Enhance Your Game With the Best Luxury Chess Set

Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Jake

Every chess enthusiast, player, or hobbyist has considered acquiring a beautifully crafted chess set at least once. A luxury chess set is more than just a board and pieces.  A luxury set allows you to better appreciate the game. The handcrafted set also elevates your experience. Keep in mind that a luxurious chess set is an ideal gift for a chess collector, player, enthusiast or connoisseur.

 

In this post, we’ll go over some things to look for in the best luxury chess set followed by our list and reviews of the best luxury chess sets.

In a Rush?  Here’s Our Top Picks:

Features to Consider

There are two ways you can go about acquiring a luxury chess game set. You can acquire the set as a collective whole or you can buy components separately. Buying a complete set is best and a less frustrating way as you get a coherent set with perfectly matched components.  Buying each piece individually can also get you there, but finding components that complement each other can be tedious.  However, this can be a hobby worth pursuing if you have the interest.

 

Components of a Chess Set

The Board – This makes up the playfield of any chess game and can be considered the foundation of any chess match. The chessboard is checkered and consists of  64 squares arranged in an eight by eight grid. Chessboards can be made of wood, glass, marble, and other materials.

 

The boards come in many sizes and colors. Expensive boards may be made of unstained light and dark brown wood (such as ebony, maple or rosewood), decorative glass, or marble. If you want your luxury board that is FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) compliant, you may want to get a wooden chessboard.

 

Chess Pieces- These are the pieces you move around the board. These chess pieces come in a wide variety of styles and patterns. The pieces can be of the Staunton style, which is the most common style and the most widely accepted for tournaments and competitions. Other styles out there include the St. George style, the English Barleycorn style, and the French Regence style.

 

Chess pieces can be made of marble, wood (such as ebony and boxwood), or plastic. You need to consider all of this before getting a chess set.

 

I recommend you go for a Staunton chess set with wooden Staunton chess pieces. Chess pieces are also referred to as chessmen.

 

The Box – The box holds the pieces and sometimes the board. Luxury chess boxes are ornate and may have a coffer top or sliding drawers. The internal configuration may feature compartments for pieces or a single divider that separates the white pieces from the black pieces. The box must be of the highest quality.

 

 

Materials and Workmanship

The materials and workmanship that goes into making a luxury chess set are of the highest standard. The finest woods (usually hardwoods), stones and marbles are used for the board,  box, and pieces.

 

Cost

Since the best materials and top artistry goes into making a high-end chess set, expect to pay top dollar.  A low price is always suspicious. It is best to steer clear of deals that seem too good to be true. Usually, they are too good to be true. Expect to pay anywhere between $500 to as much as $50,000 for a luxury set.

 

Best Luxury Chess Set – Our Picks

Imperial Collector Luxury Chess Set

 

 

Materials used – Elm Burl and Bird’s Eye Maple wood, Natural Boxwood, and Blood Rosewood

Components included – Chessmen, a chessboard, and a chess box

Board Dimensions- 25 x 25 inches

King Height- 4.4 inches

King base diameter  2 inches

Manufacturer- The House of Staunton

 

The first set we will be looking at is the Imperial Collector Luxury Chess Set from the House of Staunton. The House of Staunton is a well-known manufacturer of high-end chess sets. This set is one of the best. Made of high-quality materials and handcrafted by master artisans, this set stands shoulders above the rest. It may just be the best luxury chess set yet. The Imperial Collector Series Luxury Chess set is not only for show. This chess set is designed to withstand rigorous practical play.

 

The chessmen of the Imperial Collector Series Luxury Chess set are hand carved by master artisans using the high-grade woods (blood rosewood). The kings stand at 4.4 inches with a base diameter of 2 inches. The leather base pads of the Kings are gold embossed. For the other pieces, high-grade billiard cloth base pads are utilized. The pieces are hand-weighted and hand-polished by master artisans.  The set includes 34 pieces including 4 queens (2 additional queens are provided for pawn promotion) as by the House of Staunton standards.

 

The board’s surface features elm burl maple wood (for the dark squares) and bird’s eye maple wood (for the light squares). Each square is 2.5 sq. inches in size. This veneered board is a ½ inch thick and features an exquisitely molded edge and an elegant satin finish.

 

The box itself is beautifully crafted and holds all the chess pieces in individual compartments. It does this with the use of a beautiful red burl fitted coffer. This ensures the pieces aren’t stacked on top of each other, which can cause chips and damages. The box also features a removable top tray, brass quadrant hinges, and a lock and key. Not surprisingly, the insignia of the manufacturer embosses the lid.

 

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St. Petersburg Series Chess Set

 

 

Materials used – Natural Boxwood and Ebony

Components included – Chessmen, a chessboard, and a chess box

Board Dimensions- 23.75 x 23.75 inches

King Height- 6 inches

King base diameter – 1.7 inches

Manufacturer- The House of Staunton

 

 

The much more affordable St. Petersburg Series Chess Set is still an excellent chess set that looks and feels excellent. Unsurprisingly, this gorgeous chess set is brought to you by the House of Staunton who has been in the business of handcrafting high-end chess sets for nearly 30 years.  The St. Petersburg Series is sure to leave chess enthusiasts, players, and hobbyists in awe.  Within its price range, the 6″ St. Petersburg Series Chess Set is simply unrivaled.

