Commemorative Twin Towers Chess Set, THE PERFECT GIFT. Individually machined by the hands of Artisans...This unique, personalized Twin Towers Chess Set is the newest artistic creation of artisan Michael Molina Sr. Beautifully designed and richly polished to create a distinctive, intriguing feel. Each chess piece is crafted in high detail to each be an artistic showpiece.

The Story behind the "Twin Towers" Chess Set

Let me start by saying, my heart goes out to all those victims and heroes that lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  I cannot believe that this icon is gone and so many lives were needlessly taken.  This affected me profoundly and like many, it made me re-evaluate my life and priorities.  My daughter lived and worked in New York for two years at Chase Bank, not too far from the World Trade Center.  During that time, I visited New York several times and I had been to the WTC, Windows of the World.  It was so beautiful.  My daughter returned to Texas a year before the tragedy. I count my blessings and thank God each morning for another day with my family and friends.  They are irreplaceable and time spent together is never taken for granted, not anymore.  

About two weeks before our Christmas Luncheon in 2001, my employees at Hi-Tech Products, decided to design and build me a chess set using our CAD/CAM capabilities.  They all knew what an avid chess player I was and they decided to make something unique and personal for me.  On their own time, in the evenings and weekends, they spent many hours making sketches, designing each piece with our 3D Solid CAD software, making CAM machining programs, and then building the new chess set with our CNC machines. The final touch was a personalized board with a beautiful, heartfelt inscription on one side and all their names engraved on the other side.  At our Christmas luncheon, I was presented with this gift.  I was never more touched and honored to receive such a gift.  However, when I opened the package that held the Rook, my heart broke.  Needless to say, I was speechless and overcome with emotion.  The Rook had been designed in memoriam of the Twin Towers.

This Twin Tower Rook is very special to me and will always be reminiscent of the lives lost that fateful day…a tribute to victims and heroes that reminded America of something we should all hold dear, each other and our abilities to work together, hand in hand, when we need it most.  It is a time when we are truly united under one flag!

One afternoon, as I was showing off my beautiful gift, (something I often do), a client, picked up the Twin Tower Rook and he left me with a thought, “You know Mike, there are a lot of people out there that feel the way you do. You should think about producing these Chess Sets, they would make a great memento.”

I decided to make the Chess Sets in limited edition to determine if indeed anyone would like to have a memento of the Twin Towers.  I liked the idea of the memento being a chess set because it represented a dignified, intellectual property that could become a precious keepsake and family heirloom. When personally engraved, it becomes unique and the only one of its kind in the world.

Respectfully,

Michael A. Molina, Sr.