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On most Staunton sets the bishop outranks the knight in height, usually by five millimetres or more. Here the knight stands 85mm and the bishop 81mm. The carved piece is the tallest officer on the board, and once you notice it you cannot stop noticing it.
That is the whole argument of the Monarch's Gambit. The knight is the piece with hand work in it, so the design gives it the height to be seen. Around it sits a full luxury Staunton at traditional proportions: a 111mm king on a 47mm base, 1,548g across 34 pieces, weighted and felted.
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood against boxwood, and it belongs in our luxury chess pieces collection.
Luxury sets tend to be judged on king height and timber, and on both counts this one is conventional: 111mm, genuine ebony or bud rosewood, boxwood on the light side. Set it in a line with its peers and nothing jumps out until you look at the officer rank.
The knight leading the bishop changes the read of the board. The four carved pieces sit forward visually, the diagonals sit behind them, and the back rank gains a rhythm that an evenly stepped set does not have. Whether that is an improvement is a matter of taste.
At 1,548g it is mid weight for the tier rather than the heaviest. Sets with more mass are available across the luxury chess pieces collection if that is the priority.
Every other piece in a chess set can be produced on a lathe against a metal profile. The knight cannot; it has to be carved by hand, which is why it is the piece that carries a workshop's reputation and the piece that takes the longest to make.
Giving it the extra height is a way of putting the hand work where it can be seen. The practical effect is that the knights stand clear of the pawns in front of them from any seated angle, and the carved detail on the mane and muzzle is legible at playing distance rather than only in the hand. The cost is that the bishop looks slightly sunken by comparison, which is a fair criticism.
Genuine ebony is dense, close grained and near uniform in colour, which suits carved detail: the chisel leaves a clean edge and there is no soft grain to tear. Against boxwood it produces the highest contrast pairing available and reads instantly at speed.
Bud rosewood is the more decorative of the two. It carries visible figure and a warm reddish brown that shifts with the light, and on a piece with as much carved surface as this knight the grain adds movement that ebony deliberately does not. Contrast against boxwood is lower. Weight, dimensions and carving are identical either way.
The 47mm king base puts this set on 60mm squares. The rook sits on a 40mm base and the pawn on 36mm, so the front rank is comfortable, but the royal pieces need the room and a 55mm board will make the centre of the back rank look tight.
No board is included with this listing. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 60mm requirement directly, and the wider chess pieces collection lists square sizing on every set.
The knight leading the bishop is a genuine design decision rather than a marketing line, and it is the reason to choose this set: it puts the only hand carved piece where you can actually see it, and at 85mm the mane and muzzle work reads across the table. The trade is that the bishop looks a little low beside it, which will bother anyone who wants a textbook stepped officer rank. At roughly 46g a piece the weight is solid without being extreme. We would recommend it to a buyer who is choosing a luxury set on the strength of its knights.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 60mm. That comes from the 47mm king base rather than the 111mm height. A 55mm board will make the centre of the back rank look crowded.
Yes. The knight is 85mm and the bishop 81mm. It is a deliberate design choice that puts the only hand carved piece at the top of the officer rank.
Dimensions, carving and weight are identical, so it is purely visual. Ebony is near black and uniform for maximum contrast. Bud rosewood is a warm reddish brown with visible figure and softer contrast.
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.
1,548g across 34 pieces, around 46g a piece. That is mid weight for the luxury tier. Heavier sets are available in the wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
111mm (4.40 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
47mm (1.86 inch) |
|
Queen height |
94mm (3.70 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
44mm (1.74 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
81mm (3.21 inch) |
|
Knight height |
85mm (3.36 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.46 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.30 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,548g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
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.
On most Staunton sets the bishop outranks the knight in height, usually by five millimetres or more. Here the knight stands 85mm and the bishop 81mm. The carved piece is the tallest officer on the board, and once you notice it you cannot stop noticing it.
That is the whole argument of the Monarch's Gambit. The knight is the piece with hand work in it, so the design gives it the height to be seen. Around it sits a full luxury Staunton at traditional proportions: a 111mm king on a 47mm base, 1,548g across 34 pieces, weighted and felted.
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood against boxwood, and it belongs in our luxury chess pieces collection.
Luxury sets tend to be judged on king height and timber, and on both counts this one is conventional: 111mm, genuine ebony or bud rosewood, boxwood on the light side. Set it in a line with its peers and nothing jumps out until you look at the officer rank.
The knight leading the bishop changes the read of the board. The four carved pieces sit forward visually, the diagonals sit behind them, and the back rank gains a rhythm that an evenly stepped set does not have. Whether that is an improvement is a matter of taste.
At 1,548g it is mid weight for the tier rather than the heaviest. Sets with more mass are available across the luxury chess pieces collection if that is the priority.
Every other piece in a chess set can be produced on a lathe against a metal profile. The knight cannot; it has to be carved by hand, which is why it is the piece that carries a workshop's reputation and the piece that takes the longest to make.
Giving it the extra height is a way of putting the hand work where it can be seen. The practical effect is that the knights stand clear of the pawns in front of them from any seated angle, and the carved detail on the mane and muzzle is legible at playing distance rather than only in the hand. The cost is that the bishop looks slightly sunken by comparison, which is a fair criticism.
Genuine ebony is dense, close grained and near uniform in colour, which suits carved detail: the chisel leaves a clean edge and there is no soft grain to tear. Against boxwood it produces the highest contrast pairing available and reads instantly at speed.
Bud rosewood is the more decorative of the two. It carries visible figure and a warm reddish brown that shifts with the light, and on a piece with as much carved surface as this knight the grain adds movement that ebony deliberately does not. Contrast against boxwood is lower. Weight, dimensions and carving are identical either way.
The 47mm king base puts this set on 60mm squares. The rook sits on a 40mm base and the pawn on 36mm, so the front rank is comfortable, but the royal pieces need the room and a 55mm board will make the centre of the back rank look tight.
No board is included with this listing. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 60mm requirement directly, and the wider chess pieces collection lists square sizing on every set.
The knight leading the bishop is a genuine design decision rather than a marketing line, and it is the reason to choose this set: it puts the only hand carved piece where you can actually see it, and at 85mm the mane and muzzle work reads across the table. The trade is that the bishop looks a little low beside it, which will bother anyone who wants a textbook stepped officer rank. At roughly 46g a piece the weight is solid without being extreme. We would recommend it to a buyer who is choosing a luxury set on the strength of its knights.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 60mm. That comes from the 47mm king base rather than the 111mm height. A 55mm board will make the centre of the back rank look crowded.
Yes. The knight is 85mm and the bishop 81mm. It is a deliberate design choice that puts the only hand carved piece at the top of the officer rank.
Dimensions, carving and weight are identical, so it is purely visual. Ebony is near black and uniform for maximum contrast. Bud rosewood is a warm reddish brown with visible figure and softer contrast.
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.
1,548g across 34 pieces, around 46g a piece. That is mid weight for the luxury tier. Heavier sets are available in the wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
111mm (4.40 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
47mm (1.86 inch) |
|
Queen height |
94mm (3.70 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
44mm (1.74 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
81mm (3.21 inch) |
|
Knight height |
85mm (3.36 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.46 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.30 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Genuine ebony or bud rosewood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,548g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
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.
