Antiqued Boxwood vs Normal Boxwood in chess pieces?
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My two larger wood sets represent both. I’d say the antique set looks aged but not old. More like new old stock than something which has been deliberately made to look used and worn. I like both equally so can’t help you out much if you’re trying to make a decision.
“Better” has no meaning here. It’s all about personal preference. You should choose that which appeals more to you. Personally when something is decorated to make it look old, it only serves to remind me that it is, in fact, not old. To me it says “poseur”. But that’s just me.
My Chavet Ref. B-212 (Kasparov v. Kramnik 2000 WCC) set is "antiqued" boxwood (see label). It really isn't as pleasing as ebonized boxwood IMHO. It tends to age unevenly on the "black" pieces. However I actually prefer it for use because it lacks any glare sometimes produced by ebonized pieces. Hope this helps 
Ronbo710 wrote:
My Chavet Ref. B-212 (Kasparov v. Kramnik 2000 WCC) set is "antiqued" boxwood (see label). It really isn't as pleasing as ebonized boxwood IMHO. It tends to age unevenly on the "black" pieces. However I actually prefer it for use because it lacks any glare sometimes produced by ebonized pieces. Hope this helps
And to allay any fears about it not being the same style as the WCC set please see time 47:22 in this video . You can see this clearly in close ups throughout the video(s) from this match ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYM2ewWPNec&t=1288s
May 27, 2018
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#6
@Ronbo710
...as i have before said, this set / and all your Chavet chess set are really beautiful, and i like a lot your chess board.
(Ah! there was a time when Frenchs, not often,decided worked a bit... they were able to made things not too badly. )
May 27, 2018
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#7
Shock_Me wrote:
“Better” has no meaning here. It’s all about personal preference. You should choose that which appeals more to you. Personally when something is decorated to make it look old, it only serves to remind me that it is, in fact, not old. To me it says “poseur”. But that’s just me.
It’s not just you
May 28, 2018
0
#8
Ronbo710 wrote:
And to allay any fears about it not being the same style as the WCC set please see time 47:22 in this video . You can see this clearly in close ups throughout the video(s) from this match ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYM2ewWPNec&t=1288s
We'll obviously have to disagree on this one. The more I look at the Getty Images of this match and the video the more I am convinced that this is the size 5 Chavet not the 4.25" (size 8?) version. In the photos with the players at the board it look like a small set. Here's another photo of a size 5 chavet set. The pawns in particular are different from the club size set which have a very wide base relative to their height and imho are identical to those in the video.
Also Kramnik has stated somewhere that he does not like playing with bigger sets/boards. I can't find the direct quote from him right now but did find this discussion on here re the Elista match https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/six-inch-king---too-big post #11.
Either way it is a fantastic club size set and possibly even rarer than the B210.
Audioq wrote:
Ronbo710 wrote:
And to allay any fears about it not being the same style as the WCC set please see time 47:22 in this video . You can see this clearly in close ups throughout the video(s) from this match ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYM2ewWPNec&t=1288s
We'll obviously have to disagree on this one. The more I look at the Getty Images of this match and the video the more I am convinced that this is the size 5 Chavet not the 4.25" (size 8?) version. In the photos with the players at the board it look like a small set. Here's another photo of a size 5 chavet set. The pawns in particular are different from the club size set which have a very wide base relative to their height and imho are identical to those in the video.Also Kramnik has stated somewhere that he does not like playing with bigger sets/boards. I can't find the direct quote from him right now but did find this discussion on here re the Elista match https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/six-inch-king---too-big post #11.
Either way it is a fantastic club size set and possibly even rarer than the B210.
Could very well be!! Either way a Rare Chavet. Love them all ...
May 28, 2018
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#10
Definitely. The club set is growing on me the more I use it. It fits snugly on a 2.25" board but I'm going to try it on a 2 3/8" if I can find one although these appear to be a bit hard to get.
May 29, 2018
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#11
From my understanding there is no structural difference between antiqued boxwood and non-antiqued boxwood. So it comes down to personal tastes. I own both types. There is also a distressed option though. Here are examples of the 3.
May 29, 2018
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#12
Scotchgambit2000 wrote:
Antiqued looks more attractive but it is created through chemical processing of wood. Natural vintage with patina is best. You can check lukehoney for vintage chess sets with goden patina. Alternatively, Antiqueshop, House of Staunton, Chessmonarch.com and Crumllier all have beautiful antique chess sets which you can watch.
Not all manufacturers use a chemical process, granted when these antique sets first came onto the market, chemicals were used however it caused cracking problems, so almost all manufacturers have now adapted to an non checmical technique
May 29, 2018
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#13
Scotchgambit2000 wrote:
It is best to leave the chess sets to turn antique color naturally rather than using artificial ways. Natural antique is much more attractive and the golden patina becomes deeper and deeper with age. In contrast, artificially antique sets cannot develop the patina any longer.
Stauntonmaster, I agree with you that natural patina is prefered and very beautiful, however, you are wrong in your assertion that artificial patination does not develop.
May 29, 2018
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#14
Scotchgambit2000 wrote:
Natural patina is much more attractive than artificial antiqued. It is much harder for patina to develop on chemically processed wood and if it does it can make it too dark and messy. Natural is best.
Stauntonmaster, again your assertions are incorrect. Alas I will no longer provide you the bait you crave
May 29, 2018
0
#15
Scotchgambit2000 wrote:
It is best to leave the chess sets to turn antique color naturally rather than using artificial ways. Natural antique is much more attractive and the golden patina becomes deeper and deeper with age. In contrast, artificially antique sets cannot develop the patina any longer.
Some of us do not have 80 years to wait for a nice patina to set in. 
Also why again did you pick the USA flag since you are from the UK.
May 29, 2019
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#16
I'm going to revive this old thread to ask a question.
What if you have non-antiqued pieces and you want to make them antiqued?
It looks to me like antiqued means more yellow than cream color, and black in the nooks and crannies.
So what could turn your pieces more yellow? Perhaps some wax that yellows with age? And the black could be maybe graphite (pencil lead) rubbed on the piece then rubbed off to leave it only in the cracks and crevices?
May 29, 2019
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#17
Here's a laquer product used to make guitars look vintage and it comes in a spray can. It looks like about the same yellow shade as these antiqued chess pieces. Might be an interesting experiment on some cheap wood pieces I have laying around.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HYEAT50/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01HYEAT50&pd_rd_w=NJQdR&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=7Yj7p&pf_rd_r=VTF5SD6W2RSJX41R4CA6&pd_rd_r=3f51f020-8280-11e9-9902-df0ec59c45d5
May 30, 2019
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#18
J_Titor wrote:
Hello,
Perhaps a small UV lamp or aquarium grow light can be used to darken the boxwood to a shade tan or yellow for that vintage effect? Test this on a spare piece first for several hours.
The blackened crevices of 'distressed' chess sets remind me of antiquing glaze such as Valspar applied on kitchen cabinets. Just my two cents.
I was going to buy one of those UV lights that ladies use to cure their nail varnish to try to darken wood. Never got round to it though, would be interested if anyone has tried it
May 30, 2019
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#19
I was reading that the yellowing of old wood was caused by the use of nitrocellulose varnish which yellows with age. If modern pieces are coated with polyurethane or some other modern wood finish, I'm not sure that exposure to UV would do anything.
The spray varnish for guitars I posted above is nitrocellulose varnish that has some yellow tint already built in. I bet they use a similar product to make vintage looking chess pieces. Its a 30 dollar spray can, which is pricey, but I'm tempted to experiment with it.
Which of the two are better? Does antiqued boxwood give a style to the chess piece or does it only make it look old?