Very nice indeed!! Welcome to Dubrovomania. You are defintely a menber!!
What's the sqaure size of your board? Pieces look good on these squares.
Which Dubrovnik Set do you like betterChessBazaar or House of Staunton?
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Is that one of Ifekali's magnetic boards?
That date stamp is throwing me off, I can't NOT stare at it...
Also: a friend bought you a Noj set? Really? If he/she has a ton of cash to spare I'll happily forward my adress...
Nice NOJ set & board. Thanks for the pics.!
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Oct 26, 2014
0
#66
I own the Noj Dubrovnik set, which looks to now be their Dubrovnik "2" design. It is my favorite Chess Set without a doubt. It appears they are making the first set design which is a little different. I also bought this set before they raised the price and paid well under $500 for it.
I also have purchased and either currently own or used to own over 18 HOS wooden sets. So, I am not an anti-HOS person by any means.
It is an objective fact that the HOS designs are not very true to the models they often claim to recreate. The Reykjavik set is a typica example. If you ever would look at pictures of the original design you woud see how far off the HOS offerings are (they had the Reykjavik and then the Reykjavik 2).
The Dubrovnik set of theirs is also not a true replica. I can tell by the pictures on this thread as well as at their site that the pieces are not proportioned well. I also think the crenelations on the Queens are too narrow. I do like the carving of the knights better on the HOS set than the CB one.
I don't like the ebonized option as the only one for the dark pieces. My Noj set is European Walnut and it is a very sturdy wood. For the much lower cost, I like the Sheesham of CB.
How are the pieces balanced on the CB set? I would consider picking one of these up for blitz play.
Of course I have a HOS Liberty Series set in Rosewood for my normal blitz. I used to talk with Frank Camaratta back in the late 90's and early 2000's when he was getting the sets made. The Liberty Series Set is a direct copy of the Pinney set from the 1930's. Frank would tell me how these sets seemed to be made of iron and would take a beating and never look worse for wear. He was certainly right about that. My LIberty Series set was one of the first 2 Frank had made in Rosewood and it still looks great after all these years of blitz and pieces falling to the floor and concrete.
Anyway, I like the CB version and am going to look to pick one up, probably as a Christmas present from my wife, which she doesn't realize yet :)
deafdrummer wrote:
I most likely would take the CB version because they have a heavier look, and the top to collars on the pieces are both thicker and protrude less from the main shaft of the pieces (less likely to chip or break off), and I like the CB queen better because it has a more interesting corona. I'm not too crazy about the knight on either set, but would clearly take the CB knight because of its more rounded bottom of the carved part just above the base. I just don't understand why they made the smaller set in 3.6" instead of at least 3.75", which rules it out of tournaments.
Sets with 3.6" Kings are quite acceptiple in US tournaments If both players agree to use the set.
3.6" ought to be totally compliant, so if black said we use a 3.6" set, it gets used (unless otherwise non-standard).
I guess the lack of a king's cross makes the dubrov's non-standard?
Earlier I posted some impressions of my HoS Dubrovnik set, but it wasn't until recently, when a friend acquired the 3.6" CB set, that I was able to compare the two in hand, so to speak.
At 3.75", the HoS king is slightly taller (and with a 1.75" diameter, slightly wider as well). The HoS queen is actually shorter, which more closely resembles the proportions of the original, if the repro set from Noj is any indication. The HoS bishop is noticeably taller and the knights and pawns are about the same size, althouth the CB pawn looks a bit stouter. All the HoS pieces seem to have wider bases. But it's with the rooks where is difference is most noticeable, as the HoS rooks are much bigger (check out the pictures on the first page for a comparison).
The HoS set has a better finish, and is almost 15 oz. heavier! Overall, I prefer the look and feel of the HoS set; and, because of the wider bases, the HoS pieces take up more space. I would say their play more closely resembles the CB 4" Dubrovnik at $143. Since I got my HoS set on eBay for $150 brand new, I find the HoS Dubrovnik to be a highly competitive option. I see where HoS has just released a true ebony version for $400. Frankly, I can't see playing double the list price for ebony. For that kind of money I'd much prefer a rich looking blood rosewood, but in the $200 list range I'd prefer sheesham or rosewood. I own one true ebony set (an HoS Nottingham), and have no desire to buy another one. I'd rather spend the difference on a storage box, a new chess board, or put it toward another chess set.
HOS does make a very nice looking Dubrovnik set & so does Chess Bazaar. Its all personal prefference. HOS sets are usually made by Amistar Ivory Works. They make the Jaques set as well. CB sets are made by who knows what company but, they are well made sets.
Dec 21, 2014
0
#71
Has anyone seen the pictures of the new 4" Dubrovnik set goodnightmike posted that was made to his specs with wider bases and a taller rook with 5 parapets? This set is stunning.
I would say with this new set from CB they have a big winner. Not taking anything away from the HOS set which is finely made.
The new 4" CB Dubrovnik looks like a very fine set. I haven't seen one yet to compare it to the HoS. BTW, the HoS set got the 5-parapet design (and other things) right the first time.
I saw the pic Mike some time ago. This is how I see it... CB obviously heard the many threads about the 6 roof top rook and my guess is that the CB newer sets will all be 5 tops as time goes along however, the knight is imho not even close and I still have trouble understanding why folks just don't save a bit more funds and buy the Noj. Now, the 6 top CB's no one is gonna want any longer, again jmo, now that the correction has been done to a 5 top rook which they should have done in the first place. What about those folks that purchased the 6 tops... wonder how they feel about it... If I had bought a CB 6 top now that the 5 top is obviously available, I know I personally I would be no longer happy with it. No flame intended, just is what it is...
Still happy with the CB original version myself..! 5 vs 6 parapets is no big deal to me.
Hey 9... I just thought of something... just maybe CB is willing to exchange the old rooks for the new ones... maybe for a minor cost, but it's something that some may wanna check into if they would prefer their set to have 5 parapets after being a loyal customer by originally purchasing the CB older set and giving CB so much praise and worthy advertisement... Give em a call I say :)
Dec 21, 2014
0
#76
The set googdnightmike had made was a special set to his specs. It was 4" & Crimson. I Like it. I feel the NOJ set is overpriced but that is my opinion. Here is a picture of the original 1950 set which I am told very few pieces survived.
Aslo only NOJ's most ezpensive set is most like the original knights. Their other sets are way different.
That is indeed a fine looking set ! Are the NOJ knights as nice as these ?
ROBB_CHESS wrote:
Hey 9... I just thought of something... just maybe CB is willing to exchange the old rooks for the new ones... maybe for a minor cost, but it's something that some may wanna check into if they would prefer their set to have 5 parapets after being a loyal customer by originally purchasing the CB older set and giving CB so much praise and worthy advertisement... Give em a call I say :)
Robb, lately, Its seems the more you say, the more ridiculous your comments become.
Why's that Mike... Haven't you ever returned a piece... I have no affiliations though of course... Your the one that "obviously" wanted the 5 top... Why can't others expect the same... pretty obvious that my comments aren't ridiculous what so ever... just the truth man... it is what it is...
That is true polar chess, HoS revived the market for quality chess sets in North America, and we are all better off for it...