Most Expensive Chess Set

Most Expensive Chess Set

Renowned French artist and master of jewelry, Bernard Maquin created the Royal Diamond Chess set in 2005 bringing the game of chess to a whole new level. Noted for its abililty to combine fine art, jewelry, and the classic game of chess, this is one of the most expensive chess sets in the world.

Thirty craftsmen, under the direction of Maquin spent over 4500 hours creating the expensive chess set. The work was done all by hand and when it was completed, the artists used 1168.75 grams of 14 carat white gold, and approximately 9900 black and white diamonds, bringing the total weight to 186.09 carats and the total cost to $500,000.

Royal Diamond Chess
More pictures at the Charles Hollander website.

This posh chess set is part of the Charles Hollander Collection, one of the most respected names in the diamond industry. And you just know you are looking at a piece from the Hollander collection when you see a game doubling as a diamond studded work of art.

But if you thought the Hollander set would make your chess game bling-bling, then you haven’t seen the most expensive chess set in the world yet. This label goes to the Jewel Royale Chess Set from Britain. Boodles, a British custom jewelry company commissioned its production.

Valued at over £5 million ($9.8m USD), this single chess set is the most expensive and exquisite game set of any kind in the world. Constructed of gold and platinum, it contains diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls and sapphires. The king piece alone weighs 165.2 grams of 18 carat yellow gold and has a spiraling mid-section graced by 73 rubies and 146 diamonds.

most expensive chess set

Interestingly, there will be a limited number of replica sets selling for about £20,000 ($26,700 USD).

Book and film script adaptations featuring The Jewel Royale Chess Set, with the title of “Checkmate”, are being worked on by an un-known, award winning British writer. Whether it’s a comedy or a thriller, promotional and merchandising opportunities are sure to be huge!

The production of the Jewel Royale is nearly complete, and when suitable sponsors are confirmed, a celebrity chess tournament is slated to happen using the most expensive chess set in the world. Find out more about the expensive chess set at the Jewel Royale website.

44 replies on “Most Expensive Chess Set”

  1. They are cold and comfortable to play with

  2. Yehuda Berlinger
    says:

    By the way, nowadays £20,000 is almost $40,000.

    Yehuda

  3. » Blog Archive » $9.8 million Chess Set consumer digest, luxury cars, luxury watches, luxury bedding, hobby lobby, gift baskets
    says:

    […] This exquisite chess set is constructed of gold and platinum and it is decorated with 73 rubies, 146 sapphires and no less than 748 diamonds. Each piece is made from 18 carat yellow gold and encrusted with precious stones. The king alone is worth more than £100,000. Apparently, there will be a limited number of replica sets selling for about $26,700. […]

  4. Motorcycle Guy
    says:

    Wow, Imagine what losing one pawn must cost.

  5. Anand Chanana
    says:

    Dear Sir,

    We introduce our selves as the leading manufacturers of Wooden Chess Sets in India. Our chess products are as per the international standards. We give alot of cocern to the quality of chess sets. Our chess products are one of the best in the market currently.

    We can offer you rates less than the existing rates you are procuring chess.

    Kindly feel free to contact us.

    Kindly reply to this email.

    Regards
    Anand Chanana
    CEO
    Stockhill Corporation
    Chess Pieces Division
    Plot no 95-B, Focal Point Industrial Area, 143010
    Amritsar, Punjab. INDIA.
    Contact Person :- Mr. Anand Arora, CEO.
    (M):- 0091-9356029214
    (Tele Fax):-0091-183-5004285
    chess@stockhill.com
    stockhill_chess@yahoo.com

    Website: http://www.stockhill.com

  6. Most Expensive Chess Set :: Gila Chess Patzer
    says:

    […] ~ Most Expensive Chess Set by Hunter Davies […]

  7. How ironic that one of the most expensive chess sets in the world has been set up incorrectly. The rightmost square for each player should be light-colored, and each queen should be on its own color square.

    1. True true. I do adore irony.

  8. May I suggest this luxury chess set made of brass, oak, and marble as a somewhat warmer if cheaper alternative.

  9. Daniel Azzopardi
    says:

    If i may, i would like to advise anyone who would be interested in another version of expensive chess board which has been in my family for over 90 years now.
    Solid Silver with parcel gild weighing something like 9 kilos with enamel and a variety of precious stones.
    A MASTER PIECE really!
    Should anyone be interested in seeing the item please email me :azzdaniel@gmail.com
    This Chess Set is now up for Sale for the price of 90,000 Euros.

    regards,
    Daniel

  10. WOW that’s very expensive, I agree with Sam it’s set up incorrectly

  11. Dirty Harry
    says:

    Wow,
    Who buys this expensive of a chess set? I just bought all I need in a chess set for $3.28 at Walmart today and my girlfriend said she saw the same thing for .50 at a garage sale Saturday after I’d already bought it, opened it, played it, smelled it etc and couldn’t take it back………..darn!

