Thank you for those!
I had looked into almost of the ones you mentioned. 😁
Just wondering if there are any other “hidden gems” out there that have good quality wooden sets. I have purchased from one of the ones on that list quite a few times, but would still love to find other options.
Chess empire is another option, although they were getting a bad rap on here not so long ago for selling sheesham sets as rosewood.
Budget, typically under $2000 (US)
we are new to collecting, and have a few different sets on our wish list. 😊
we have an array of styles in our current collection, pre Staunton, Staunton, Soviet.. no specific style..
Just good quality sets.
When I googled chess sets the “regulars” popped up. I didn’t even know about NOJ until chess.com
so that leads me to wonder what other sites don’t pop up on the typical google search.
I’m looking for more of good quality and craftsmanship over quantity.
I find it kind of hard to believe that the market for such sets is so limited..
(Also, we’ve only been collecting for about a year.. so new)
we looked into Purling, but you are pretty much just buying their base pads.. IMO. 😊
I like the Mora set from Spain. Looks similar to a French Chavet set but is brand new.
https://www.mora-play.com/mora/producto/staunton-europa-chess-pieces-5-glossy-walnut/?lang=en
And also IM Sandor Biro from Romania.
https://caissa.ro/ChessSet/
Also the “cadillac of chess pieces” Amazonia from the brazialian Master Dirk Dagobert with noble woods
https://www.dirkdagobert.com/
@ferpesan thank you for those!
The Mora sets are absolutely beautiful!
I love the Romanian set as well, definitely going into my wish list 
Dirks set is gorgeous.
I am so happy that you shared those links!
I’m sitting here in awe of all these wonderful sets
@MCH818 that Oleg 1849 set is amazing! I am going to saving that link to go through again and will definitely be putting that on my future wish list
I do like antique and vintage sets, we don’t have any of those yet.
But, I am also a fan of the reproductions as they make it not feel criminal to play with them 😂
thanks again for the recommendations!
Any other recommendations are always welcome!! 😁
I am more hopeful in my quest knowing there are these “hidden gems” and wonderful options out there!
Also, we will be traveling to Mannheim in the next couple months.
Any one have suggestions for chess stores there? I would love to get to go see some wonderful sets in person if I’m able to.
@MCH818 when it comes to Lardy I was able to find a wonderful one, it belongs to a coworker who offered it to us if we wanted it.
Being so new to collecting we aren’t sure what we are looking at exactly. We did send it over to Frank C to get an appraisal so it was fair to all parties involved.
I’ll add photos of the Lardy set following this post. (Still trying to figure out how to add multiple pictures to a post while on my phone.)
I did also email IM Sandor Biro about the Romanian set. It is definitely one we are very interested in.
Got it figured out!
Déjà vu here with your Lardy set!
I recently found an original Lardy set here in Spain.
1 ST 5/8 CH
Nice condition for an old set
Very few hairline cracks and the charming and typical lean in the King’s head.
The king is 4” tall and the set is light weighted. The board has 55mm squares. It is almost at the limit for those pieces. The antique set made from “buis du jura” wood has a darker yellow tone than a new boxwood set from India. Just for fun, some comparisons with a SC Dub 1950.
Good luck with your collection and good games with your Lardy!
By the way I forgot a very nice but expensive online seller:
Jaques of London: www.jaqueslondon.co.uk
I have been looking into other options for where to buy good quality wooden chess sets online.
Who do you recommend?