Most Expensive Chess Set

Written by: tom Filed Under: Collectibles, Luxury on March 22nd, 2007

by Hunter Davis

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.

Via the Top Ten Most Expensive Board Games

Related
Most Expensive Backgammon Set


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(34) Comments

34 comments...What do you think?

  1. Posted by Acronyms 22nd March, 2007 at 10:41 pm

    They are cold and comfortable to play with

  2. Posted by Yehuda Berlinger 26th March, 2007 at 2:58 am

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

    Yehuda

  3. Posted by » Blog Archive » $9.8 million Chess Set consumer digest, luxury cars, luxury watches, luxury bedding, hobby lobby, gift baskets 28th March, 2007 at 6:47 am

    [...] 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. Posted by Motorcycle Guy 21st April, 2007 at 10:20 pm

    Wow, Imagine what losing one pawn must cost.

  5. Posted by Anand Chanana 2nd June, 2007 at 3:16 am

    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. Posted by Most Expensive Chess Set :: Gila Chess Patzer 21st June, 2007 at 9:42 pm

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

  7. Posted by Sam 7th August, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    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.

  8. Posted by Mike 23rd January, 2008 at 10:34 am

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

  9. Posted by Daniel Azzopardi 26th March, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    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. Posted by Martin 3rd June, 2008 at 2:21 pm

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

  11. Posted by Dirty Harry 10th October, 2008 at 1:36 am

    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. Posted by Arthur 15th October, 2008 at 12:57 pm

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

  13. Posted by Evgeny Statnov 28th November, 2008 at 3:32 am

    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. Posted by NAlmazar 27th January, 2009 at 3:48 pm

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

  15. Posted by janice ulimpain 23rd March, 2009 at 2:38 am

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

  16. Posted by Leroy Becker 25th April, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    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. Posted by lokitOoOoOoO 26th May, 2009 at 10:23 am

    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. Posted by Heehee 29th June, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    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. Posted by Erwin Ragadio 6th July, 2009 at 3:43 am

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

  20. Posted by Scoff 9th July, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    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. Posted by Lewis 16th July, 2009 at 4:11 pm

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

  22. Posted by Mana 21st August, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    I’d never sacrific my pieces again!

  23. Posted by Bishop 22nd August, 2009 at 4:01 am

    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. Posted by ChessBaron 4th September, 2009 at 8:27 am

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

  25. Posted by Tina 16th September, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    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. Posted by lee 8th October, 2009 at 7:14 am

    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. Posted by gary 27th October, 2009 at 7:52 am

    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. Posted by Turner 29th October, 2009 at 10:02 am

    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. Posted by hamed 24th November, 2009 at 7:54 am

    who will play what this!

  30. Posted by Marc 7th December, 2009 at 10:28 am

    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. Posted by riel 14th December, 2009 at 1:18 am

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

  32. Posted by Richard 25th January, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    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. Posted by Regency Chess 31st January, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    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. Posted by Morgan 12th February, 2010 at 10:03 am

    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 ..

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