.