Review of Chessgamesshop Dubrovnik Plastic Set

When it comes to Dubrovnik plastic sets, there isn't really much choices to choose from. The only set that is easily accessible is from Chessgamesshop.com. It costs €16.40 and it looks decent.

Measured specs:
King 3.65" (92.7mm) / 1.44" (36.72mm)
Queen 3.1" (89.8mm) / 1.38" (35.06mm)
Bishop 2.87" (73mm) / 1.24" (31.63mm)
Knight 2.69" (68.47mm) / 1.29" (32.86mm)
Rook 2.04" (51.82mm) / 1.31" (33.33mm)
Pawn 1.9" (48.47mm) / 1.15" (29.33mm)

Weight set: 661g? It was advertised as 900g.

When I tapped on the felt pads, some sounded more hollow then others so I opened them up to check it out. To my surprise the pieces were filled with paraffin wax and sealed with thin plastic pads, it's so thin that some were already cracked.

All the pieces weren't filled up all the way, leaving some gap at the bottom.

I decided to take out the paraffin wax to have it replaced with something else, one that doesn't melt. Next surprise showed up, the weighting they used it seems like they used what they had at that moment and among the pieces totally not consistent the amount of lead they put in. The same apply for the white pieces, different shapes of leads and amount too.

I contacted them to let them know and all they said was 'we sold this set for years and we never had complain about them, but if you're not happy with it you can return it and we'll refund your money'. Since there isn't much alternative I decided to keep the set and fix them myself. About the advertised weight of 900g, they will correct that on their website, well it's now 4 months later and they still haven't correct it.

Last week I decided to fix this set so I filled them with concrete filler, put in leads from roof insulation, top it off with sawdust/glue paste and refelt them.

The set weights now 930g (king weights 47g), since the leads are placed all the way at the bottom and it weights considerable more,  the balance is way better then before.

Impression:

Well, it's a €16.40 plastic weighted set so you can't expect much of it. The plastic is thick so it feels solid, although the seams are easily visible but there is nothing sharp sticking out so it's pleasant to grab them. Although it's a Drubovnik design meaning the bases are broad, this set not so, in fact it's more like Zagreb bases which is a tad less broad then Dubrovnik bases. 

Would I recommend this set? No, and only because of the paraffin wax they used to fill the pieces, in fact I just remember there were several pieces that were not filled with paraffin wax but with greyish sticking substance. To make it worse, the sealing they're using is thin and cracked easily so when you leave the pieces in some warm places like behind the window during a sunny day, or leave it in the car they surely will melt and sip through the cracks into the felts.

But if you're willing to put some effort in it, then you'll have a good Dubrovnik plastic set.

Complementary pictures:

The white one does look nice. That was my plan after trying out the taller and heavier set first. Then I found out about the crap quality inside the pieces  

@mister Go, this one should be okay left in the sun now

@mister Mound this is a vintage board from a local find, it was in bad shape. Took me some effort to get rid of many marks on it. I love those vintage boards, there is something about them ain't it? Unfortunately this one looses his vintage look because I have to recoat it.

I love the board too. The pieces look nice and seem fine except for the wax and weight issues.

Yeah that's what I meant with the white one. I went for the tan one for the supposedly heavier weight set. Looking back I think they weight about the same lol

I already totally forgot about the white one if it weren't for you bringing that up. Maybe I should get that one too since I have plenty leftover of filler and lead. Now I feel like mister Mc, I'm not really into plastic pieces and I already have one good plastic set now...hmm...

I have both. I like both equally. Maybe the 1950's version as pictured I like just a tad more. Mainly because of the matte finish and a better feeling plastic. Wished they came with extra queens so that I wouldn't have to order two sets to get the extra queens. However I do have lots of spares in case a piece gets lost or damaged.

Talk about forensic skills! Quite impressive.

Thank you mister Magic! Business is slow these days so we do also missing 🐈 nowadays. For domestic paranormal activities please don't call us. Much appreciated 🙏

This what You have bought has little to do with 'Dubrovnik'.

Dubrovnik pieces are originally made in Croatia, and officially used in Croatia, (plastic ones).

Why don't You try with some supplier from Croatia?

Type the following at google:   sahovske figure dubrovnik 

https://www.skdubrovnik.hr/2021/01/08/1970/

Actually, I had a chat with him on FB earlier this year. I wanted to buy a set but he was busy at that moment. He had several events to organize / attend to so he had no time that month. Then there is the payment issue, I need to look for a certain bank that can do the transfer to him. All and all, it was not easy to place an order. That's why I said in the introduction, the one that's easily accessible is the one from chessgamesshop. Too bad, I think there is a big demand for a good quality Dubrovnik plastic set.

I just look again at mister Drazic site, it looks like his Dubrovnik 1950 is almost the same if not the same as what I reviewed here? I thought he had different looking set when I was looking at his site earlier this year?

http://www.drazic.co.rs/product/model-dubrovnik-1950/

I would love to buy authentic Dubrovnik plastic or wooden set from Croatia and I think there are more people here interested in those sets too. It would be wonderful if someone there can arrange a group buy

It used to be yes, Croatia is now part of EU.

From what I've read from Izmet posts and his blogs, I gather the impression the sets from local retailers there are not sold outside the country. But I'm not really sure about that, hopefully Izmet can elaborate what sets are still being made there, I'm really curious about that.

Yugoslavia was not part of the "eastren bloc" since 1948. but it was a socialist state.

Your ivory/brown Dubrovnik is made in Europe (Croatia).

The ivory/brown set is authentic Dubrovnik made in Croatia. Wooden sets are not manufactured anymore in Croatia. The last batch was as far as I know made in 2015. And the design is a little bit different.

Oh that's cool to know, thanks! I'll definitely get one then.

Do you have any pictures of that different design? I'm curious how they look like.