Wegiel Chess Set - Consul Chess Pieces and Board - European Wooden Handmade Game - JUNIOR

Just received this today as a Christmas present. It's beautiful and well made. There are a few very minor defects that I would expect out of a handmade product, but the quality exceeded my expectations based on the reviews I read. I'm including a lot of pictures of my set.It's BIG. And I really mean big. Bordering on, but just short of, jumbo. Some may not care for this. I went back and forth myself, but I actually kind of like how easy it makes it to handle the set. I took a picture of the board on my coffee table, and the king piece on my 13" Macbook Pro so you get a sense of proportions. The pieces still fit in your palm (I have medium-sized female hands) and are not cumbersome in my opinion. If you still don't have a good sense of the size, I suggest getting a measuring tape and drawing a square of the same size as this set.The pieces are gently weighted, so they won't tip, but you could knock them over if you tried. A careless bump will not easily knock them over, however.Beginners and children will especially like this set because of how easy it is to visualize on the board and handle the pieces.Do be aware that when buying anything handmade, there will be quality variation. I got a good set; it appears some people got less perfect sets, but none of the defects I have read about sound to me like sloppy craftmanship. They sound like normal variations and are to be expected.Replies to a few criticisms I read of this set before receiving it:1) People have mentioned the hinges of the board causing it not to lie flush when opened on a table. I have seen pictures that confirm that this appears to happen sometimes. However, my set was perfectly flush, as you can see in the pictures. I am very pleased on this count, as I was not sure what to expect.2) Some people spoke as though the board was a little flimsy because of being hollow to hold the pieces. If you're comparing it to a slab of solid wood, obviously it's not as hefty, but flimsy is not a word I would use. When I press down on the board with my fingers, there is little visible give, and I can't feel it move at all. No, don't jump on the board or throw it across the room, but I would hope that would be obvious. It's at least as sturdy as a good quality cigar box -- it's not going to break on you unless you put an anvil or something on it. But again, I would hope most people have a basic enough understanding of physics that they wouldn't do that. My conclusion: this has no weaknesses that wouldn't already be obvious to anyone taking into account that it's hollow. As a hollow board, this is sturdy. And it is made of real wood, not particle board.3) One reviewer complained about getting the wrong number of pieces. All I can say is that mine had no issues in that regard. It looks like it was a simple error.4) There are some complaints about the wood-burner engravings. The lettering and numbering on mine are perfectly legible, however. As far as the aesthetic look, it's *supposed* to look a little uneven. That's not a quality issue or defect; it's a stylistic choice that I think adds charm and whimsicality to a rustic yet elegant set. Someone also said that the engravings keep the pieces for sliding smoothly across the board, but I did not experience this problem. They slide nicely, if that's how you prefer to play.5) The felt liners that hold the pieces are indeed thin plastic that you can remove if you so desired. Some were disappointed by this; personally, I'm not, as it doesn't affect the overall feel of the set and doesn't look bad. I understand hoping for something a little nicer, but I suspect that would have made it cost more. For me, it's a very fair trade if it means I can have a chess set of this quality at this price. If you don't like it, you can remove or replace them. I'm keeping mine is because they will protect the pieces.A big pro for me is that it is NOT made in China (made in Poland instead) and uses no child labor. Moreover, the wood is farmed and therefore sustainable. You definitely get your money's worth here. An excellent deal.

I would start off by saying that I'm not an avid chess player; I play recreationally with my dad and girlfriend. However, whenever I make a purchase I want my money's worth, and I want a quality product that will last.This chess set has exceeded my expectations (which were fairly high to begin with). This is a beautiful handcrafted set from Poland, and it is obvious that a lot of attention went into making it. The board has an attractive lacquer finish that gives it a glossy look, and the metal latches that close the board add a nice touch. I feel that this board is the perfect size, too; there is plenty of room so that the pieces are not too close together, yet it fits on my kitchen table. The pieces are quite ornate and unlike any I've seen in a set of this price. The pieces also have some weight to them, and while some people may not care about this detail, I enjoy moving pieces that have some weight and will not tip over.I have a couple minor quibbles with this set. First, the board seems to be a bit thin. I understand that the board needs to be hollow for the pieces to go inside, but I feel as though I need to handle it carefully so it doesn't break. Second, the tray in which the pieces are stored inside of the folding board is made of a cheap plastic material that is far from durable. It does the job of storing the pieces, but I feel this could've been done a better way.Overall, this set is beautifully crafted and is well worth the price. While the board could've been built to be a bit sturdier, I still give it five stars because the board and the pieces are so attractive. That being said, this set is clearly for adults. Don't let kids use this set, and keep it away from pets. Handle it with care, and you'll have a beautiful chess set that will certainly last.

I bought this set for a gift for a teenage boy. I actually bought this one and a travel set. My review is based on quailty vs. price, usability, and attractiveness of the set.Pros - 1. - Very big (however, I could see this a con for some). Perfect for older people without the hand/eye control. Perfect for beginners, easy to see the board, the options, and strategy. 2. - Nice timeless details., with algebraic coordinates. For those of you who don't know, Algebraic Coordinates are a method for recording and describing the moves in a game of chess. Pieces are beautiful, and easy to distinguish. Board is lovely and bright and very eye pleasing. Something that would be just fine left out. Hinges are even engraved and well made. 3. - Easy to store, would fit nicely in the board game cabinet without taking up any space. 4. - it is light, easy to pack, move and store.Cons - 1. - For advertising such a beautiful set, the box it comes in is, very bland and looks like something I'd run across in the bargain stores. It truly hides the attractiveness of the game inside. I'm almost tempted to wrap the game outside the box because it is just that ugly. 2. The C and G coordinates are hard to distinguish. I feel that this is something that could've easily been fixed in inspection of the item before sold, however, it was not. 3. And the reason the set actually didn't get the 5 star review from me, inside the storage, the pieces sit in a cheaply done velvet lined plastic mold. I can't believe that with so much attention to detail, that is the final choice on storage. Yuck.All in all this is a very nice set, however I still think it is a little pricey based on the set alone,. since i can't speak for its durability, since it will be a gift. I'd pay upper 30s max, not upper 40s, lower 50s.