Author: julian

Julian Deverell is the owner and founder of the Regency Chess Company. He set the business up in 2005 and established the Regency Chess brand in 2008. He's still heavily involved in the day to day running of the business and also has involvement with some other e commerce projects that are not chess related.
CategoriesSupplier Profiles

DGT Chess Clocks (Supplier Profile)

Posted on December 27, 2012by julian

If you don’t already play chess with a chess clock and you a want to become serious about chess, it’s time to consider investing in one. DGT have been our primary chess clock supplier since 2008 and have proven to be extremely reliable.

DGT – a History

The Netherland based company was initially created in 1992 by Albert Vasse and Ben Bulsink as DGT Projects. The company’s main products are electronic timers, digital clocks and electronic boards for draughts and chess. The introduction of DGT’s digital chess clock range started in 1994 and since then the company have continued to expand by manufacturing electronic chess boards. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Why Chess Clocks?

Most professional chess players claim that a chess clock is just as important as the type of board and pieces that they use. For one, if it wasn’t for chess clocks, you would never see the end of a chess game. The presence of a clock means that players have to be both decisive and focused, as well as time conscious.

Electronic chess clocks are great training tools, and if you are trying to improve your game, perhaps moving from absolute amateur to accomplished professional, are a must when working on your chess skills.

Of course they also ensure that players have a fair game especially in Lightening or Blitz chess – a player loses if they use up all of the time that is allotted to them.

What Makes DGT Special?

The fact that the company supplies chess timers to some of the most famous chess players and tournaments is one of the many reasons why DGT products are so popular. Some of their chess clocks are so advanced that they allow four to six players to play simultaneously. In fact, it is this feature that has made them one of the most sought after suppliers of high end digital chess clocks.

Many of DGT’s chess clocks are calibrated according to the latest FIDE regulations – allowing even casual players the chance to play like pros. These DGT clocks are extremely reliable and ensure accurate readings throughout play. They are ideal for clubs and schools, and are sold alongside a variety of value DGT clocks, which are also good.  Don’t be surprised if you see a DGT timer on every playing table when you visit your next high profile chess tournament!

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Rechapados Ferrer Chess Boards (Supplier Profile)

Posted on December 15, 2012by julian

This particular supplier started life as furniture makers before they started producing chess boards – and no one is more delighted than us that they did. Innovation and craftsmanship personified, Rechapados Ferrer chess boards are intricately crafted. It’s clear that their skill and experience in producing wooden furniture has been taken and applied to the world of chess, and this is one of the many reasons they produce such good products.

History

The company was founded during the late fifties in a town called La Garriga (which is about 50km outside of Barcelona) by Juan Ferrer, and his wife Teresa Mercader. As a family business the company’s legacy has been continued by Joan Ferrer Mercader who has now taken over as manager.

Rechapados Ferrer is well known in the chess industry, and since moving into chess their core operations have now switched to the production and distribution chess boards rather than furniture. Each product is made with quality in mind and this is reflected by our customer feedback.

What Makes Rechapados Ferrer Special

Their unique experience of working with lacquers and their craftsmanship with wood is another reason why we have selected Rechapados Ferrer. Examining their products it’s easy to see that they’ve been making chessboards for many years, and working with wood for even longer. They provide us with a huge variety of chess boards and perhaps their most appealing quality is their finish. We count on them to supply us with some of the best designed and crafted chess boards available.

Their boards range from a variety of modern designs and wood finishes; from maple to walnut. Each board is made from the higheast grade materials, and are perfect for not only day to day use but also for display. This is also why we receive so many orders for Rechapados Ferrer’s products,, and such good feedback. We’ve been continually supplying their chess boards to happy customers since 2008.

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Dal Negro – Italy’s leading backgammon and game manufacturer

Posted on November 30, 2012by julian

Dal Negro is one of the leading game manufacturers in Italy. The company was once renowned only for its playing cards, but has since established an enviable reputation for the board games it products – like our specialised backgammon and chess sets. When we want luxury backgammon sets, these are the guys we go to – and they have recently released a new and improved backgammon range.

Don’t be surprised to find other manufacturers who copy their designs, the quality and finish of their backgammon sets are so good that games from other manufacturers often pale in comparison. Dal Negro have some of the finest products on the market, and we are delighted to sell them to our customers.

Company Origin

Dal Negro was originally owned by an Austrian company in 1795. Its staple products were playing cards which it produced for 170 years until the end of World War I. In 1928, after the end of WWI, the company was sold to the Dal Negro Family and from this grew into the company that we recognise today.

After its purchase, Dal Negro expanded and improved their product range, with the help of new technological advancements. In time, what was once a small company based in Austria became a globally recognised brand, supplying the world with their playing cards. As the company grew further it gradually started to make specialised backgammon sets, gaming boxes and similar products.

Before long the company’s expansion and enormous growth compelled it to look for larger headquarters which is when it moved to the Viale F.LLi Bandiera, Treviso in North East Italy from its original factory in Piazza Tommasini.

Popular Games and Merchandise

Dal Negro is now most commonly associated with playing cards, backgammon sets and games. Alongside this the brand also make an assortment of other merchandise like watches and accessories.

Dal Negro’s classic backgammon sets include the Dal Negro Luxury Composite Backgammon Set which comes with a resilient brick red fabric with red stitching on the inside. The playing pieces are extra large and come in a beautiful Prussian blue and chartreuse with a lilac background. Inclusive items include pearlescent effect rubber lined dice shakers with dice. The playing stones also have Dal Negro etched on both sides as well.

