There are chess sets and there are CHESS SETs. Here you can check the second ones.
Do you know which are the most expensive chess sets?
In order to make the most complete article on the Internet on this subject, I will make 2 different classifications:
- The most expensive chess sets available in the market. In this classification are some boards that only the wealthiest can afford.
- The most expensive chess sets of all times. Pieces that were sold for thousands, hundreds or even millions of dollars.
Are you ready?
10 Most expensive chess sets available to buy
All of these chess sets are available for purchase. Which one would you be able to afford? Which one do you think best justifies its price? Judge for yourself.
Métier Chess Game by MR Porter – $4,980
Métier’s travel-friendly chess and backgammon set has been handcrafted in Italy from natural wood and leather using artisanal techniques, so no two are the same. The game pieces are inspired by 20th century works of art and have in-built magnetics to ensure you won’t lose them while playing on the move. An ideal gift, it’s sure to be used and cherished for years to come.
Brown Portable Leather and Wood Chess Set | MÉTIER | MR PORTER
Skyline Chess Gold, Dubai, by Jewellery Quarter – $6,500
This show-stopping piece from Skyline Chess is truly a work of art. Featuring 32 intricately detailed playing pieces, the bronze sets are made in a foundry in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, combining a lost wax casting technique that dates back 6000 years with 3D printing techniques to ensure every minute detail is perfect captured. In this truly unique set, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House plays the pawn, The Cayan Tower makes an elegant rook, the Jumeirah Emirates Towers step in as knight, the Rose Rotana is a beautiful bishop and the Princess Tower makes for a regal queen. Which leaves the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and one with a commanding stature befitting only for a king. Complete with a luxury playing board made from the finest Carrara marble, this striking set comes beautifully presented in an elegant box.
- Material: gold plated solid bronze, Carrara marble
- Dimensions: 37.5×37.5cm
- 32 piece Dubai set, hand-cast in solid bronze
- Plated in gold
- Felt bases on each piece
- Italian Carrara marble playing board
Buy Skyline Chess Luxury Edition Chess Set & Marble Board – Gold – Dubai | AMARA
Horsecut by Hermès (Out of stock) – $7,750
Horsecut by Hermès París is a Chess game in solid natural and ebonised mahogany.
- Made in Indonesia
- Measures 17.3″ long x 17.3″ wide
Horsecut chess game | Hermès USA (hermes.com)
Wooden Chessboard by Gucci – $10,400
A timeless game that will undoubtedly be treasured through the generations. This classic chessboard is crafted from beige and ebony varnished mahogany wood, while the chess pieces are enriched by the Gucci logo. For storage and protection it is accompanied by a GG Supreme briefcase, decorated with the signature Double G motif and Web stripe—a timeless pairing that pays homage to Gucci’s roots.
- Beige and ebony varnished mahogany wood
- GG Supreme briefcase cover, a material with low environmental impact with green and red Web
- Demetra sides, trim and lining with Radura print—crafted from animal-free raw materials that are primarily from sustainable, renewable, and bio-based sources
- Moiré lining with Radura print
- Cast iron and aluminum alloy chess pieces, with Gucci logo
- Double G
- 16.9″L x 16.9″W x 3.5″H
- Made in Italy
Wooden Chessboard in beige and ivory | GUCCI® US
Marble Made Chess set by Gadess – $14,500
Art Chess ‘Alice In Wonderland’ by Sophie Matisse – $23,400
This chess set have been exhibited at Christie’s, Saatchi Gallery and the World Chess Hall of Fame. Many of these 1 of 1, hand-painted works have been the choice of royalty, renowned interior designers, art collectors and chess Grandmasters. Purling has collaborated with over thirty artists, including Sophie Matisse, Mr. Doodle and Thierry Noir. Every Art Chess set is hand-finished in London, England and can be made bespoke to your wishes.
Sophie Matisse is an internationally exhibiting artist represented by Francis Naumann Fine Art in New York. She is the great granddaughter of Henri Matisse and the step-granddaughter of Marcel Duchamp. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is one of three works by Matisse, exploring chess, colour and history and was hand-painted especially for Purling London.
“This Alice in Wonderland inspired chess set with its candy-like colors were a lot of fun to work with.
Keeping even just an air of playfulness in any battle I think is essential for self-preservation! Some of the best solutions are the simplest, a useful reminder, that even just a little magical thinking can not only save your skin, but also your soul.”
Art Chess Sophie Matisse “Alice in Wonderland” | Luxury Gifts (purling.com)
Chess Case by Louis Vuitton – $24,000
Inspired from the classic Président attaché case, this Chess case enables players to carry their games everywhere.
- 19.1 x 10.8 x 3 inches (length x Height x Width)
- 48 x 25.4 x 6.2 cm (length x height x width)
- 18.9 x 10 x 2.44 inches
- Coated Canvas
- Microfiber lining
- Ebony, Maple and VVN garnitures
- Drass metal pieces
Chess Case Damier Ebene – MEN – Travel | LOUIS VUITTON ®
Super Luxury Chess Set by Geoffrey Parker – $63,200
Created by Geoffrey in the 1960’s evolving through a number of designs and metals – always with leather inlays; editions were tried in brass, aluminium and eventually, London hallmarked Sterling silver with 3 microns of gold leaf was settled on as the final design.
Going on to win the Design Centre award for their 1977 edition which was created to celebrate HM The Queen’s Silver Jubilee. A matching inlaid leather chessboard was created with a Sterling silver-gilt hall-marked frame which is, in turn, inlaid with leather also.
A pair of beautiful suede lined leather-bound book-boxes keep these previous pieces safely. Since those days we have introduced on almost all of our chess sets extra Queens and our Silver Jubilee set is no exception. The King’s Rook (Castle) and Knight have crowns embossed in gold to identify them from the Queen’s (the Bishops are considered “divine” without allegiance to Crown).
