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Almost every Staunton knight is a bare horse. The head is modelled, the mane is cut, and nothing is added. The knight on this set wears tack: a bridle carved across the muzzle and around the cheek, which is a slower piece of work and the reason the pattern carries the name.
It sits on a properly built set. A 107mm king on a 43mm base, a queen almost matched to it at 42mm, and triple weighting that brings the full 34 pieces to roughly 1,780g. The rook is the widest officer at 40mm, so the corners hold.
Three timbers are offered against boxwood: ebony, rosewood and bud rosewood. It belongs in our Staunton chess pieces.
The Staunton pattern gives a workshop exactly one place to distinguish itself, and that is the knight. Everything else is turned against a metal profile and will match its competitors closely at any given price.
Adding a bridle changes the economics of that piece. It is more carving, on a smaller area, with harder-to-reach undercuts around the cheek and muzzle, and it is the reason this set costs more than a plain-knight Staunton of the same height and weight.
Whether that is worth it depends entirely on how much you look at your knights. If it is not the piece you notice, a plain Staunton from the Staunton chess pieces range will give you the same proportions and the same triple weighting for less.
A plain Staunton knight is carved from a blank in a handful of passes: the jaw line, the muzzle, the eye, the ears, and then the mane. The carver is working the outer surface and nothing has to be cut underneath anything else.
A bridle changes that. The strap has to stand proud of the surface it crosses, which means cutting away the timber either side of it and leaving a raised band that runs over a curved face without breaking. On a piece this size the strap is a couple of millimetres wide. It is the kind of detail that separates a workshop that can carve from one that can only rough out a shape.
At roughly 1,780g across 34 pieces this averages around 52g a piece, which is genuine triple weighting rather than a marketing label. The ballast is set into the base under thick green felt, so the mass sits as low as it can and the pieces settle rather than rock.
The base diameters back it up. The king is 43mm and the queen 42mm, so the two most important pieces are a matched pair. The rook is the widest of the minor officers at 40mm against the bishop's 39mm, which anchors the corners of the back rank rather than letting them taper away.
The 43mm king base puts this set on 55mm to 60mm squares. At 55mm the board reads tight and traditional; at 60mm the pieces have room and the carving on the knight is easier to see from a seated position. Either is correct.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can pick whichever end of the range suits you.
Buy this set for the knight or do not buy it at all. The bridle is real carved work, not a moulded detail, and it is the only place a Staunton pattern lets a workshop show what it can do. The rest is competent and conventional: triple weighted at roughly 52g a piece, a 43mm king base with the queen matched at 42mm, and a rook wide enough to anchor the corners. The honest caveat is that you are paying a premium over a plain-knight set with the same proportions, so if the knight is not the piece you look at, the money is better spent elsewhere.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 107mm height. 55mm gives a traditional tight look, 60mm gives the pieces more room.
The knight is carved wearing tack, with a raised bridle strap running across the muzzle and around the cheek. Most Staunton knights are bare horses. The strap has to be cut proud of a curved surface, which is considerably more work than a plain head.
Carving and dimensions are identical, so it is a question of looks and a small weight difference. Ebony is near black and uniform for the highest contrast. Rosewood is a mid to dark brown. Bud rosewood is warmer and more figured.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
Around 1,780g across 34 pieces in ebony, roughly 52g a piece, with the rosewood option at 1,732g. Heavier sets are available across our chess pieces collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
107mm (4.2 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
77mm (3.0 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
39mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Knight height |
78mm (3.1 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.4 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
40mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebony, rosewood or bud rosewood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Triple weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,780g in ebony, 1,794g in bud rosewood, 1,732g in rosewood |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
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. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
Almost every Staunton knight is a bare horse. The head is modelled, the mane is cut, and nothing is added. The knight on this set wears tack: a bridle carved across the muzzle and around the cheek, which is a slower piece of work and the reason the pattern carries the name.
It sits on a properly built set. A 107mm king on a 43mm base, a queen almost matched to it at 42mm, and triple weighting that brings the full 34 pieces to roughly 1,780g. The rook is the widest officer at 40mm, so the corners hold.
Three timbers are offered against boxwood: ebony, rosewood and bud rosewood. It belongs in our Staunton chess pieces.
The Staunton pattern gives a workshop exactly one place to distinguish itself, and that is the knight. Everything else is turned against a metal profile and will match its competitors closely at any given price.
Adding a bridle changes the economics of that piece. It is more carving, on a smaller area, with harder-to-reach undercuts around the cheek and muzzle, and it is the reason this set costs more than a plain-knight Staunton of the same height and weight.
Whether that is worth it depends entirely on how much you look at your knights. If it is not the piece you notice, a plain Staunton from the Staunton chess pieces range will give you the same proportions and the same triple weighting for less.
A plain Staunton knight is carved from a blank in a handful of passes: the jaw line, the muzzle, the eye, the ears, and then the mane. The carver is working the outer surface and nothing has to be cut underneath anything else.
A bridle changes that. The strap has to stand proud of the surface it crosses, which means cutting away the timber either side of it and leaving a raised band that runs over a curved face without breaking. On a piece this size the strap is a couple of millimetres wide. It is the kind of detail that separates a workshop that can carve from one that can only rough out a shape.
At roughly 1,780g across 34 pieces this averages around 52g a piece, which is genuine triple weighting rather than a marketing label. The ballast is set into the base under thick green felt, so the mass sits as low as it can and the pieces settle rather than rock.
The base diameters back it up. The king is 43mm and the queen 42mm, so the two most important pieces are a matched pair. The rook is the widest of the minor officers at 40mm against the bishop's 39mm, which anchors the corners of the back rank rather than letting them taper away.
The 43mm king base puts this set on 55mm to 60mm squares. At 55mm the board reads tight and traditional; at 60mm the pieces have room and the carving on the knight is easier to see from a seated position. Either is correct.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can pick whichever end of the range suits you.
Buy this set for the knight or do not buy it at all. The bridle is real carved work, not a moulded detail, and it is the only place a Staunton pattern lets a workshop show what it can do. The rest is competent and conventional: triple weighted at roughly 52g a piece, a 43mm king base with the queen matched at 42mm, and a rook wide enough to anchor the corners. The honest caveat is that you are paying a premium over a plain-knight set with the same proportions, so if the knight is not the piece you look at, the money is better spent elsewhere.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm to 60mm. That comes from the 43mm king base rather than the 107mm height. 55mm gives a traditional tight look, 60mm gives the pieces more room.
The knight is carved wearing tack, with a raised bridle strap running across the muzzle and around the cheek. Most Staunton knights are bare horses. The strap has to be cut proud of a curved surface, which is considerably more work than a plain head.
Carving and dimensions are identical, so it is a question of looks and a small weight difference. Ebony is near black and uniform for the highest contrast. Rosewood is a mid to dark brown. Bud rosewood is warmer and more figured.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
Around 1,780g across 34 pieces in ebony, roughly 52g a piece, with the rosewood option at 1,732g. Heavier sets are available across our chess pieces collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
107mm (4.2 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
43mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Queen height |
87mm (3.4 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
77mm (3.0 inch) |
|
Bishop base diameter |
39mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Knight height |
78mm (3.1 inch) |
|
Knight base diameter |
38mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.4 inch) |
|
Rook base diameter |
40mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebony, rosewood or bud rosewood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Triple weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,780g in ebony, 1,794g in bud rosewood, 1,732g in rosewood |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm to 60mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in the timber option you select
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
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. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
