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A 98mm king is tournament sized. A 45mm base under it is not. Most sets of this height sit on 40mm or 42mm, and the extra three to five millimetres here change the character completely: the pieces are planted rather than poised, and the back rank has a weight that the modest height would not lead you to expect.
That is the Old Vintage English Staunton pattern working as intended. It reproduces the proportions of English club sets from before the tournament standard narrowed everything down, when a set was expected to survive decades of handling rather than photograph well.
Two dark timbers are offered, sheesham and ebonised, both against boxwood. It sits in the middle of our Staunton chess pieces.
Modern tournament sets optimise for the board. A narrower base means more clear space around each piece, which makes a crowded position easier to read and lets a smaller board carry a taller king. It is a sensible trade and almost every current set makes it.
Older English club sets went the other way. The base was wide because a wide base does not fall over, and equipment that lived in a club cupboard and got knocked about needed to survive. This reproduction keeps that, which is why a 98mm king asks for a 55mm board rather than the 50mm you might expect.
If you want maximum clear space on the board, a narrower set from the Staunton chess pieces range will serve you better. If you want pieces that stay upright, this is the trade worth making.
Stability in a chess piece comes from two things: how low the mass sits, and how far the base extends beyond the centre of gravity. Weighting handles the first. Base diameter handles the second, and it is the more effective of the two because it works on leverage rather than mass.
A 45mm base under a 98mm king means the piece has to tip a long way before its centre of gravity clears the edge of the foot. In practice that means a knocked table, a sleeve catching the back rank or a rushed capture will not scatter the position, which anyone who has played on a wobbly club table will appreciate.
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) is an Indian rosewood in the mid brown range, with visible grain that varies from piece to piece. Against boxwood the contrast is moderate, and the set reads as two tones of timber rather than as black against white. It is the warmer of the two options and the one that shows the material.
Ebonised boxwood is taken to a deep near black, so the grain largely disappears and contrast against the light side is high. It reads faster across a board under club lighting. The two options are the same design and carving, with the ebonised set weighing 1,450g against the sheesham set's 1,400g.
The 45mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares. This is the case where quoting the king height alone would mislead you badly: at 98mm the set looks like it belongs on a 50mm board, and on one the back rank would be almost solid.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly rather than working it back from the king.
This is the set to buy if you have ever had a position knocked over. A 45mm base under a 98mm king is unusually wide for the height and it makes the pieces genuinely hard to tip, which matters more in practice than most buyers expect. At roughly 42g a piece the weighting is moderate rather than heavy, and that is fine because the stability here comes from the footprint rather than the ballast. The caveat is board size: it needs 55mm squares despite the modest king, so check what you own before ordering.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm. That comes from the wide 45mm king base rather than the 98mm height. A 50mm board sized for a king of this height will leave the back rank almost solid.
Design, carving and dimensions are the same. Sheesham is a warm mid brown Indian rosewood with visible grain and moderate contrast. Ebonised is near black with high contrast and very little visible grain. The ebonised set is marginally heavier at 1,450g against 1,400g.
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 1,400g to 1,450g across 34 pieces depending on the option, roughly 42g a piece. That is moderate weighting; the stability comes mainly from the wide bases.
Almost. King height and base are the same at 98mm and 45mm. The other pieces vary by a millimetre or three between options, which is normal on hand made sets and true across our wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
98mm (3.85 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Queen height |
84mm to 87mm (3.3 inch), by option |
|
Queen base diameter |
40mm to 43mm (1.6 inch), by option |
|
Bishop height |
75mm to 80mm (3.0 inch), by option |
|
Knight height |
72mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm to 61mm (2.4 inch), by option |
|
Pawn height |
53mm to 56mm (2.1 inch), by option |
|
Officer base diameter |
38mm (1.4 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,400g in sheesham, 1,450g in ebonised |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
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.
A 98mm king is tournament sized. A 45mm base under it is not. Most sets of this height sit on 40mm or 42mm, and the extra three to five millimetres here change the character completely: the pieces are planted rather than poised, and the back rank has a weight that the modest height would not lead you to expect.