This magnificent set is available in any of our Dauphin calf colours (see below) or of course in Alligator, Ostrich or Water Sanke if preferred. Similarly, the set can be made just in Sterling silver or in solid Gold, rather than Silver-gilt – please ask for pricing on these different versions.
Super Luxury Chess Set | Geoffrey Parker | Luxury Games
Art Chess ‘Reconciled Dichotomy (Creation v. Destruction)’ by Daniel Brusatin – $98,000
These art chess sets have been exhibited at Christie’s, Saatchi Gallery and the World Chess Hall of Fame. Many of these 1 of 1, hand-painted works have been the choice of royalty, renowned interior designers, art collectors and chess Grandmasters. Purling has collaborated with over thirty artists, including Sophie Matisse, Mr. Doodle and Thierry Noir. Every Art Chess set is hand-finished in London, England and can be made bespoke to your wishes.
“My chess table is inspired by the balance between opposites. Creation and destruction. The lines as the hands of Michelangelo’s ‘La Création D’Adam’ from opposite sides nearly touch each other and maintain a tension, thus creating balance in the board and giving the illusion of forward movement. The pink splatters symbolise beauty of thought amid the battlefield and the colour frame paradise out of it. Both sides are black (gloss black + matt black) giving the illusion of equality between battling sides but symbolically the light of war makes them different.”
Daniel Brusatin
Couture Chess By Daniel Brusatin | Luxury Chess Boards (purling.com)
10 Most expensive chess set ever
In this other list are 10 other complete sets. These chess sets have been purchased in a different way such as auctions. Even about some of these boards there are doubts if they really exist.
250th Anniversary Baccarat Harcourt Chess Set – $27,300
The French crystal maker Baccarat designed this beautiful crystal chess set in 2014 on their 250th anniversary in collaboration with Japanese designer Oki Sato. The pieces are made from midnight-blue and clear crystal, and each piece took over 100 hours of crystal cutting to complete.
The Cybis Chessmen – $49,900
Designed by Harry Burger Jr., this beautiful porcelain chess set is worth $49,900. Ten such sets were made in 1970. The elaborately carved pieces are based on the Nine Heroes Tapestries hailing from the 14th century. The pieces depict Jewish, Hebrew, and Pagan figures.
Carolingi XIV Chess Set – Charlemagne, King of Carolingians vs. the Moors of Spain Giant Chess Set – $146,490
Valued at $146,490, this breathtaking chess set was designed by Piero Benzoni and sold by Pianki. This set features the classic Arthurian-inspired court of royals, knights, and turrets, a marvelous depiction of medieval warfare. The set has been inspired by the historical accounts of Charlemagne and is crafted on gold-plated legs.
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Limited Edition Chess Set – $195,000
Designed in 1977 by Geoffrey Parker, this is another one of the most expensive chess sets globally, valued at $195,000. Made from sterling silver and gold leaf pieces, this set was gifted to celebrate 25 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The chessboard is made from leather buffalo calfskin trim.
J. Grahl Chess Set – $450,000
Jim Grahl originally designed this chess set in 1972 on a commission basis. Valued at $450,000. The total weight of all the pieces in this set is believed to be almost a pound. Each of the pieces is crafted from 14 karat gold and solid silver. The chessboard is manufactured from ebony wood which is further embellished with sterling silver.
Royal Diamond Chess Set – $500,000
Valued at an estimated $500,000, this extraordinary luxurious chess set is designed by French artist and jewelry maker Bernard Maquin for Charles Hollander. This lavish chess set took over 4500 hours to design, and the chessboard and pieces are handmade.
The chess pieces are styled classically and made of 14 karats white gold and covered with 9900 white and black diamonds. The diamonds weigh a total of 186.9 carats.
The Art of War Set – $700,000
Made in 2008 by the designer Victor F. Scharstein, this beautiful rhodium and gold chess set is priced at $700,000.
Each gold and rhodium piece is made by hand and inlaid with precious diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. The board also is spectacular to look at, built from gold and ebony wood, and decorated with more precious jewels.
Game of Kings Chess Set – $3-million
Estimated to be worth a total of $3 million, this is the third most valuable chess set in the world. The chess set took two years to craft and weighs more than a ton, containing over 110 pounds of silver. The chess set has been inspired by ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, and the set has been exhibited many times at museums and galleries.
The King’s pieces are made from red and black obsidian and finished with 925 silver, turquoise, and 22k gold vermeil. The dimensions of the king pieces are 450mm in height, 150mm in depth, and 150mm in width. The weight of the king pieces is 5 kgs.
Pearl Royale Chess Set – $4-million
Priced at a steep $4 million, the Pearl Royale Chess Set is considered the Bugatti of chess sets in the world. It once held the title of being the most expensive chess set and was designed and created by Australian jewelry manufacturer Colin Burn, Only three of these sets exist.
Made in 2008 from 18 karats of white gold. The pieces are further inlaid with a spectacular collection of precious stones like sapphires, diamonds, and pearls taken right from the South Sea.
Jewel Royale Chess Set – $9.8-million
The most expensive chess set in the world is the Jewel Royale Chess Set. Designed by Boodles. The King’s piece itself is valued at over $140,000.
The chess set has inlays of 16-karat gold, dozens of rubies, and spirals of diamonds. The original Jewel Royale Chess Set was commissioned for $1.2 million and is now worth $9.8-million.
The Takeaway
The rarest and most expensive chess sets in the world can fetch millions of dollars from the most ardent collectors. The beauty of the game though is that even the cheapest board can deliver the same incredible experience. Thousands of years of strategy will be at your fingertips, even if diamonds may not be.