Original Ultimate Chess Pieces?

Hello! I just received a set of the Ultimate chess pieces from ebay. I've never seen one of the original sets in person so I wanted to post some pics and hopefully someone can verify that they're the originals.

They main reasons that I feel unsure are that the black pieces don't look quite as shiny as I've seen in some of the pics on this forum, and I've heard that knockoff versions do exist. 

Regardless, they're really nice pieces and a pleasure to analyze with. No loose weights or any issues other than a few scuffs. 

Here are some pics:

Thanks everyone! 

They look nice. i am for sure looking forward to the new version of this set in the near future.

I must be the odd one here. I actually prefer the buttery yellow over this color. I want colors to stand out I guess. The bolder the better for me. I used to have this set with extra queens but I started to have weights coming loose and it was annoying. So I got rid of the set. 

Based on the pictures I actually don't dislike them myself. I think I'd still prefer the lighter off-white color but the buttery yellow ones look really nice on bold colored squares especially (like blue or red)

Olive or Army Green is awesome.

https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/club-style-chess-boards/products/flex-pad-club-chess-board?variant=34089747905

https://amchesseq.com/collections/tournament-chess-boards/products/bobby-fischer-mousepad-roll-up-travel-tournament-chess-boards-choice-of-5-colors?variant=23488076873786

Also the full color vinyl board in Granite 01 is awesome as well.

https://www.houseofstaunton.com/granite-no-1-full-color-vinyl-chess-board.html

These 3 boards are my favorite options for the butter yellow UCP sets. The Bobby Fischer in Army Green is my favorite of the 3 but really close to the Granite 01 full color vinyl board.

Nice. I really like the outlines on the Bobby Fischer board. 

Thanks for the reply and all the great info, Shelby!

I feel fairly confident that it's an original set. The seams are merely detectable and definitely not obnoxious. Also, it feels triple-weighted.

I feel pretty lucky to have snagged a set from ebay.

I'm considering getting a butter set as well

I like the butter set too. It is awesome saucesome. 

You won't be disappointed.

@ShelbyLohrman Any IP rights in America are only enforced within the USA. This is why patients are now useless. China and other countries can copy without a cease and desist order being enforceable.  

I am very pleased with the marble chess set and board I got from chesssets.com  It has nice pieces - marbled black and the whites are lovely.  Deluxe board with a fancy edge.  But I can't find a picture. 

Love this set - made of carved bone by Staunton

stevenashs20mworkout what is the link of the ebay from this chess set, I like it thx regards 

@Ghostzerg This was a used set so the link isn't up anymore. You can find the reproduction at: https://amchesseq.com/products/we-games-ultimate-tournament-staunton-chessmen-with-3-75-inch-king-triple-weight-over-3-9-lbs?variant=7338016899130

The reproduction is a little different in color than the pictures I posted and a little larger as well.

I'll bet that cost a pretty penny to have.

That's the key word supposedly. Also countries would have to have a trade agreement that protects IP rights. Not all countries around the world like the US. 

Apparently there is no such thing as a globally enforceable patent.  That is, separate patent applications must be filed in each country within which the applicant seeks enforcement...

To Wit (from Legal Zoom):

"Obtaining a patent in the US does not guarantee international protection of your intellectual property—USPTO [US Patent & Trademark Office] patents are only effective in the US.

There is no "international patent" that will protect an invention all over the world. A separate patent must be filed in each country where the patent owner seeks protection. Fortunately, WIPO [World Intellectual Property Organization] offers a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, which simplifies the application process and allows one application to be filed for patent protection in multiple countries. Patent fees and requirements differ significantly by country, so it is advisable to consult a registered patent attorney who is familiar with the intellectual property laws of the specific countries where a patent is sought."

https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/does-your-us-patent-trademark-or-copyright-protect-you-overseas

Shelby -

I assume you meant to type - patent.  If this is correct, you might want to correct the typo.

What exactly are the Ultimate Chess pieces? 

Its just a set of plastic chess pieces. Thats it. Its not ultimate it was just called ultimate. The old one is out of production and the new one was made in a garish color, so people obsess over it.

In a couple of month the next version  will be for sale for id guess somewhere around 35$ and you could buy one. Till then you can join the obsessed crowd and complain about current color, or scour ebay for old copies of the first run.

So I guess a quality/higher end plastic tournament sized set, if such a thing exists.  What did a set cost when they were in production?