Wegiel Handmade European Ambassador Chess Set - Wooden 21 Inch Beech & Birch Board with Felt Base - Carved Hornbeam & Sycamore Wood Chess Pieces

I wanted a a chess board that my kids could grow up playing on a "the family board". This is the size, heft, and hand-made quality that I wanted. The pieces feel substantial in your hand. The workmanship is wonderful. Personally, considering the details, I would say that it is worth 2-3x the price.That is not to say there are no negatives, and here they are:The board and pieces stunk when it was first opened. It was obviously from what was used to stain the wood and is understandable because any smell of the pieces was trapped in the box, but it did stink. I just left it in the garage for a few weeks before I brought it in. The smell doesn't stay forever, but it does need to air.Also, there isn't enough clear distinction between the king and queen. The look is too similar for my taste and the height is too close. It's not a big deal once you get used to the look, but more of a height difference would have been welcome.Bottom line:The negatives don't change my rating. The first you can just air it out to not be a problem, and the second is a personal preference and small irritation. I have seen no other chess board of similar size and heft that gives you the feel that this is how the game was classically played.Buy it, air it out first, and enjoy your games with a fine chess set.

The Ambassador Handmade European Chessboard is an absolute work of art! The craftsmanship is exceptional, with every square meticulously crafted and perfectly aligned. The wood used is of high quality, offering a beautiful finish that adds an elegant touch to any room. The board is sturdy and well-built, ensuring it will last for years to come. Magnets hold perfectly and even big, it is a very portable board.The rich tones of the wood and the smooth surface make each game feel special. Whether you're an avid chess player or just love having a stunning piece of decor, this chessboard is a must-have. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!

My first chess set was made with cheap plastic. I got it for $10.00 when I was at college 20 years ago. Was so cheap and ugly that after one match with a friend who make jokes about the set I never play again.20 years later I still a newbie on the game, I decide to try again and this time no plastic set for me!You can find all the info you need with other reviewers, but here are my firsts impressions.Pieces are light weight, yes but taking in mind the size of the pieces the weight is ok unless you play outside in a windy park or play with fast uncontrolled movements.The quality. I really like the pieces look, this is not a traditional high polished Staunton set. The set is like something that a old farm man make himself for his grandson, is not a toy and I like the simplicity of the pieces. It looks far more expensive than the $53.00 that I paid.Board looks ok is not top quality but if you take care of it for sure it will last years. Like all people mention, the plastic liner of the board storage section is junk, in mine is already damaged, I probably replace it with foam in the future. Wegiel please fix that!Pieces size, this is the main selling point, is the bigger you can go on a wood set without breaking the bank. King is 4.5" tall. For me the size is really important, I'm short sighted and with small pieces I have problems indentifying the pieces.Price - $53.00 with free UPS 2nd day. When I first see this set week ago, was at $77.00 so I dicide to wait. two days later amazon lower the price $25.00 and I ordered it inmedialy (4:00am :-)Go get it is nice just to have it.UPDATE 1/29/16 - set is unavailable with Amazon, 3rd party retailers are selling it for $200 to $500. For that kind of money you can get a 8" teakwood chessmen set (already on my wish list) wait for a lower price or check somewhere else. Even $120.00 is a fair price but not more than that.

The board and pieces are BEAUTIFUL. The set looks very rich and elegant. I am not disappointed when I pick it up to play. Yes, the pieces weight perhaps a little less than you might have hoped they would given how large and grand the whole set is, but do not get the false impression that these are pieces of paper, waiting to blow over in the wind! They are more than massive enough to stand their ground against clumsy hands rifling through the ranks and dealing out accidental bumps--you aren't going to have your game in disarray from falling, flying pieces. The pieces are made of a nice soft wood, beautiful in appearance, and the craftsmanship (no matter how they pulled it off) adds to the impression of a game that somebody actually cared about when they made it. Ditto for the wonderfully carved board. I was worried there'd be a seem where the joint of the case closes but no, it's a perfectly smooth join.The only other con against the set I heard was a "glue smell". I have to agree, this is prominent when you first open the box, but it disappears quick, perhaps within one two two days, if you simply set up the board and pieces in the open. We suspect this is the glue used to adhere the form that holds the pieces when they are in storage. The guess being, when you build something en masse at the factory and quickly box it for shipping with volatile glues still inside, it's going to be an eye opening for whoever opens it later on. In our case, smell gone in days, never to return again.We're enjoying the set immensely. I've finally come to grips with chess notation and am using it to learn from games of masters past, and my younger nieces and I are having a wonderful time playing head-to-head, *finally*, across a real chess board.

Beautiful chess set, one of the nicest I have ever seen. Large set, very well made. Very happy with this product!