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Henry Chavet made chessmen for professional use, supplying players across North America and Europe, and this is a reproduction of one of the Chavet variants used in championship play through the 1980s and 1990s.
The appeal of the design is what it leaves out. The outline is simple, the lines are clean, and nothing protrudes sharply anywhere on the army.
What makes this version different is the colour. The dark army is stained in a mahogany finish rather than ebonised, which is the point of this version.
The king stands 100mm and the complete 34 pieces come to 1,033 grams, which puts it squarely in club sizing.
It sits with our tournament chess pieces.
Tournament sets come in a narrow range of colours. The dark army is nearly always ebonised boxwood taken to a near black, or golden rosewood with its warm red brown.
A mahogany stain sits between the two. It is deeper and browner than golden rosewood and considerably warmer than an ebonised near black, and the grain of the boxwood stays readable rather than being buried.
Against a plain boxwood light army the contrast is clear at playing distance but softer than black on cream, which some players prefer over long sessions.
The honest trade is that a stain and a naturally dark timber are not the same proposition. A naturally dark timber is dark because of the species; here the colour is a treatment, and on a pattern with no sharp points and nothing to catch, that is a smaller consideration than it would be on a decorative set.
These want squares of 50mm to 60mm, which is unusually wide, and both ends of it are genuine. At the roomier end the army looks composed with air between the pieces; at the tighter end it looks dense and businesslike. If the board is not bought yet, the roomier half is where we would go. Anything under the window and the set is outside what it is cut for.
Henry Chavet manufactured chessmen for professional use, supplying consumers and players across North America and Europe. The name carries weight for the same reason the great tournament patterns do: these were the sets serious games were played on.
Several Chavet variants were produced over the years, and this reproduction follows one of the versions used in championship play in the 1980s and 1990s, which is the period the name is most associated with.
Tournament equipment is judged on a different timescale from display equipment. A decorative set is judged on how it looks the day it is unpacked; a tournament set is judged on how it behaves after a thousand games, and every feature this pattern could have carried and does not was left off for that reason.
There is one thing about the proportions that is easy to miss. The knight and rook share a base width and the bishop is within a millimetre of them, so across that stretch of the rank the eye stops using footprint as a cue and reads the shapes instead, which is faster once you are used to it.
Care is simple, with one note for the stain. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and air vents, which is what makes turned hardwood check, and dust with a dry soft cloth. Skip oil, furniture polish and solvent based cleaners entirely, and be particularly careful with solvents on the dark army, because a stained finish has less tolerance for them than a natural timber does.
What makes this one worth having is that it is proper tournament equipment in a colour you do not see every week. The pattern earns its place on the design rather than the decoration: clean lines, no sharp points, even bases through the knight, bishop and rook.
The stain is the interesting decision. It reaches a warm depth of colour and keeps the grain visible in the process.
Two things to be clear about. This is a plain set, deliberately, and if you want a carved mane and something to look at between moves you will find it austere. And the dark army is a stain rather than a naturally dark timber, which is a difference worth knowing before ordering. Anyone who wants the hardest possible contrast should start instead with our luxury chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
50mm to 60mm, which is a wide window, and both ends work. At the roomier end the army looks composed with room around every piece; at the tighter end it looks dense and businesslike. If the board is not chosen yet, the roomier half shows the proportions best.
Henry Chavet manufactured chessmen for professional use, supplying players in North America and Europe. This is a reproduction of one of the Chavet variants used in championship play in the 1980s and 1990s.
It is a warmer and browner dark army than either an ebonised near black or a golden rosewood, with the grain still readable. Against plain boxwood the contrast is clear but softer.
They are not quite the same proposition, and it is worth knowing which you are buying. On a pattern with no sharp points and nothing to catch, though, the difference matters less than it would on a decorative set.
It was drawn for players handling the pieces hundreds of times a game. Nothing protrudes sharply, which makes the pieces more comfortable to hold, quicker to move and much harder to chip.
1,033 grams across the complete 34 pieces, which is enough to keep a position where you put it. No board is included, so it is chosen separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
100mm high (3.9 inch), 41mm base |
|
Queen |
83mm high (3.3 inch), 40mm base |
|
Bishop |
71mm high (2.8 inch), 36mm base |
|
Knight |
68mm high (2.7 inch), 35mm base |
|
Rook |
57mm high (2.2 inch), 35mm base |
|
Pawn |
52mm high (2.0 inch), 31mm base |
|
Dark chess pieces |
Mahogany stained boxwood |
|
Light chess pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 60mm (1.96 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,033 grams (2.3 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, mahogany stained dark army against a boxwood light army
Two pieces more than a standard game array uses
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.
