Metal Chess Pieces

Metal chess pieces

Metal chess pieces put weight on the board that timber cannot reach. Every set in this collection is brass, finished in gold, silver, metallic grey or antiqued copper, with kings from 78mm up to 152mm. They suit players who want a board that holds its position, and collectors who want a set that reads as an object even when the game is packed away. For pieces and a board bought together, see metal chess sets.

What brass gives you

Brass is a copper and zinc alloy, and it is roughly twice as dense as the hardwoods used for chess pieces. A brass piece of the same height as a wooden one is far heavier, which changes how the set behaves: pieces stay exactly where they are placed, a knocked table does not scatter a position, and each move lands with a weight that players either love or find slow. There is no middle ground, and it is worth knowing which camp you are in before buying.

Brass also takes a finish in a way timber cannot. The surface can be polished bright, brushed to a satin sheen, plated, or chemically antiqued to a darker patina, and those finishes are what separate one set here from another far more than the underlying shapes do.

The finishes

Gold and grey

The most common pairing in this range. A warm gold army against a metallic or darker grey one gives clear contrast without the glare of two bright polished sides. It photographs well and stays readable under ordinary room lighting.

Silver and antiqued copper

Cooler and more contrasty. The antiqued copper side is chemically darkened rather than painted, so the colour sits in the surface and the raised detail catches light against it. This pairing suits the more ornate patterns, where the antiquing settles into the carving and picks it out.

Matte and contemporary

A smaller group finished matte rather than polished, including minimalist and tower-form designs that drop the traditional silhouettes entirely. If a mirror finish is not what you want on a table you use daily, start here.

Sizes

Kings run from 78mm to 152mm. Most of the range sits between 85mm and 100mm, which is ordinary club territory, but the weight means a metal set at a given height feels much larger in use than a wooden one at the same height. The 152mm set is a display piece and needs a board sized accordingly. For anything larger again, see giant chess.

Protecting your board

This matters more with metal than with anything else. A brass base dragged across a lacquered or veneered board will mark it, and the weight means a dropped piece can dent timber rather than bounce off it. Check the base treatment on the product page before you pair a metal army with a board you care about, because it is listed per product and is not uniform across the range.

If in doubt, pair metal pieces with a harder or more forgiving surface rather than a fine timber board. Options are in chess boards, with the heavier and more decorative boards in luxury chess boards.

Caring for brass

Brass tarnishes. That is the metal reacting with air, not a fault, and how you handle it is a choice rather than a chore.

• Leave it. Tarnish deepens into a patina over years. On antiqued finishes this is the intended look and polishing it back would undo the finish the maker applied.
• Keep it bright. A dry microfibre cloth after handling removes the skin oils that start tarnish. Do this regularly and you will rarely need more.
• Restore it. A dedicated brass polish on a soft cloth will bring back a polished surface. Never use it on an antiqued, plated or lacquered piece, because it strips the finish rather than cleaning it.

Avoid household abrasives and anything containing ammonia or chlorine. Store the set dry, and out of a sealed plastic bag, which traps moisture against the metal.

Browse related

• Staunton chess pieces. The traditional pattern, mostly in timber, including the brass sets here that follow it.
• Luxury chess pieces. The heavier and more elaborately made sets across every material.
• Minimalist chess pieces. Abstract and geometric designs, including metal tower forms.
• Theme chess pieces. Figurative and subject-led sets.
• Wood chess pieces. The timber range, if the weight of metal is not what you are after.
• All chess pieces. The full catalogue.

For what each shape represents, see our guide to chess piece names and meanings.

Buying metal chess pieces in Australia

Every set is held in Australian stock and shipped from Australia. Metal sets are heavy, so they are packed piece by piece rather than loose in a tray.

All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. Sterling Chess also offers 100 day free returns.

Storage matters more with metal than with timber, because loose pieces in a drawer will scratch each other. Fitted cases are in chess piece storage boxes.

Metal chess pieces FAQs

What are these pieces made from?

Brass, across the whole collection. Brass is a copper and zinc alloy. The gold, silver, grey and antiqued copper differences between sets are surface finishes applied to that brass, not different metals.

How heavy are they compared with wood?

Considerably heavier. Brass is roughly twice as dense as the hardwoods used for chess pieces, so a brass set is far heavier than a wooden one of the same height. Each product page lists the weight.

Will metal pieces damage my board?

They can. The weight means a dropped piece may dent timber, and an unprotected base dragged across a lacquered surface will mark it. Base treatment is listed per product and is not the same across the range, so check it before pairing a metal army with a board you care about.

Do brass pieces tarnish?

Yes, brass reacts with air over time. Many owners let it develop into a patina. If you want to keep the surface bright, wipe the pieces with a dry cloth after handling, and use a dedicated brass polish only on polished pieces, never on antiqued, plated or lacquered ones.

Do I need a board as well?

Yes. These are piece sets, so you can pair them with a board of your choosing. The metal chess sets range pairs pieces and a board together if you would rather buy both at once.

Are metal pieces suitable for tournament play?

FIDE's equipment standard asks for pieces of the Staunton style in wood, plastic or materials imitating them, so metal sets are generally bought for home and display rather than competition. Several patterns here do follow Staunton shapes if that is the look you want.