Game Sets

Dal Negro’s wooden or Topina leather sets are also popular with our customers. Each set is intricately designed with an attention to detail that is exceptional. In other words, a Dal Negro backgammon set isn’t just a board game; it is a work of art. Dal Negro’s latest Deluxe fabric Backgammon is a perfect example.

Other games in the company’s range include specialised chess boards, chess pieces, playing card boxes, dealer sets, dominoes cases, and miscellaneous board game accessories.

What makes Dal Negro Special

The quality and finish of its products, and the company’s heritage, are the main reasons Dal Negro is such an exclusive brand.

Dal Negro has also expanded as a business by offering merchandise like specialised game cards depicting Disney characters, clothing and writing accessories. The company offers merchandise for both men and women in the form of exclusive watches as well as accompanying accessories like an assortment of jewellery boxes for watches.

Looking at their products it is easy to see why Dal Negro enjoy the popularity that they do. 170 years has seen the company evolve from producing simple playing card decks to backgammon sets that are a work of art.

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Studio Ann Carlton – Supplier Profile

Posted on November 17, 2012by julian

Even a chess set can take you places if it is manufactured like a work of art. SAC chess sets are a sight to behold. The UK based company is world famous for their amazingly themed chess sets. The fact that their most famous products are licensed was enough for us to choose them as one of our suppliers. SAC also happens to be our main suppliers for themed chess sets.

SAC – a History

SAC, or Studio Ann Carlton, was first established in 1969 in Hull, Yorkshire. Traditionally all of their products were manufactured in the UK. However, in 2003 the company was sold to Traditional Games and some of their manufacturing was moved to China, with design and development remaining in the UK. In fact, all SAC line poly resin chess sets are currently being manufactured in China while their wooden chess sets are produced in India. Needless to say, SAC chess sets literally travel the whole world before they are ready for distribution and purchase.

The quality of each set has remained intact throughout the manufacturing process. It shows too. Most of their chess sets were recently introduced and exhibit the skill and craftsmanship that is typical of the sculptures of Studio Ann Carlton.

Themed Chess Sets

Nearly all SAC products exhibit historical characters and settings. The chess sets are designed according to a broad range of themes depicting significant events in history that changed people, cultures and civilizations. Some sets are also designed around famous fictional characters and stories like Alice in Wonderland or Sherlock Holmes.

The amount of research that shows is also astounding. In fact, themed chess sets from popular fiction and media have been designed according to how they were introduced commercially. For instance, the figures from SAC’s Sherlock Holmes chess set are based on the original illustrations that appeared in the “Strand” magazine in 1890.

 

What makes SAC Chess Sets Special?

To say that every SAC chess set is a work of art is almost an understatement. All of the pieces are handmade and are finished with traditional brown or cream colours. Each piece is also sculpted and painted with painstaking detail. Many of the chess pieces are composed of ground stone which is in turn cast and fired thereby making SAC sets some of the most durable sets around.

A work of Heart

Unlike traditional factory made chess sets, the sculptured pieces themselves take months to complete in the hands of an SAC craftsman. Creating the chess sets has more to do with ensuring that the characters are anatomically correct from the sandaled toes to the top of a tiara. Extra care is taken to ensure historical accuracy where appropriate.   The figures are also put through various casting processes until the production moulds are created without having to lose any of the detail.

We receive a lot of orders for chess sets from this company and it is easy to see why. The timeless skill of Studio Ann Carlton artists have been refined to perfection and are enough to make the company one of our best suppliers for themed chess sets.

 

CategoriesNew Products

Manopoulos Backgammon Sets Now In Stock At Regency Chess

Posted on May 4, 2012by julian

The Regency Chess Company is very proud to introduce a brand new supplier to our ranks. Manopoulos are based in Greece and have been manufacturing finely crafted wooden products for over twenty years. A family run company with in house production and an obsession with quality and design.

One of the things we loved so much about their backgammon sets was the amazing variety of rich hardwoods on offer. The company isn’t resting on their laurels or heritage, instead they create new products every year and strive to further improve production and quality. We have high hopes for the range of backgammon that Manopoulos are supplying and expect them to form an essential part of our Backgammon selection.

Before I sign off there should of course be a mention of the amazing Greek chess sets coming from this superb brand. With pieces and boards made from solid metals with amazing lacquers and antique style finishes. When we have finished selecting the sets we plan on stocking, we will have a small but excellent range of fine Greek chess sets for your perusal. Check out the current range of Manopoulos products here

Backgamon Set

CategoriesNew Products

Tournament Chess Equipment Now Available From Regency Chess Co.

Posted on May 1, 2012by julian

Tourament chess supplies

Since 2008 The Regency Chess Company have become established as the UK’s number one retailer of high quality and luxury chess sets. We have imported luxury sets from all over the world and gained a solid reputation based on the high quality of our products. 2012 however sees us move into a new niche, that of the mass produced tournament chess equipment. Our obsession with quality still applies of course, which is why we sourced a range of very high quality, tournament grade plastic chess sets and boards.

Our bulk purchasing power means we can offer these sets to you at very competitive prices and clubs and schools can buy at the best possible price when they purchase quantities of more than five sets. To keep things simple we have added bundle deals to the website that allow you to buy in bulk and make significant savings. All of these sets are stocked in large volume in our warehouse in Frome, Somerset.

For those of you who require custom orders get in touch via phone or email and we can price up what you need. Check out the new category here