What chess set for a 100 bucks?

Looking for a tournament chess set for around 100 bucks. Anyone know of a good set in that price range? Looking for Staunton like style (care less if its an exact copy), wood, 3.75" +. This is what Im leaning toward. I saw another I liked better but it was larger like 4.8" tall, too tall? Hoping someone knows of a deal in that price range.

No suggestions?

Well, there are quite a few options, actually:

1. The House of Staunton just released their reproduction of the FIDE World Championship set: https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-world-championship-series-chess-pieces-3-75-king.html

I just ordered it yesterday and with my Collector Club discount along with a 20% sale, I paid just over $83 complete.

2. Once again The House of Staunton has their Classic Seried 3.75" set:  https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-classic-series-chess-pieces-3-75-king.html

I have owned this set in the past and it is nice.

3. They also have their Grandmaster Set in that price range:  https://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-grandmaster-series-chess-pieces-4-0-king.html

i know that it lists for over the $100 mark cut there always are discounts and I own one that I paid just about $90 for including shipping.

Note that I have not mentioned every set they have for sale in that price range.  i only listed the ones I have experience with and think they are well worth buying, as a good value.

I'm sure there are other companies like Wholesale Chess, American Chess Equipment, The Rochester Chess Center, Chessusa.com and so forth that have sets in this price range, but I feel more confident about the sets I mentioned from The House of Staunton.

https://www.chessbazaar.com/ currently has all of their chess sets on sale, for at least 35% off their regular prices, until the end of today. There will be many chess sets in your price range there. I have purchased several dozen chess sets from ChessBazaar over the years, and have been quite pleased with all of them, finding that CB's chess sets always look precisely like their photographs of them and that CB's specifications as to the dimensions and weights of their chess sets are very precise (unlike some other vendors). Additionally. CB is the only vendor that I know of that very specifically identifies the type of wood that their chess sets are made from by their proper scientific Latin names. CB also offers extraordinarily fast free shipping.

Also, https://chessbyindia.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=64&search=World has what looks to be exactly the same as House of Staunton's "FIDE" chess set as seen in HoS' photographs, but not as shown in CbI's photographs. I know this because I bought the set. CbI also offers free shipping, unlike HoS.

Bravo!  Bravo!!

You finally made a good post that does not insult anyone and tells the truth.

Keep it up.

I've been happy with every purchase from Chess Bazaar. note that the fact they are having a "sale" means nothing. They will have another one next week, and the week after that and so on. I think you get what I mean.

I went with Chess Bazaar indirectly. The above set was their blitz set, but I bought it for 85 from an individual (15 bucks cheaper and I know exactly what I am getting).

After looking at a decent number of sets I assume that anything new under 500 is made in India (and kudus to them, the higher end stuff appears really well done) no matter who sells it. The wood is boxwood and 'Shesham', which appears to be some local hardwood with large pores (I used to collect 'Greenheart' fly rods, and the one thing I learned was wood names mean nothing, once lumber has been cut and dried, even experts are just making educated guesses). I would preferred something with smaller pores but couldnt find anything with a design that appealed to me.

Anyway thank you guys, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Yes, however 35% is just about the largest discount that they have ever offered. It's usually less.

StinkingHyena wrote:

"I assume that anything new under 500 is made in India"

Nearly all commercially made wooden chess sets, whatever their selling price, are made in India, and even in the same city of Amritsar, which has a long tradition of woodworking.

There is only one chess set manufacturer in Russia: Orlov. They sell their sets nearly exclusively in Russia.

Noj Slovenia manufactures a limited amount of chess sets at a very slow rate. The chess sets that they make are Slovenian and not Russian.

These two are hardly major manufacturers.

Sunrise Handicrafts of Poland actually is a major manufacturer, making mostly unweighted decorative chess sets, but also different sizes of one lightly weighted minimalistically carved staunton style playing set.

I agree anything with real production quantities and of any quality is made in India (I see Chinese sets at the lowest end of the spectrum). However if you have enough money you can still get bespoke sets (custom made) in probably most countries. It does take a lot of practice to make chessmen for the novice but a master lathe worker probably finds it trivial (the knights being the exception). The guys to look for would be gunstock carvers, rose engine lathe workers, etc. Guys who can turn out things like this on a lathe. I imagine the price would be closer to 5 digits than 4.

The classic and grandmaster series are very similar, with the grandmaster being bigger with 4" king.  Both are much prettier than the FIDE pieces IMO.  I would choose the classic mainly because it has the option for the Indian rosewood dark pieces which is a very attractive choice.  

Here was the another contender, was in ebony which is great but the bishop bothered me, and the pieces are undercut, which I would think makes them less stable. Also the seller was RoyalChessMall, which I wasnt sure about the customer service if there was an issue (may be great though no idea). If they are reputable they seem to have good prices.

You and me both. If I have to 'commission' a chess set I cant afford it...

I really like that set!  The detail on the knight makes it look much more expensive than $100!  

You are overthinking the "undercut".  Stability has more to do with proper weighting.  The bases are plenty wide enough.  It won't be an issue at all.  As for the bishops, I love the wide notch, similar to the original Jaques pieces. 

Here is a set I've been looking at.  Sold by house of chess on Amazon, currently for 84 bucks.  

https://www.amazon.com/House-Chess-Staunton-Wooden-Weighted/dp/B07CM8WQTY/ref=sr_1_26_sspa?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1545583415&sr=1-26-spons&keywords=chess+pieces&psc=1

A very similar set (probably the same maker as above) sold by pleasant times on amazon for $99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WKVN2UC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00WKVN2UC&pd_rd_w=DzAbq&pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&pd_rd_wg=JY72z&pf_rd_r=TBXEBFSKZ37EQK5R1K9K&pd_rd_r=ebf516ac-06d1-11e9-add8-73a0b1357621

That is quite a bit more than $100, Chessopera you seller.

You are obviously trying to dupe and fake the customer.

I got one for free... well... I won it... but I still count that as free