  12. Check out art by tigrani. He has some nice chess sets. http://www.artbytigrani.com

  13. Evgeny Statnov
    says:

    This chess set is interesting, but gold is cold, diamonds are dead. Check out some even more expensive chess set made from 2000 year old dog oak inlaid with rare russian amber. Its made in Russia by “Emelyanov and sons”. Take care. Evgeny Statnov

  14. You can’t play chess with these items, all there good for is
    displaying….

  15. janice ulimpain
    says:

    To that, all I can say is…………………..AWESOME!!!!!!!
    I’d like to play with chess set but not to buy it….=)

  16. Leroy Becker
    says:

    George Stuart’s Historical Figures would make great chess pieces but no two are alike. Value of a set would be well over $1 million!

  17. lokitOoOoOoO
    says:

    WHO wuld want a stupid chess set tha expensive.

    What ever chess set you buy, it's the same thing…

    ¡boring and non exiting! 🙁

  18. Are you kidding me? I would never, ever let anyone play chess with me ever again! I would become a jealous evil person, tempting the poor. NOT THAT I WOULD EVER, EVER, EVER DO THAT.

  19. Erwin Ragadio
    says:

    Its breath-taking! This is the greatest gift that a chess player could ever have.

  20. Unbelievable waste, credited to a fool who can’t even set a board correctly for 500,000 dollars. Mammoth Ivory and Ebony makes the best pieces if you want to go full out with money. Give me a well balanced heavy wood tourney set any day though for real play

  21. Oh my god, I would keep it in an air tight box and never use it, awsome!!

  22. I’d never sacrific my pieces again!

  23. The CHESS is the most ancient human game which is still fresh and exciting, but you will not feel conform if you play with an expensive set.

  24. Wow – what a great set! Bet you don’t sell many. But one a year should keep you going.

  25. Absolutely stunning craftsmanship. Interesting the envy that shows through on some of the posts. Liars all. If you could afford it, you’d have one and wouldn’t care how ‘wrong’ it was set up.

  26. Thats one hell of a chess set more money than a football club but i supose you get 16 per side instead of 11.

  27. what a load of crap – people are starving when stuff like this gets made?
    chess is exactly the same on a $2 board from walmart

  28. Yes a lot of effort obviously went into making it

    (Tina said) – “Liars all. If you could afford it, you’d have one and wouldn’t care how ‘wrong’ it was set up.”

    Wrong, not everyone is as materialistic as you – and if I don’t even like chess, why spend $9.8m on a chess board?

  29. who will play what this!

  30. OH MY GOD! Stop criticizing this set! Everyone here is so annoying! "Oh, who would ever want to play that!?!" "The pieces would be too cold!" "It's too expensive!!" Just use your imagination and think about owning it, because I can guarantee everyone that they would love to have this piece in the end, so please stop complaining because you could never do anything better than a chess set like that.

  31. wow!!!!!!!!! i can’t believe it…….. it’s so expensive!!!!
    i wish that i could buy that chess set!!!>>>???

  32. Certainly seems like one completely amazing set. For the all the debate the rages… I guess when it comes to making something like this there is the simple question of ‘Why not?’ It will only be a matter of time until something more opulent and expensive comes along. But this is gonna take some beating. I for one would like to see a super luxury set like this fashioned in the classic Staunton style.. but that’s just be being a purist.

  33. Regency Chess
    says:

    I think people will be surprised at just how many of these sets would sell. To the average man in the street it may seems that one or two might sell every year. But the hyper luxury market is significant and can create some considerable demand for products like this.

  34. Kudos to “Sam, August 7, 2007” … You took the words out of my mouth … placing the pieces incorrectly should have been noticed by someone at the photo shoot ..

  35. This is disgusting
    says:

    Instead of dropping that much cash on a set you might use 10 times, how about doing something better with it? There are plenty of good causes out there to donate to, and it would be much more rewarding than having this lavish set.

    And it's absolutely hilarious that they messed it up.

    Money really sucks, and some people have too much of it for their own good.

  36. This is oosam and unbelieveable.This chess is most expensive.i like .

  37. Dental Jobs
    says:

    that is well smart, wouldnt play with my uncle though cuz he throws pieces when he loses.

  38. wo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    that is EXPENSIVE!!!!!!
    if you lose anything you will never forgive your self

  39. hmm but is it worth the money… well you could sell it for more. What do all of you think?
    ben ( :

  40. Maulik lathiya
    says:

    wow its really beautiful like kohinoor

  41. Incredible…..I bet you would have to use soft white gloves so as not to tarnish the finish

  42. Chessgod234
    says:

    The truth is… no one would ever use it. it would just sit in a glass case for show. nothing more.

  43. perhaps not THE most expensive chess set but perhaps the most amazing one you will ever find at a whooping 10-12k (USD) is this hand sculpted beast of a set by artist Lopez pomares.. .http://iberiko.deviantart.com/art/The-king-must-die7-187844498