Playing Card Review: Guild (3 Viewers)

Irish

Straight Flush
Supporter
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
7,713
Reaction score
27,019
Location
NJ
As a bona fide playing card junkie, I heard about our new vendor's new playing cards (here) and had to pick up a setup to try them out. The brand is called Guild and the cards are 100% acetate plastic (same material as Modiano Platinum and Kems). The setup I purchased was poker size, jumbo index with black/gold card backs (they come in all combos of bridge/poker and jumbo/standard with either blue/red or black/gold card backs).

I'll preface my review with my playing card preferences for reference. I typically prefer the thicker Italian & Spanish playing cards, my favorites being Modiano, Fournier & Dal Negro (in that order). I also really like J Design cards, especially when I'm steady dealing as these are a little more flexible. Kems are beautiful but I don't care for the feel, and only use Copags when I'm dealing for really long stretches. Onto the review...

The Guild setup comes in black plastic case (it's actually a Modiano case) with a Guild Poker cardboard cover like most other premium cards.



The artwork on the card backs are very detailed, and IMHO reminiscent of a combo of both the Kem Arrow and the Bicycle designs. Nice sharp graphics and consistent color, and most importantly the white boarders appeared consistent in size and in sifting through the deck I didn't see any blemishes.



The decks came with 52 cards plus 2 jokers and a card ranking cheat sheet. The signature Ace of spades is pretty sharp.



The face cards have the same design style as Modiano cards:



All of the cards have a boxing around the inner pip indicators on the face; for A through 10, the boxing has an off white fill color:



While the face cards have the design style as Modianos, the colors on much more vivid and saturated on the Guild cards. The red on the hearts/diamonds is very bright, especially when compared to the "security" red ink on the Modiano. Modiano Cristallo Acetate top row, Guild bottom row:



Here's a comparison with a few different brands. From top to bottom: Fournier 2800, Guild, J Design, Copag:



And another comparison of colors/pips, from left to right: Dal Negro Net, Modiano Cristallo Acetate, Guild, Fournier 2800, J Design, Copag:



And one last comparison of some card backs, from left to right: Dal Negro Net, Kem Arrow, Guild, Modiano Cristallo Acetate, Fournier 2800:



The Guild card stock is really nice, it's a relatively thick card with a textured finish (unlike Kems/Copag which are smooth); rubbing two cards together sounds like light sandpaper. The stock feel is most similar to Modiano, Dal Negro & Fournier. The card surface has a slightly glossy finish, more like Fourniers (whereas Modianos have a bit more dull finish). This makes them a hair more slippery, but easier to push the cards together during a riffle. Flexibility is fairly stiff, again similar to Fournier/Dal Negro, slightly less flexible than the Modianos. The corners on the cards are again similar to Fournier & J Design, not quite as rounded as Modianos or Dal Negros (the pic above of the card backs shows this really well). The card stock is a really bright white, brighter than most of the other cards in my collection, about the same as the newer J Design cards.

Both decks in the setup were relatively flat. Not 100% flat but within acceptable tolerance, I had no issues shuffling or dealing the cards across the full length of the table. The gold deck was a little better than the black deck.

Gold Deck (card backs face to face):


Black Deck (card backs face to face):


Overall I really liked these cards. They have a really great, substantial feel to them, similar to the Modiano/Fournier style, though they're a little more slick. That's either a good or bad thing, depending on your preference. Inexperienced shufflers (those who pick up the deck off the table, split in half, shuffle, then bridge, etc. or worse lol) will probably find these a little more slippery and hard to control, whereas those who really know how to shuffle (i.e the deck is never more than a 1/4" off the table) will love them as they'll be easier to shuffle. I really like the back designs, and while the face cards are relatively standard/basic, the saturated colors look great and the off-white boxing is a nice touch. Overall I would put these on par or just a hair lower than my other favorites, definitely worth a spot in the rotation and a decent deal at <$25 shipped per setup. If I can remember I'll update the review after we've played with them a few times.

Edited: the Modianos pictured are Cristallo Acetates, not Platinum Acetates.
 
Last edited:
Eddie mentioned that these could be available to PCF members at a discount...IIRC it was $20 shipped.
.
 
"... The brand is called Guild and the cards are 100% acetate plastic (same material as Modiano Platinum and Kems).
Kem & Modiano Platinum are made from completely different materials ( cellulose acetate vs I believe PVC acetate)..
These look good, I wonder what these are actually made of ...
To my knowledge only Kem has ever used the cellulose acetate material for playing cards.
If I had to guess based on the description of feel,, these are a PVC or similar plastic acetate such as Modiano & other brands, but styled/marketed to look more like Kem Arrows ..
Is the actual type of plastic on the box, or was it left vague as just "acetate"?
 
Kem & Modiano Platinum are made from completely different materials ( cellulose acetate vs I believe PVC acetate)..
These look good, I wonder what these are actually made of ...
To my knowledge only Kem has ever used the cellulose acetate material for playing cards.
If I had to guess based on the description of feel,, these are a PVC or similar plastic acetate such as Modiano & other brands, but styled/marketed to look more like Kem Arrows ..
Is the actual type of plastic on the box, or was it left vague as just "acetate"?

