Sunrise Chess & Games

Sunrise Chess & Games

Sunrise Chess & Games is a Polish workshop, also known as Wegiel, and what Sterling Chess stocks from them is chess pieces, plus a storage box. The range runs from restrained club patterns through to heavily carved collector sets, and much of it sits in luxury chess pieces.

The timbers

Sunrise works in a narrow set of timbers, and the pairings are consistent across the range.

• Boxwood. The light side on almost every set. Dense and close-grained, which is why the knights hold their detail.
• Acacia. A warm mid-brown dark side, used across a large part of the range.
• Ebony. Genuine ebony on the upper sets, naturally black through the timber and noticeably heavier than a stained alternative.
• Padauk. A reddish-orange timber that darkens with age, used on several of the more decorative patterns.
• Ebonised boxwood. Boxwood stained black, which gives two armies with identical working properties.

The full timber range across every maker is in wood chess pieces.

The patterns

Sunrise makes both ends of the spectrum. At one end are faithful club and tournament patterns: Colombian Staunton, Corinthian, Sultan, Northern Upright. At the other are their own house designs where the knight is the point of the set, with names like Unicorn, Royal Knight, Derby Knight and Kings Bridle. There are also reproductions of historical patterns, including a Dubrovnik.

Kings across the range run from around 90mm to 150mm, so this is a maker to browse by size as much as by pattern. Sets following the traditional pattern are also in Staunton chess pieces.

Pairing them with a board

These are armies on their own, so the board is the other half of the decision. Pair them with a square comfortably wider than the king's base, so two pieces on adjacent squares do not touch. Boards are in chess boards, with timber options in wood chess boards. Storage is the exception: a Sunrise storage box here is for keeping pieces rather than playing on.

Browse related

• Reproduction chess pieces. Historical patterns turned to original proportions.
• Chess piece storage boxes. Fitted cases and trays, including the Sunrise box.
• All chess pieces. The full catalogue across every maker and material.
• Wood chess sets. Timber pieces and a board bought together, if you would rather not pair them yourself.

Buying Sunrise Chess & Games in Australia

Sterling Chess is an authorised Sunrise Chess & Games stockist, sourcing directly from the workshop in Poland. Every set is held in Australian stock and shipped from Australia, so there is no international freight wait and no customs step.

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.

Sunrise Chess & Games FAQs

Do I need a board as well?

Yes. What Sterling Chess stocks from Sunrise is chess pieces, plus a storage box, so you pair them with a board of your choosing.

What timbers does Sunrise use?

Boxwood for the light side on almost every set, with acacia, genuine ebony, padauk or ebonised boxwood for the dark side. Each product page states the timbers for that set.

Is Sunrise a budget brand?

No. The range runs from restrained club patterns to heavily carved collector sets, and much of it sits in the luxury chess pieces collection. Sunrise is better described as a workshop with a wide range than as a price tier.

What is Wegiel?

The same maker. Sunrise Chess & Games is also known as Wegiel, and you will see Polish sets sold under either name.

What king heights are available?

Roughly 90mm to 150mm across the range. Each product page states the king height, and it is worth checking against your board before ordering.

Which Sunrise set should I start with?

If you want a traditional playing army, one of the Colombian Staunton or Corinthian patterns at 95mm to 100mm. If you are buying for the carving, the house knight designs are where the workshop shows off.