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✔ Questions? Call Us: (03) 7037 0931
The dark pieces in this set were not stained. They were burned. Scorching boxwood drives the colour into the surface of the timber rather than laying it on top, and because the wood does not char evenly, the grain comes through darker where it is dense and lighter where it is open.
The result is a dark side with visible movement in it. Ebonising gives a flat, uniform black; this gives something closer to smoked oak, with variation from piece to piece that no two sets will share exactly.
A 97mm king on a 41mm base, 1,050g across 34 pieces, against natural boxwood. It sits in our Staunton chess pieces alongside the theme patterns.
There are three ways to get a dark side on a chess set. Use a naturally dark timber like ebony or rosewood, which is the expensive option. Stain or ebonise a pale timber, which is what most sets in this price range do. Or burn it.
Burning sits between the two in both cost and effect. It is cheaper than ebony and gives more character than ebonising, because the scorch follows the grain instead of covering it. What it will not give you is uniformity: pieces vary, and if you want a flat even black this is the wrong choice.
Against the ebonised sets in our wood chess pieces range the difference is immediate under good light. Under club lighting the two look closer than they do in the hand.
Boxwood is a fine, dense, pale timber that carves cleanly, which is why it has been the standard light side of a chess set for two centuries. Applying controlled heat to it darkens the surface through the wood itself rather than through a pigment sitting on it.
Because density varies within a single piece, the burn is uneven at a small scale. Denser late wood takes the heat differently from the softer bands around it, so the grain pattern emerges rather than disappearing. On a turned piece with rings and collars, that variation follows the form and picks out the profile in a way a flat stain does not.
This is the honest caveat and it belongs up front. Two pieces from the same set will not match exactly, and two sets will not match each other. Depth of colour, the amount of grain showing and the tone all shift depending on the individual blank and how it took the heat.
If you find that appealing, it is the reason to buy this set. If you want sixteen dark pieces that look identical, an ebonised set from our Staunton chess pieces will serve you better and cost about the same. Neither answer is wrong; they are different tastes.
The 41mm king base puts this set on 50mm squares, which is at the smaller end of standard tournament sizing. A 55mm board will also work and will leave more space around each piece, which suits a set where the finish is the point.
No board ships with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match either option directly.
Burning rather than staining is a real difference and it shows up exactly where you would want it to: on the turned rings and collars, where the scorch follows the profile and picks out the form. For the money that is more character than an ebonised set of the same size will give you. The caveat is the same thing stated the other way round. The pieces vary, deliberately, and if uniformity matters to you this will read as inconsistency rather than character. At roughly 31g a piece it is also on the light side, so it is a set to look at rather than a heavyweight to play blitz with.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm, from the 41mm king base. A 55mm board also works and gives more space around each piece, which suits a set where the finish is the feature.
Boxwood darkened by controlled heat rather than by stain or dye. The colour goes into the timber surface and follows the grain, so the pattern shows through instead of being covered.
No, and that is inherent to the process. Density varies within and between blanks, so depth of colour and the amount of visible grain differ from piece to piece. If you want a uniform black, choose an ebonised set instead.
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.
1,050g across 34 pieces, around 31g a piece. That is on the light side. Heavier sets are available across our chess pieces collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
97mm (3.8 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
84mm (3.3 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
72mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Knight height |
68mm (2.6 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm (2.3 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
35mm (1.4 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
29mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,050g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in burnt boxwood and natural boxwood
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.
The dark pieces in this set were not stained. They were burned. Scorching boxwood drives the colour into the surface of the timber rather than laying it on top, and because the wood does not char evenly, the grain comes through darker where it is dense and lighter where it is open.
The result is a dark side with visible movement in it. Ebonising gives a flat, uniform black; this gives something closer to smoked oak, with variation from piece to piece that no two sets will share exactly.
A 97mm king on a 41mm base, 1,050g across 34 pieces, against natural boxwood. It sits in our Staunton chess pieces alongside the theme patterns.
There are three ways to get a dark side on a chess set. Use a naturally dark timber like ebony or rosewood, which is the expensive option. Stain or ebonise a pale timber, which is what most sets in this price range do. Or burn it.
Burning sits between the two in both cost and effect. It is cheaper than ebony and gives more character than ebonising, because the scorch follows the grain instead of covering it. What it will not give you is uniformity: pieces vary, and if you want a flat even black this is the wrong choice.
Against the ebonised sets in our wood chess pieces range the difference is immediate under good light. Under club lighting the two look closer than they do in the hand.
Boxwood is a fine, dense, pale timber that carves cleanly, which is why it has been the standard light side of a chess set for two centuries. Applying controlled heat to it darkens the surface through the wood itself rather than through a pigment sitting on it.
Because density varies within a single piece, the burn is uneven at a small scale. Denser late wood takes the heat differently from the softer bands around it, so the grain pattern emerges rather than disappearing. On a turned piece with rings and collars, that variation follows the form and picks out the profile in a way a flat stain does not.
This is the honest caveat and it belongs up front. Two pieces from the same set will not match exactly, and two sets will not match each other. Depth of colour, the amount of grain showing and the tone all shift depending on the individual blank and how it took the heat.
If you find that appealing, it is the reason to buy this set. If you want sixteen dark pieces that look identical, an ebonised set from our Staunton chess pieces will serve you better and cost about the same. Neither answer is wrong; they are different tastes.
The 41mm king base puts this set on 50mm squares, which is at the smaller end of standard tournament sizing. A 55mm board will also work and will leave more space around each piece, which suits a set where the finish is the point.
No board ships with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match either option directly.
Burning rather than staining is a real difference and it shows up exactly where you would want it to: on the turned rings and collars, where the scorch follows the profile and picks out the form. For the money that is more character than an ebonised set of the same size will give you. The caveat is the same thing stated the other way round. The pieces vary, deliberately, and if uniformity matters to you this will read as inconsistency rather than character. At roughly 31g a piece it is also on the light side, so it is a set to look at rather than a heavyweight to play blitz with.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm, from the 41mm king base. A 55mm board also works and gives more space around each piece, which suits a set where the finish is the feature.
Boxwood darkened by controlled heat rather than by stain or dye. The colour goes into the timber surface and follows the grain, so the pattern shows through instead of being covered.
No, and that is inherent to the process. Density varies within and between blanks, so depth of colour and the amount of visible grain differ from piece to piece. If you want a uniform black, choose an ebonised set instead.
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.
1,050g across 34 pieces, around 31g a piece. That is on the light side. Heavier sets are available across our chess pieces collection.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
97mm (3.8 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.6 inch) |
|
Queen height |
84mm (3.3 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.5 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
72mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Knight height |
68mm (2.6 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm (2.3 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
35mm (1.4 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
52mm (2.0 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
29mm (1.1 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,050g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in burnt boxwood and natural boxwood
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.
