Marble Chess Sets

Our take

Marble is bought for the object, and there is no point pretending otherwise. A stone set is heavier, colder and more present than timber, and that is the whole appeal. What people underestimate is the weight. The complete set is 7.28kg, and once it is on a table it tends to stay there, which makes it a set for a room rather than a set you carry to a club.

The honest thing to know before ordering is that no two pieces match. Marble is quarried, not printed, so the veining runs differently through every knight and every pawn, and the colour shifts a little from piece to piece. Some people find that the best thing about owning one. If you want thirty two identical chessmen, stone is the wrong material and a timber set will make you happier.

On which colourway: the White & Black is the one I recommend to most people, because the contrast is unambiguous from across a room and it will not date. The oceanic and coral sets are the more interesting objects, and both are better in a space with good natural light.

Karl Matias, Customer Experience & Resident Player, Sterling Chess

Four colourways, one set

These are four finishes of the same set rather than four different products. Every one is a 38 by 38cm board with 32 hand-carved Staunton pieces, so the choice is purely which two stones you want facing each other.

• White & Black: cream white against deep black. The most graphic and classical of the four, and the easiest to read at a distance.
• Oceanic & White: oceanic blue against cream white. Softer and warmer than the black, with the blue carrying most of the veining.
• White & Oceanic: the same two stones with cream white dominant. The brightest set in the range.
• Coral & Red: coral against deep red. The warmest and most earthy, and the one that reads least like a conventional chess set.

What you actually get

The specification is the same across all four, which makes comparing them straightforward.

• A 38 by 38cm board with hand-cut squares in solid marble.
• 32 hand-carved Staunton pieces, double-weighted, with felt bases so nothing scratches the stone.
• An 89mm king at 95.25g, down through a 76mm queen, 70mm bishops, knights and rooks, and 57mm pawns.
• 7.28kg for the complete set, which is the number worth checking against wherever you plan to put it.
• A storage box with a carry handle and metal lock clips, so the pieces are held apart rather than knocking together.

An 89mm king on a 38cm board is a compact, display-led scale rather than club proportions. It plays perfectly well. It is simply not the set to take to a tournament, and the weight makes that decision for you anyway.

Marble or timber?

Different purchases, not better and worse. Marble is cool to the touch, heavy, and holds a room. It also chips if a piece is dropped on an edge or knocked off a table, and stone does not forgive that the way timber does. Most people who own a marble set also own a timber one for regular play.

If the set is going to be used several times a week, our wood chess sets range is the more practical answer and there is far more choice in it. If you want weight and presence without stone, the metal chess sets range is the other direction. And the wider luxury chess sets range covers the display end across every material we stock.

Living with a marble set

Marble asks very little. Wipe it with a soft cloth and keep harsh chemicals away from it, because acidic cleaners will dull a polished surface permanently. Keep the set out of extended direct sunlight, which can shift the colour of natural stone over time.

The felt bases do the real protective work, so it is worth checking them occasionally and keeping the pieces in the box between games rather than loose in a drawer. Kept that way a stone set does not wear out. It is the one category where the set will outlast the table it sits on.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real marble chess sets?

Yes, solid natural marble in both the board and the pieces. That is also why the veining differs from piece to piece and why the sets weigh what they do.

Do the marble chess sets include a board?

Yes. All four are complete sets, board and pieces together, with a storage box. We do not sell a marble board on its own. For boards without pieces, see our chess boards range, which is timber, marble-look and tournament surfaces rather than solid stone.

How big are the pieces?

The king is 89mm tall at 95.25g, the queen 76mm, bishops, knights and rooks 70mm, and pawns 57mm. All 32 pieces are double-weighted with felt bases.

Will my set look exactly like the photographs?

Close, but not identical, and that is the nature of stone. Colour and veining vary between pieces and between sets. If an exact match to an image matters to you, ask us before ordering and we will tell you what the current stock actually looks like.

Is marble too fragile for regular play?

Not for normal use. Marble is hard and does not scratch easily, and the felt bases protect the board. What it does not tolerate is impact on an edge, so a piece knocked off a table can chip. Treat it as you would a good serving dish rather than a toy.

How heavy are these to ship?

7.28kg for the complete set, packed in its own storage box inside outer packaging. They ship from Australian stock and are packed for the weight.

What warranty do marble chess sets carry?

A 12 month limited manufacturer warranty covering manufacturing defects, alongside 100 day free returns from Sterling Chess.

Backed by Sterling Chess

Every marble set here has been unboxed and set up before it went into the catalogue, which in this category mostly means checking how the two stones actually read against each other on a table rather than in a photograph. Screens flatter marble, and the difference between the colourways is more obvious in the hand than online.

If you are choosing between two of them, or you want to know what the current stock looks like before you commit, ask. Call us on (03) 7037 0931 or email support@sterlingchess.com.au. Orders ship from Australian stock and everything is covered by 100 day free returns. More on how we work is on our why buy from us page.