Henry Chavet made chessmen for professional use, supplying players across North America and Europe, and this is a reproduction of one of the Chavet variants used in championship play through the 1980s and 1990s.
The appeal of the design is what it leaves out. The outline is simple, the lines are clean, and nothing protrudes sharply anywhere on the army.
What makes this version different is the colour. The dark army is stained in a mahogany finish rather than ebonised, which is the point of this version.
The king stands 100mm and the complete 34 pieces come to 1,033 grams, which puts it squarely in club sizing.
It sits with our tournament chess pieces.
Tournament sets come in a narrow range of colours. The dark army is nearly always ebonised boxwood taken to a near black, or golden rosewood with its warm red brown.
A mahogany stain sits between the two. It is deeper and browner than golden rosewood and considerably warmer than an ebonised near black, and the grain of the boxwood stays readable rather than being buried.
Against a plain boxwood light army the contrast is clear at playing distance but softer than black on cream, which some players prefer over long sessions.
The honest trade is that a stain and a naturally dark timber are not the same proposition. A naturally dark timber is dark because of the species; here the colour is a treatment, and on a pattern with no sharp points and nothing to catch, that is a smaller consideration than it would be on a decorative set.
These want squares of 50mm to 60mm, which is unusually wide, and both ends of it are genuine. At the roomier end the army looks composed with air between the pieces; at the tighter end it looks dense and businesslike. If the board is not bought yet, the roomier half is where we would go. Anything under the window and the set is outside what it is cut for.
Henry Chavet manufactured chessmen for professional use, supplying consumers and players across North America and Europe. The name carries weight for the same reason the great tournament patterns do: these were the sets serious games were played on.
Several Chavet variants were produced over the years, and this reproduction follows one of the versions used in championship play in the 1980s and 1990s, which is the period the name is most associated with.
Tournament equipment is judged on a different timescale from display equipment. A decorative set is judged on how it looks the day it is unpacked; a tournament set is judged on how it behaves after a thousand games, and every feature this pattern could have carried and does not was left off for that reason.
There is one thing about the proportions that is easy to miss. The knight and rook share a base width and the bishop is within a millimetre of them, so across that stretch of the rank the eye stops using footprint as a cue and reads the shapes instead, which is faster once you are used to it.
Care is simple, with one note for the stain. Keep the set out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and air vents, which is what makes turned hardwood check, and dust with a dry soft cloth. Skip oil, furniture polish and solvent based cleaners entirely, and be particularly careful with solvents on the dark army, because a stained finish has less tolerance for them than a natural timber does.
What makes this one worth having is that it is proper tournament equipment in a colour you do not see every week. The pattern earns its place on the design rather than the decoration: clean lines, no sharp points, even bases through the knight, bishop and rook.
The stain is the interesting decision. It reaches a warm depth of colour and keeps the grain visible in the process.
Two things to be clear about. This is a plain set, deliberately, and if you want a carved mane and something to look at between moves you will find it austere. And the dark army is a stain rather than a naturally dark timber, which is a difference worth knowing before ordering. Anyone who wants the hardest possible contrast should start instead with our luxury chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
50mm to 60mm, which is a wide window, and both ends work. At the roomier end the army looks composed with room around every piece; at the tighter end it looks dense and businesslike. If the board is not chosen yet, the roomier half shows the proportions best.
Henry Chavet manufactured chessmen for professional use, supplying players in North America and Europe. This is a reproduction of one of the Chavet variants used in championship play in the 1980s and 1990s.
It is a warmer and browner dark army than either an ebonised near black or a golden rosewood, with the grain still readable. Against plain boxwood the contrast is clear but softer.
They are not quite the same proposition, and it is worth knowing which you are buying. On a pattern with no sharp points and nothing to catch, though, the difference matters less than it would on a decorative set.
It was drawn for players handling the pieces hundreds of times a game. Nothing protrudes sharply, which makes the pieces more comfortable to hold, quicker to move and much harder to chip.
1,033 grams across the complete 34 pieces, which is enough to keep a position where you put it. No board is included, so it is chosen separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
100mm high (3.9 inch), 41mm base |
|
Queen |
83mm high (3.3 inch), 40mm base |
|
Bishop |
71mm high (2.8 inch), 36mm base |
|
Knight |
68mm high (2.7 inch), 35mm base |
|
Rook |
57mm high (2.2 inch), 35mm base |
|
Pawn |
52mm high (2.0 inch), 31mm base |
|
Dark chess pieces |
Mahogany stained boxwood |
|
Light chess pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 60mm (1.96 inch to 2.36 inch) |
|
Total weight of pieces |
1,033 grams (2.3 lbs) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, mahogany stained dark army against a boxwood light army
Two pieces more than a standard game array uses
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.
