Are genuine ebony sets worth the premium price?

by that token, none of the exotic woods used in chess sets are worth it. Stained boxwood is perfectly functional, and looks decent enough if the staining was done well. And you can't really get XXX grade ebony anymore, anyway.

On the other hand, stain will wear off over time - look at some 30-40 year old Lardy sets and you'll see what I mean. Plus, any time you chip an ebonized/stained piece the light wood underneath will become visible...

So in summary, probably not worth it if you're looking primarily for a functional set and budget is a consideration. But then again, by those standards a Porsche 911 isn't worth the premium either

I'd say collect both.  Ebonized pieces will take on a different sort of patina or character with use, which is part of the history of ownership and something to take pride in (like a worn guitar can be liked more than a brand new one by many players).  Ebony will take on wear and character as well, and part of the luxury of it is that the look of the piece stays true or consistent, so it's different but also has worth.  We mentally look at solid wood and metals as being pure and more valuable/desirable than gold plating or luxury wood veneers.  I wouldn't get upset over natural cracking (wood naturally splits, as long as pieces aren't chipping or breaking from cracks I wouldn't be too upset about it and just accept it as party of the aging process).  For these reasons I would want both types of sets!  

Value is set by demand. If people are paying it, it is worth it. When someone says "none of....are worth it" they only mean they wouldn't pay it. Diamonds are worthless to someone who does not like diamonds. 

I'm not longer into black pieces for a number of reasons. I sold off my one and only ebony set last year (before it started to crack), and kept my ebonized sets because I either like the design, or they served a useful purpose. Also, if they start to wear or chip, I just use a permanent black marker to touch them up. And, viola! Good as new.

This wood finish stain marker is specifically for staining wood....ebony....

https://www.amazon.com/Minwax-634900000-Finish-Stain-Marker/dp/B001VRQV5O/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1488622702&sr=8-8&keywords=stain+pen

Is it just me, or do the ebony and ebonized version of the Zagreb set look particularly attractive vs the same woods in other sets?  I think it's something about that stylized knight, reminds me of some 2d knight representations I've seen in books and literature, and in books it's always black and white so maybe the black just looks right to me.  The other thing is that when it's black you don't notice wood grain so much, it's just a stylized knight silhouette and nothing to distract from the design.  Wood grain is truly beautiful but there's just something pure about that knight, I like the black!

I've owned an ebonized Zagreb set in the past. I find that the black color, in most cases, has a way of masking the details of a chess piece , especially of the knights. Because the Zagreb knights are a simpler design, there's less detail to obscure.

I know what you mean. Even though this Chavet set has "only" stained ebony knights I LOVE the color  

angelfisher IT WAS ME!!! im me

Are those transparent rocks damonds worth it? I don't think so,but that don't seem to make them any cheaper.

actually russia has so many diamonds they could ruin the market for debeers.  Debeers pays them bribes not to do it.  Diamonds are pretty common, semi-precious, and their main value should be industrial for honing rods, drills etc.

But if you want a deal on ebony and are cool with Chess Bazaar, they seem to have the best base prices for ebony sets, and right now they have a 33 percent off coupon on a 200 dollar purchase.  So you can get the ebony wood zagreb 3.8" king for about 140 shipped, or two ebonized zagrebs set with 4.1" king  for the same price.  It works on ever non travel chess set except the ones in the "flat 50 percent off promo" page.  Guys I'm awfully tempted!  Looks like if you wait for the HoS 20 percent coupon the best you can get is the ebony wood zagreb for 280 + shipping.  Although it looks like the finish at HoS is a bit smoother, and they have more Soviet acceptable finnials (cuz the soviet's didn't like the christian cross on the king's crown!)

I think that Ebony gets a worse rap than it deserves.it is the heaviest wood(dense and sinks in water....having nothing to do with chess obviously) and it is gorgeous! I have a nice collection of acoustic guitars and the finest guitars use Ebony for the fret board and bridges.C.F. Martin has used Ebony for over 100 years.....The grain pattern makes one "think" it might be showing micro cracks,but it is just the grain(usually)......Obviously,one should try to understand the effects of humidity on "any" wood,but if any Ebony pieces do crack,the wood fillers available anywhere and the black Sharpie marker does the trick....No Biggie.

Btw,I just got a few of the Ebony sets of pieces from CB and though my first go-round with CB was not a good one(communications.....straightened out over time) my recent orders have been really very good....Their Ebony sets are really well priced and very nice.

Best wishes to all....Mark

Ebony being a scarcely available wood is always appreciating in value. So ebony wood sets wood definitely hold their value and are worth their price.

I would like to say everyone before me has a point with what they said and that I agree with almost all of them in some way or another. Like anything else...collect what you like and you can not go wrong! It is simply a personal taste with what floats your boat in chess.

These pictures scream..Chess player / Collector..I know one when I see one!..(because I am one 🤪)...the curse of Chess!

Well, you may not consider yourself a collector, but it seems to me that you own enough sets to be considered a collector. Just out of curiosity, Why don't you consider yourself a collector? I believe one can be both player and collector at once. Not judging just trying to understand your point of view a little better. Either way you have a great collection of sets and thanks for sharing.

@DesperateKingWalk I love your chess man cave. As to the ebony I have mixed feelings. First off I want to say that I love the look of wear and usage from old Soviet ebonized sets because it gives the set character and individuality. I also like the look of ebony in which you can easily see the grain because I think that also gives the sets character and individuality. What I like least is the dyed ebony or any ebony that's so dark that one cannot easily see the grain. With that said my preference for dark side tends to lean towards Indian Rosewood and other dark Browns with prominent or interesting grain.

Dear DesperateKingWalk,

With all due respect, let's agree to disagree, my friend. Let's examine the situation as it stands rather than as we wish it to be. I apologize if I can't resist engaging in such a debatable claim.

1. Throughout my extensive life, I've encountered numerous chess players, both professional and casual. Typically, they might own 2-3 sets at most. While different matches may require different sets, the notion of needing 20 sets to play seems excessive.

2. I've been an observer on this platform for years, though not always an active participant. During this time, I've noticed your remarkable expertise in various chess sets from around the world. Your knowledge on chess set-related topics is impressive, making it hard to believe that you are not a genuine chess set collector. Few chess players could distinguish between a Chavet and a Cooke set as effortlessly as you do.

3. Your den speaks volumes about your passion for chess collecting. It's adorned with chess-themed decor from wall to wall, leaving no doubt as to your devotion to the game. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that chess is either your lifelong love at the age of 13 or that you're 45 and still reside with your mother.

4. I've observed you, sometimes with discomfort, as you critique passionate chess enthusiasts for their preferences in chess-related matters. At times, your criticisms veer into the realm of bullying, seemingly to bolster your own sense of importance.

5. My intention was merely to compliment your chess collection, but you couldn't resist engaging once again. As you can see, I am well-versed in playing, discussing, and debating all things chess-related. Please refrain from attempting such bullying tactics with me; I assure you, I can hold my own in this arena.

In conclusion, whether you like it or not, you are undeniably a chess collector, and you are welcomed into our community with open arms.

Best regards,
Newcastle

P.S. You might be right after all...Webster Dictionary describes Collectors types the following way:

What type of person is a collector? Collectors tend to have above average financial resources and better levels of education. High openness and low Neuroticism significantly feature collectors' personality. Different utility functions for "consumer collectors", "investor collectors", "pure collectors".