This luxury Baduk set includes size XL bowls and size 36 Slate & Clamshell stones.
The go bowls are lovely, with wide lines and beautiful chatoyance in the light (a video is included at the end of the photo set to demonstrate this). They are most likely Camphor or some kind of mulberry. They were refurbished in our Colorado workshop: the outer finish was removed with an abrasive plastic pad, then they were treated with Monkey butter and buffed clean. The bowls fit the stones snugly, but there is room in each container for a soft liner or cushion and we would recommend using those.
The 180 white stones are very dense. Using a flashlight, the color shows a deep orange instead of the usual pale yellow. These are most likely Suwabute stones, made from Japanese clamshells that were collected in the Okuraga-hama beach in Hyuga City (Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan). Due to depletion they can no longer be harvested and are increasingly rare. Stones made from Mexican clamshell are taken from Giant Clams, which grow quickly in the warm equitorial waters. Because Japanese waters are colder, the clams there grow more slowly so they are more dense and exhibit denser lines. The 180 white pieces are quite thick, which is uncommon for Japanese stones. This set is used, so small defects do exist. A new set of Suwabute stones can be purchased via Kurokigoishiten for $2000-$8000, depending on the grade and condition.
The 181 black stones are Japanese slate. They are slightly larger than the white to account for black's slimming effect. The black stones were washed with soapy water, rinsed with distilled water, but they have not yet been buffed with mineral oil - we leave this option to you.
Shipping Details:
This item ships from Colorado, USA. Please allow 3 business days for handling, then our system will notify you of the shipping details. Shipping box: 12x12x6 7.8lb