 

The chessmen of the St. Petersburg Series are masterful works of art in their own accord. The pieces are much more slender and taller than most chessmen. The unique House of Staunton’s weighting technique used ensures hairline fractures don’t develop even in the driest climates. The kings are 6 inches tall and have a base diameter of 1.7 inches. All chess pieces are crafted, hand weighted and polished by master craftsmen. As with all House of Staunton chess sets, this set includes 34 pieces ( including 4 queens, meaning 2 extra queens for pawn promotion).

 

The board is crafted with striped ebony (for dark squares) & Bird’s Eye Maple (for light squares) and offers a striking contrast to the coloration of the chessmen. Regardless of the contrast, both components complement each other nicely and come together to form one grand set.

 

The elegant chess box features a single divider and is lined with green billiard cloth.  Other notable features include a lock and key, and brass quadrant hinges. The House of Staunton logo is laser etched onto the lid.

 

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Burnt Zagreb ’59 Series Chess Set

 

 

Materials used – Burnt Boxwood and Boxwood

Components included – Chessmen & a chessboard

Board Dimensions- 21.6 x 21.6 inches

King Height- 4 inches

King base diameter – 1.7 inches

 

This chess set is a reproduction of the 1959 Russian Zagreb Series chess set in Staunton style. The Zagreb series chess set is one of the most gorgeous chess set to feature in major international tournaments. The series was most notably used in the World Championship Candidates Match that was held in Bied, Zagreb in 1959.  The chessmen may follow the Staunton style but they do look unique and have an East European charm to them. The art style is intricate and it seems each detail has a story to tell.

 

The chessmen show intricate workmanship with unique downward-facing knights which is one of the features that gives this set its uniqueness. The pieces are exquisitely carved with an impeccable level of detail. The pieces are made of boxwood. To produce the dark pieces, the boxwood used is burnt. This technique creates a stark contrast between the burnt surface and the natural wood color underneath which can be seen from the marks and shapes expertly carved onto the pieces. The pieces are then polished to give off a high gloss lacquer finish.

 

The kings are 3.8 inches tall and have a base diameter of 1.6 inches. These dimensions comply with tournament rules.

 

The chessboard is made in Spain. It is a 22 sq. inch wooden board with a thickness of 13 mm.  It is made with the finest materials such as hard maple and poplar. The surface features veneered white maple wood (light squares) and black dyed poplar wood (dark squares). The board has a matte finish. Individual squares are 2.16 x 2.16 inches in size. This solidly designed board has a long shelf-life and is extremely durable.

 

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Camaratta Signature Cooke Luxury Chess Set

 

 

Materials used – Mopane and Genuine Ebony

Components included – Chessmen, chessboard, and a chess box

Board Dimensions- 22.5 x 22.5 inches

King Height- 3.625 inches

King base diameter-  2 inches

Manufacturer- The House of Staunton

 

As evident by the name, the Camaratta Signature Cooke Luxury Chess Set features the signature of Frank Camaratta, the renowned legendary chess artist. This chess set is well designed and one of the most gorgeous pieces of the year.

 

The Staunton style chess pieces are modeled after the traditional Cooke chess set but with a bit of Camaratta magic. Combining the Staunton Cooke set with the Maestro’s Knight design of the Craftsman set, Frank Carmatta creates chessmen which alludes to Classical Greek architecture. As these pieces are classic  Staunton chess pieces, they are accepted in all tournaments. The set includes 34 pieces including 4 queens (2 additional queens are for pawn promotion) as by the House of Staunton standards.

 

The board’s surface features  African Palisander and Bird’s Eye Maple woods with spalted maple inlays and corners and an African Palisander frame. Each square is 2.5 sq inches in size. This veneered board is a ½ inch thick.  The dark African Palisander contrasts with the light Bird’s Eye Maple giving the board a stunning yet traditional feel.

 

The box features green billiard cloth lining, and the lid is laser etched with the House of Staunton logo.

 

Check Price and Reviews On Amazon

 

 

The Collector Series Library Chess Set

 

 

Materials used – Natural Boxwood and Blood Rosewood

Components included – Chessmen, chessboard and box combination

Board Dimensions- 17.5 x 17.5 x 4.5 inches

King Height- 3 inches

King base diameter – 1.5 inches

Manufacturer- The House of Staunton

 

The House of Staunton Collector Series combines the board and box into one unit. After a game, open the drawers underneath the board and deposit the pieces into them. This board looks amazing. The classic look makes it perfect for studies and offices. In its price range, it is the best-made luxury chess set on the market.

 

The kings of this chess set are 3 inches tall with a diameter base of 1.5 inches. Upon examination, you will notice the excellent craftsmanship of the pieces. This is no surprise as the pieces are handcrafted by master artisans, and are heavily weighted. The Kings are base padded with embossed leather while the other pieces are base padded with billiard cloth.

 

The board and box are one unit. The playing surface is made from walnut and maple woods with a Cherry frame. Underneath the board is are drawers on both sides. The drawer is partitioned so each chess piece has its coffer. This ensures the pieces don’t sit on each other.

 

Check Price and Reviews On Amazon

 

Wrap Up

As a hobbyist, enthusiast or avid player, a luxury chess set is an excellent investment. These beautifully crafted works of art are sure to last for many decades and even centuries. As they are handcrafted by master artisans, expect the best. Luxury chess sets also make wonderful elegant gifts.

 

Some other articles you might find helpful:

• Best regular chess board reviews
• 101 Game Room ideas

Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API