Most of them don't make sets. they just sell.
Without a doubt the answer is Noj. Of course their company is hard to duplicate. Gregor and his brother are the only 2 actually carving and making the pieces. Their retired father comes in to perform the finish work.
They make a limited number of Chess sets. They also have, as their main business, the making or turning of fountain pens for the European market.
Mohan_Kumar_Chess is correct. Most all the companies you have listed do not make the Chess sets, but sell them at retail after buying wholesale from the manufacturer. And all the sets made for these companies are made in India.
There are a few manufacturers in India, primarily Armritsar, that make a high quality set. The House of Staunton, Official Staunton and Jaques of London all get their sets from these manufacturers. A couple of these high end producers have started selling their sets directly. The Chess Empire is one of these.
Chess Bazaar and Royal Chess Mall sell lower priced and commensurately lower quality sets compared with the above mentioned sets.
My favorite sets, of the 35+ wood sets and their manufacturer/sellers are:
1. Noj Dubrovnik II set. I own this sets in all three of the wood colors they currently offer; Walnut, Red Stain, and Brown Stain.
2. Noj GM Pavasovic set in Walnut.
3. Noj made BCE Stage 2, Eastern, Natural with Stainless Steel bases.
4. The House of Staunton, Frank Camaratta created Craftsman Series set in Blood Rosewood.
5. The House of Staunton, Frank Camaratta Signature Series Cooke Luxury set in Mopane.
6. From Official Staunton Company, the Piatigorsky Commerative set which was made in a limited edition.
I also use and enjoy a number of lesser expansive sets, primarily sold by The House of Staunton.
Most of them don't make sets. they just sell.
oops. I would change the thread tittle if I could, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that, Just say which company is the best maker/seller of chess sets/pieces/boards and why.
Jacques of London, at this point, is just about out of the Luxury market, and selling lower end tournament and travel sets, although there are a few of their good sets left around.
But I think their website still has high end chess sets on it. https://www.jaqueslondon.co.uk/collections/chess-sets
The question should be which Indian company makes the best set. Other than Noj they are mainly carved in India. Noj makes some good looking sets but for me the price they have is way too high for your average person to buy. So for that fact I can't give them the top spot. I base my opinion upon they quality, finish, and price. I can't enjoy a set I can't buy. So I down grade a company if they can't make a price that is affordable to the average person.
Two contrasting views.
One says, "the value for money matters".
The other says "I am rich. Only thing matters to me is precision, details and luxury".
One says, "I got a beautiful set for a killer price. I am going to enjoy every bit playing with them".
The other says, "I got a set from Noj. Their value goes multiple fold in future whereas CB won't be even a collectible in future".
Eyechess is not an average consumer. He is more of a collector.
Here is who an average consumer :
Average Consumer, "I like this Chess pieces. Its beautiful. How much does it cost?"
$200 from CB and $650 from Noj.
Average Consumer "Whats the difference?"
"The CB Knight have less mane on its back. The CB pieces have stout rook and pawn. The CB queen have 7 cuts on its crown where as Noj have 11 cuts which is same as original".
Average Consumer, "What!!! What am I going to do with the cuts? For these things should I pay 3 times?"
This is who average consumer is. For him, he will see what he gets for the extra money he pays. But for people like Eyechess, what they get more in Noj, is worth how much ever Noj asks more than CB. Thats their point.
....sheer rudeness....if anyone expresses a diverging view......
Eyechess is wrong, of course (as usual - and the "absolutism" of his statements is quite sad, actually)
You've described yourself....unlike you, EyeChess isn't rude, nor does he engage in immature ad hominem attacks when expressing his opinion...
The question was about which company makes the best chess set.
The person that introduced me to Noj sets is definitely an average consumer. He works as a crew member on a river barge.
If you can afford $200 for a Chess set then it is only a matter of discipline to save your money until you have enough for something more expensive.
These guys arguing that CB quality is just as high as Noj, The House of Staunton, and Official Staunton do not know what they are talking about. They are only comparing pictures and not actual pieces they can physically inspect.
This sound67 chap is negative at best.
I haven't kept up with manufacturers for a few years. Does Rechapados Ferrer still make boards? At one time most boards advertised as "Made in Spain" were made by them. I have several and I'm quite happy with them.
I was referring to the owner of NOJ.
You are misinformed. I am a designer of chess sets. I designed some for Noj. I have no other business with them.
-Izmet Fekali
the Novak family is pure class
Exactly. Do not blame my I-don't-f*cking-careness on Noj.
-Izmet Fekali
This sound67, and belatedly Mohan..., are way off topic to this discussion.
The topic and question is which company sells the best chess sets.
Mohan, this is not a discussion about whether the set is worth the average Joe buying.
Sound67, you need to quit attacking others. We are here talking about Chess equipment, not anything else. By your comments you now show yourself to be misinformed (Izmet does not own Noj at all) and an ignorant person attacking and arguing people not product.
There simply is no "BEST" company, and if you think about it real hard, maybe you'll realize this.
Wrong once again my German and ignorant one!
Noj is, without a doubt and proven by fact, the company that produces the BEST Chess sets.
Izmet is not one to take insults lying down.
Exactly! I the unfortunate case of sound67, I am simply fighting fire with fire. To put it bluntly, I am heaving feces back at the monkey.
-Izmet
Sound67 don’t you feel bad for being such a Negative Norman?
And aren’t you starting to get that creeping in feeling that you now need to buy a Noj set so you too can own the Best?
Yes, and buy a Noj made Best Chessmen Ever set so you can apologize to Izmet at the same time.
Claiming a maker makes the best sets is like claiming Ford makes the best cars. Everyone has their own tastes and criteria. Personally, I don't care for the BCE designs but that doesn't mean they are not good, just that other designs appeal to me more.
MGT88 is right!
I own sets sold by all these companies.
Since Sound67 wants to include a low price in the quality discussion; The House of Staunton sells sets in the same price range as CB. I have compared these sets, as I own from both companies in this price range. And objectively speaking The House of Staunton sets are of a better quality production than the comparably priced CB sets.
Of course now that I have stated this as an objective fact, as I have before with Sound67, he will stop posting because he has been proven wrong.
I would have created a poll to ask this but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that. So post which you think is the best and why.
I should have said which is the best seller and/or maker of chess sets and/or pieces and/or boards