A Fancy Chess Set: Signs of Quality and Craftsmanship

According to Business Insider, fewer than 10 people worldwide are trained to craft knights for these championship sets. But why does a simple chess piece take so much time and skill to create? The answer lies in the pursuit of making a chess set synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship. While an affordable chess set that costs around $20 can fulfill its purpose, real beauty lies in the artistry of a handcrafted, fancy chess set. So what separates the rest from the best? What should you look for in your chess set? Let’s dive in on some telltale signs of quality.

If you boil down the concept of a chess set, you might think it’s just another board game, with its pieces made like any other game. Then why does so much craftsmanship go into making a fancy chess set?

Rare and Lavish Materials

Enter ebony, not just wood, but the haute couture of luxury chess sets. Its exclusivity is not for the faint of heart, commanding over $100 per board foot or an extravagant $10,000 per kilogram and $13,000 per cubic meter. What's the fuss about? Black ebony trees are slow growers (they take a decade to fully mature), and their wood, dense and enduring, makes them the crème de la crème for chess pieces destined to withstand the test of time. But hold on, we're not done. Visionaries like the House of Staunton push the boundaries, integrating materials such as blood rosewood, amboyna burl, and, believe it or not, 40,000-year-old Wooly Mammoth Ivory into their boards. In fact, their Mammoth Ivory Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces is a fine example of true skill. This full club-sized set comes with a 4.4" King and a 2.0" diameter base and is handcrafted with precision. These pieces, due to the natural weight of Mammoth Ivory, have an exceptional feel that requires no artificial weighting.

Handmade by Skilled Artisans

Let us tell you the detail required for each piece. In a standard chess game, each player starts with sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The king, standing tall at 95 millimeters with a base of 39 millimeters, typically holds the distinction of being the tallest and widest piece. Every chess piece has a unique defining characteristic, from the king's crown to the refined jewel atop the queen's coronet. The correct height order – king, queen, bishop, knight, rook, and pawn – is not just a visual preference; it significantly reduces the likelihood of player mistakes. And then there's the knight, stealing the spotlight with its fancy features: a flowing mane, expressive eyes, detailed ears, and a carefully carved mouth. Each knight on the chessboard should be uniform; otherwise, the entire board will be deemed useless. This is why a uniform set of knights is usually the biggest indicator of whether a chess set is of high quality or not. 

The Name Matters 

When you pick a chess set, think of the brand as a stamp of quality. Established brands, like the House of Staunton, whose roots date back to 1990, bring an experienced touch. This experience translates into a commitment to making each chess piece a work of art. Now, why does the House of Staunton stand out? It's in their material choices – Ebony, Blood Rosewood, Amboyna Burl, Walnut Burl. These aren't just names; they're carefully chosen materials that turn chess pieces into collector's items. When we talk about exclusivity in a brand, it's not about being fancy for the sake of it. The exclusivity reflects a dedication to quality. It's visible in the price tag, yes, but it's also a promise that what you're getting is more than chess pieces – it's a piece of meticulous craftsmanship, a slice of tradition, and a guarantee of a memorable game every time you sit down to play.

Impossible to Counterfeit

When you’re buying a fancy wood chess set, how do you know if it’s an original or a counterfeit? It’s very simple because counterfeit sets do not use the same quality materials, craftsmanship, or attention to detail that other premium chess sets have. When you invest in an elegant chess set, you're getting something that's difficult to fake. The details in the wood, the careful carving, and the overall craftsmanship make each set special and hard to replicate exactly. Fancy chess sets use high-quality materials such as exotic woods, metal accents, or even precious stones. When these materials are placed in the hands of skilled craftsmen, they cut, design, polish, and prepare a set that speaks luxury and is the ultimate sign of quality. Take, for instance, the Reykjavik II Series Tournament Chess Set and Tiroir Combination by the House of Staunton, a faithful reproduction of the set used by Bobby Fischer during his iconic 1972 World Chess Championship. With a 3.75" King, a 1.6" diameter base made from blood rosewood, and reinforced Pawn collars, this House of Staunton creation represents a blend of durability, history, and authenticity that no one will even try to replicate!

Wrapping Up 

Years of experience, premium quality materials, and a brand name you can trust – all of these are the main factors that set a regular chess set apart from a fancier, more expensive one. Investing in a high-quality chess set means you’re supporting the artisans who spend a decade learning the art of creating the perfect knight (among every other piece) for your chess set. So once you spot these signs of quality in a chess set and know it’ll fit well in your home, don’t be afraid to purchase it! Know it will last you generations to come! And if you’re looking for handmade fancy chess sets, then the House of Staunton is ready to serve. Explore our wide variety of luxury collections and order yours today! You will know if a chess set is good if all the knights are uniform and designed to the tiniest detail, the set is made of premium material such as ebony, and is handcrafted instead of factory-produced. A chess set is expensive when it is prepared using quality raw materials like rosewood or boxwood and when it’s designed and handcrafted by an artisan. The best style of chess pieces depends on what you’re looking for. The most common styles are the traditional Staunton, Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and Collector’s Staunton.