I think that Carta Mundi also sold a cellulose acetate line through CaraGails. I am prepared to be corrected, but I think that was why I purchased a couple set-ups of them.
The stag logo on the Ace of Spades is reminiscent of the Modiano trademark . . . very reminiscent.

A very nice review with some nice photos for comparisons. Well played.
 
Kem & Modiano Platinum are made from completely different materials ( cellulose acetate vs I believe PVC acetate)..
These look good, I wonder what these are actually made of ...
To my knowledge only Kem has ever used the cellulose acetate material for playing cards.
If I had to guess based on the description of feel,, these are a PVC or similar plastic acetate such as Modiano & other brands, but styled/marketed to look more like Kem Arrows ..
Is the actual type of plastic on the box, or was it left vague as just "acetate"?

The back of the box states 100% cellulose acetate. IMHO they don't feel like Kem cards, but again I think that has more to do with the surface texture of the cards.

I don't pretend to know the difference between cellulose acetate and PVC acetate (even with a ChEg degree...) :)
 
Great review, thanks!

The stag logo on the Ace of Spades is reminiscent of the Modiano trademark . . . very reminiscent.

Is Guild a rebrand for Modiano?

Screenshot_20160607-042330.png


It seems like a bit of a coincidence that a (very similar looking) stag is used.
 
Only additional info I could find is that the Guild cards look to be a Kickstarter project for Liberty Playing Cards

Seems odd that the stag was used. Maybe Modiano manufacture these, joint venture or something?
 
Here's a shot of the back of the cardboard box, shows both the cellulose acetate plastic and notes the cards are trademarked to Liberty Playing Card Company (US Company).



The stag in the Guild logo and on the ace of spades is reminiscent of the stag used on some of the Modiano cards (it's not an exact match). That, plus the facts that the face cards are the same design as Modiano and that they came in a Modiano plastic box...



...all seem to indicate that this venture may be some sort of offshoot of the Modiano brand. Which of course is a good thing :)
 
Hello,

Guild brand is owned by Liberty Playing Cards and the stag in the Guild logo and on the ace of spades belongs to Liberty as well. I know Modiano is also using the stag & has something very similar but its a trademark of Liberty.
Also we are planning on a promotion this week probably for Thursday or Friday. Where all of you guys can purchase Guild brand decks to test & play for 50 percent off.
Will post more details soon.

Thanks
 
Hello,

Guild brand is owned by Liberty Playing Cards and the stag in the Guild logo and on the ace of spades belongs to Liberty as well. I know Modiano is also using the stag & has something very similar but its a trademark of Liberty.
Also we are planning on a promotion this week probably for Thursday or Friday. Where all of you guys can purchase Guild brand decks to test & play for 50 percent off.
Will post more details soon.

Thanks

Saucesome!!! :)

Just need free international shipping now pls thnx ;)
 
Hello,

Guild brand is owned by Liberty Playing Cards and the stag in the Guild logo and on the ace of spades belongs to Liberty as well. I know Modiano is also using the stag & has something very similar but its a trademark of Liberty.
Also we are planning on a promotion this week probably for Thursday or Friday. Where all of you guys can purchase Guild brand decks to test & play for 50 percent off.
Will post more details soon.

Thanks
How come the cards come in a Modiano case?
 
great review! I try to keep my cards at a 15 shipped price. I'll just admire these from a distance :)
 
Thinking about getting 2 setups. One of the red and blue and the gold and black. Talking to Eddie in pm now. Looks good.
 
Winning Was Never Been Such Easy Before
Gamblers Warehouse are proud to announce a 3 day promotion to all of their customers for their Guild brand designed by Blackout Brothers.

During the promotion period both the decks will be sold at 50 percent off Retail Price on amazon using Coupon code: guildd50.

That’s a great deal for everyone. Only 150 sets of each version would be available at this price. Hurry up to grab yours today as after this promotion the prices go back to normal.

And that’s not all. All those customers who avail this offer will also have a chance to Win 3 Guild Deck Sets for free through a selection process.

Here are the details to grab 3 deck Set of Guild for free.
  1. Purchase any of the Guild Deck Set through our amazon at discounted pricing. Follow the links below for the product pages:
  2. On receiving the decks you will have to write a 20 words product review on the amazon product page for Guild. The reviews could be positive, neutral or negative. Only those customers will qualify for the free Deck set Promotion who have successfully posted their reviews on the amazon product page.
  3. Once done you will enter into a lucky draw where 3 of the members will be selected at random to receive 3 free Guild Decks Set.
  4. Hope you will all enjoy this contest.
Web Link:

http://amzn.to/1Uq3aWT

Thanks for your support !!
 

Attachments

  • unnamed.jpg
    unnamed.jpg
    175.2 KB · Views: 266

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom