How to choose Go stones
How to choose Go stones
There are two types of Go stones: white Go stones and black Go stones.
White Go stones
The most common white Go stones are Clam Go stones, which are made from clam shells. In addition to Clam Go stones, there are also glass and plastic Go stones.
Black Go stones
The most common black Go stones are Nachi-Kuroishi from Kumano City, Mie Prefecture. In addition to Nachiguro stones, there are also stones made overseas, glass, plastic, etc.
Points to consider when selecting Go stones
The key to choosing a Go stone is to 'choose the right one for the right purpose'.
Who uses Go stones? Go stones are used by yourself, your children, your grandchildren, everyone, etc.
User-friendly (easy to hold between fingers, easy to play) go stones for daily use? Thick and heavy Go stones? High-class Go stones? For gifts? For beginners? For a certain level of experience? How good is your game? Rarity? What are the most popular stones? We recommend that you consider these factors when making your selection.
Who uses Go stones? Go stones are used by yourself, your children, your grandchildren, everyone, etc.
User-friendly (easy to hold between fingers, easy to play) go stones for daily use? Thick and heavy Go stones? High-class Go stones? For gifts? For beginners? For a certain level of experience? How good is your game? Rarity? What are the most popular stones? We recommend that you consider these factors when making your selection.
For introductory and beginners
For children
For everyday use
For children
For everyday use
Recommendation
● Clamshell Go stones Blue Label
● Clamshell Go stones Premium Blossom grade
● Size: size 28(thick/7.5 mm) - 36(thick/10.1 mm)
● Clamshell Go stones Blue Label
● Clamshell Go stones Premium Blossom grade
● Size: size 28(thick/7.5 mm) - 36(thick/10.1 mm)
For beginners,children, and daily use, we recommend "Clamshell Go Stones Blue Label" or "Clamshell Go stones Premium Blossom grade", size 28 to 36. When you play Go stones, you put them between your fingers, and the thickness that is generally considered easy to put between fingers is "size 28 to 36". Therefore, Go stones with thicknesses of "size 28 to 36" are practical and relatively inexpensive.
Gift, Intermediate and above
For those who want high quality Go stones
For those who want high quality Go stones
Recommendation
● Clamshell Go stones Premium Snow grade
● Clamshell Go stones Blue Label Snow grade
● Size: As you like
● Clamshell Go stones Premium Snow grade
● Clamshell Go stones Blue Label Snow grade
● Size: As you like
If you "want to buy a better one because you are buying it," or if you want a gift or a high-quality Go stone, we recommend "Clamshell Go stones Premium Snow grade" and "Clamshell Go stones Blue Label Snow grade". The price difference between the two stones is large, so please choose according to your budget and preference. The feel, touch and texture of the Clamshell Go stones are completely different from glass or plastic Go stones.
If your budget allows, we recommend using a Clamshell Go stone when you want to enjoy the game of Go to your heart's content.
If your budget allows, we recommend using a Clamshell Go stone when you want to enjoy the game of Go to your heart's content.
Line-up
Clamshell Go stones Premium Snow grade
Quality:◎ Grade:◎
Quality:◎ Grade:◎
Clamshell Go stones Premium Blossom grade
Quality:◎ Grade:〇
Quality:◎ Grade:〇
Clamshell Go stones Blue Label Snow grade
Quality:〇 Grade:◎
Quality:〇 Grade:◎
Clamshell Go stones Blue Label
Quality:〇 Grade:〇
Quality:〇 Grade:〇
Value and Price
Materials
Hyuga Clam Shell
Mexican Clam Shell
Glass, ceramics, etc.
Plastics, etc.
Mexican Clam Shell
Glass, ceramics, etc.
Plastics, etc.
High
Low
Nachi-Kuroishi from Kumano City, Mie Prefecture
Other Domestic Black Stones
Foreign black stone
Glass, ceramics, etc.
Plastics, etc.
Other Domestic Black Stones
Foreign black stone
Glass, ceramics, etc.
Plastics, etc.
Quality
In the case of white Go stones made from clam shells, it is very difficult to produce Go stones without flaws or colors, because there are flaws originating from the material, or flaws are caused in the manufacturing process, or the color of the material remains. In addition, our Go stones have an ideal Go stone shape for each size. Any stones that deviate significantly from this ideal shape are excluded from our products. In the case of Nachiguro Black Go stones, there is no difference in quality compared to Clam White Go stones because there are no stripes and the quality of the material is stable.
Premium grade
Almost flawless Go stones
All of our Go stones, white and black, are selected by our craftsmen for quality. Go stones with almost no flaws are classified as "Selected" grade.
Blue label
Go stones with slight scratches and color remaining
Go stones that have been carefully selected but still have slight flaws and color are classified as "Blue Label" grade. Go stones that do not meet the Blue Label standards will not be commercialized.
Grade
Clamshell White Go Stones Stripe Rank
Snow grade
Top quality (approx. 5-10%)
The grade of Clamshell White Go Stone is ranked by the stripes of the Go Stone. Clamshell White Go stones have stripes on one side of the stone (some stones have a little stripe on the other side). The side with stripes is called "Omote" and the other side is called "Belly". The more stripes on a Clam White Go stone, the thinner the stripes themselves are and the straighter and narrower the distance between stripes, the more beautiful and valuable the Go stone is.
Blossom grade
Grade (stripe) is less than Snow grade
Only clamshell White Go stones with more than 80% of the total stripes are the highest grade "Snow grade". Because only about 5 to 10% of all clamshell White Go stones are produced, "Snow grade" is a very rare and relatively expensive clamshell White Go stone. Striped Go stones that do not meet the "Snow grade" grade are classified by quality as "Premium Blossom grade" for stones with almost no flaws, and "clamshell Go stones Blue Label" for stones that were not selected carefully but still have slight flaws and color.
Size (Thickness)
The thickness of Go stones (Clamshell White Go
stones and Nachikuro Black Go stones) are standardized from size 20 to size 50. Clamshell white Go stones are made from natural clam shells, and since only a small number of thicker shells can be obtained, the thicker the Go stone, the more expensive it is. Normally, we sell 12 types of Clamshell Go stones in even numbers from size 28 (7.5mm) to size 50 (14.3mm).
The thickness and diameter of our Go stones are slightly different between white Go stones and black Go stones of the same size. The thickness of Nachikuro Black Go stones is 0.3mm thicker and the diameter is 0.3mm larger than Clamshell White Go stones of the same size.
The thickness and diameter of our Go stones are slightly different between white Go stones and black Go stones of the same size. The thickness of Nachikuro Black Go stones is 0.3mm thicker and the diameter is 0.3mm larger than Clamshell White Go stones of the same size.
The standard diameter of the Clam White Go Stone is 21.9 mm, while the diameter of the Nachi Black Go Stone is 22.2 mm.
The reason for this is that white is an expansion color, so when white and black stones of the same diameter and thickness are viewed by the human eye, the black stones appear slightly smaller, so they are adjusted to appear about the same size. If the black stones look smaller on the board, it would seem psychologically disadvantageous, so the stones are adjusted so that they appear to be about the same size to the human eye.
The reason for this is that white is an expansion color, so when white and black stones of the same diameter and thickness are viewed by the human eye, the black stones appear slightly smaller, so they are adjusted to appear about the same size. If the black stones look smaller on the board, it would seem psychologically disadvantageous, so the stones are adjusted so that they appear to be about the same size to the human eye.