That is the Old Vintage English Staunton pattern working as intended. It reproduces the proportions of English club sets from before the tournament standard narrowed everything down, when a set was expected to survive decades of handling rather than photograph well.
Two dark timbers are offered, sheesham and ebonised, both against boxwood. It sits in the middle of our Staunton chess pieces.
Modern tournament sets optimise for the board. A narrower base means more clear space around each piece, which makes a crowded position easier to read and lets a smaller board carry a taller king. It is a sensible trade and almost every current set makes it.
Older English club sets went the other way. The base was wide because a wide base does not fall over, and equipment that lived in a club cupboard and got knocked about needed to survive. This reproduction keeps that, which is why a 98mm king asks for a 55mm board rather than the 50mm you might expect.
If you want maximum clear space on the board, a narrower set from the Staunton chess pieces range will serve you better. If you want pieces that stay upright, this is the trade worth making.
Stability in a chess piece comes from two things: how low the mass sits, and how far the base extends beyond the centre of gravity. Weighting handles the first. Base diameter handles the second, and it is the more effective of the two because it works on leverage rather than mass.
A 45mm base under a 98mm king means the piece has to tip a long way before its centre of gravity clears the edge of the foot. In practice that means a knocked table, a sleeve catching the back rank or a rushed capture will not scatter the position, which anyone who has played on a wobbly club table will appreciate.
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) is an Indian rosewood in the mid brown range, with visible grain that varies from piece to piece. Against boxwood the contrast is moderate, and the set reads as two tones of timber rather than as black against white. It is the warmer of the two options and the one that shows the material.
Ebonised boxwood is taken to a deep near black, so the grain largely disappears and contrast against the light side is high. It reads faster across a board under club lighting. The two options are the same design and carving, with the ebonised set weighing 1,450g against the sheesham set's 1,400g.
The 45mm king base puts this set on 55mm squares. This is the case where quoting the king height alone would mislead you badly: at 98mm the set looks like it belongs on a 50mm board, and on one the back rank would be almost solid.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size so you can match the 55mm requirement directly rather than working it back from the king.
This is the set to buy if you have ever had a position knocked over. A 45mm base under a 98mm king is unusually wide for the height and it makes the pieces genuinely hard to tip, which matters more in practice than most buyers expect. At roughly 42g a piece the weighting is moderate rather than heavy, and that is fine because the stability here comes from the footprint rather than the ballast. The caveat is board size: it needs 55mm squares despite the modest king, so check what you own before ordering.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 55mm. That comes from the wide 45mm king base rather than the 98mm height. A 50mm board sized for a king of this height will leave the back rank almost solid.
Design, carving and dimensions are the same. Sheesham is a warm mid brown Indian rosewood with visible grain and moderate contrast. Ebonised is near black with high contrast and very little visible grain. The ebonised set is marginally heavier at 1,450g against 1,400g.
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 1,400g to 1,450g across 34 pieces depending on the option, roughly 42g a piece. That is moderate weighting; the stability comes mainly from the wide bases.
Almost. King height and base are the same at 98mm and 45mm. The other pieces vary by a millimetre or three between options, which is normal on hand made sets and true across our wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
98mm (3.85 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
45mm (1.7 inch) |
|
Queen height |
84mm to 87mm (3.3 inch), by option |
|
Queen base diameter |
40mm to 43mm (1.6 inch), by option |
|
Bishop height |
75mm to 80mm (3.0 inch), by option |
|
Knight height |
72mm (2.8 inch) |
|
Rook height |
60mm to 61mm (2.4 inch), by option |
|
Pawn height |
53mm to 56mm (2.1 inch), by option |
|
Officer base diameter |
38mm (1.4 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Sheesham or ebonised boxwood, by option |
|
Light pieces |
Boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,400g in sheesham, 1,450g in ebonised |
|
Recommended square size |
55mm |
|
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.
