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The dark side of this set is burned rather than dyed. The pieces are turned first, then scorched, then carved and finished, so the blackening sits on a shaped surface and follows the grain unevenly.
What that produces is contrast within each piece as well as between the two sides. Where the flame caught hardest the timber is nearly black; where it caught less the natural boxwood shows through underneath. No two pieces are the same and none of them is uniform.
A 99mm king on a 42mm base, weighted, with billiard green felts. It sits among our Staunton chess pieces.
Ebonised boxwood is dyed to a flat, even, opaque black. Genuine ebony is naturally black all the way through. Burnt boxwood is neither: the colour is a surface char that varies across every piece and lets the timber show through where the flame was lighter.
Which you want depends on whether you value consistency. If you want the two sides of your board to match piece for piece, burnt boxwood is the wrong finish and an ebonised set is the right one. If you want each piece to be visibly its own object, it is the only one of the three that delivers that.
We carry another burnt set in the Burnt Blazed Series, which runs heavier at 1,240g with wider officer bases. Both sit in our wood chess pieces range.
The order matters. Pieces are turned, then burned, then the final carving and detail work is done on top of the scorched surface.
Doing it that way means the carving cuts back through the char in places, exposing lighter timber along the carved edges. On the knights especially that produces a natural highlighting of the mane and muzzle that a dyed set cannot reproduce, because dye penetrates and a burn does not.
Every piece takes the flame differently depending on grain direction and density, so a pawn may come out nearly black while its neighbour shows clear boxwood through the char.
This is the finish behaving correctly rather than a quality problem, and it is worth being clear about before buying. Photographs show one particular set; yours will differ in the detail. What stays constant is the overall contrast against the natural boxwood opposition, which is what makes the board readable.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The 42mm king base suits either, with 50mm giving a snug back rank and 55mm giving more open square around each piece.
A plain board is the better pairing here. The pieces already carry a great deal of surface variation, and a heavily figured board competes with them for attention. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size. No board is included with these pieces.
Burning the timber rather than dyeing it is a genuinely different finish and the mid process order is what makes this one work: because the carving cuts back through the char, the knights end up with natural highlighting along the mane and muzzle that no dyed set produces. Be clear about what you are buying though. This set will never match itself piece to piece, and if that bothers you an ebonised set is the right answer instead. Against our other burnt set it is the lighter option at 1,100g with narrower officer bases, which makes it the better fit for a 50mm board.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The 42mm king base works on either, with 55mm giving more open square around each piece.
The dark side is burned rather than dyed, and the flame catches the grain unevenly. The variation is inherent to the finish, not a defect, and photographs show one particular set rather than the one you will receive.
No. It is boxwood that has been scorched to darken it. Genuine ebony sets sit across our wood chess pieces range.
The Burnt Blazed Series is heavier at 1,240g with wider 38mm officer bases and a lacquered surface. This one is lighter at 1,100g with narrower officers, which suits a smaller board.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards and storage are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
99mm (3.9 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Queen height |
81mm (3.18 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
74mm (2.91 inch) |
|
Knight height |
67mm (2.63 inch) |
|
Rook height |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
47mm (1.85 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
30mm (1.18 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood, scorched rather than dyed |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, billiard board green felt pads on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,100g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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 side of this set is burned rather than dyed. The pieces are turned first, then scorched, then carved and finished, so the blackening sits on a shaped surface and follows the grain unevenly.
What that produces is contrast within each piece as well as between the two sides. Where the flame caught hardest the timber is nearly black; where it caught less the natural boxwood shows through underneath. No two pieces are the same and none of them is uniform.
A 99mm king on a 42mm base, weighted, with billiard green felts. It sits among our Staunton chess pieces.
Ebonised boxwood is dyed to a flat, even, opaque black. Genuine ebony is naturally black all the way through. Burnt boxwood is neither: the colour is a surface char that varies across every piece and lets the timber show through where the flame was lighter.
Which you want depends on whether you value consistency. If you want the two sides of your board to match piece for piece, burnt boxwood is the wrong finish and an ebonised set is the right one. If you want each piece to be visibly its own object, it is the only one of the three that delivers that.
We carry another burnt set in the Burnt Blazed Series, which runs heavier at 1,240g with wider officer bases. Both sit in our wood chess pieces range.
The order matters. Pieces are turned, then burned, then the final carving and detail work is done on top of the scorched surface.
Doing it that way means the carving cuts back through the char in places, exposing lighter timber along the carved edges. On the knights especially that produces a natural highlighting of the mane and muzzle that a dyed set cannot reproduce, because dye penetrates and a burn does not.
Every piece takes the flame differently depending on grain direction and density, so a pawn may come out nearly black while its neighbour shows clear boxwood through the char.
This is the finish behaving correctly rather than a quality problem, and it is worth being clear about before buying. Photographs show one particular set; yours will differ in the detail. What stays constant is the overall contrast against the natural boxwood opposition, which is what makes the board readable.
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The 42mm king base suits either, with 50mm giving a snug back rank and 55mm giving more open square around each piece.
A plain board is the better pairing here. The pieces already carry a great deal of surface variation, and a heavily figured board competes with them for attention. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size. No board is included with these pieces.
Burning the timber rather than dyeing it is a genuinely different finish and the mid process order is what makes this one work: because the carving cuts back through the char, the knights end up with natural highlighting along the mane and muzzle that no dyed set produces. Be clear about what you are buying though. This set will never match itself piece to piece, and if that bothers you an ebonised set is the right answer instead. Against our other burnt set it is the lighter option at 1,100g with narrower officer bases, which makes it the better fit for a 50mm board.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm to 55mm. The 42mm king base works on either, with 55mm giving more open square around each piece.
The dark side is burned rather than dyed, and the flame catches the grain unevenly. The variation is inherent to the finish, not a defect, and photographs show one particular set rather than the one you will receive.
No. It is boxwood that has been scorched to darken it. Genuine ebony sets sit across our wood chess pieces range.
The Burnt Blazed Series is heavier at 1,240g with wider 38mm officer bases and a lacquered surface. This one is lighter at 1,100g with narrower officers, which suits a smaller board.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards and storage are sold separately.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
99mm (3.9 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
42mm (1.65 inch) |
|
Queen height |
81mm (3.18 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
74mm (2.91 inch) |
|
Knight height |
67mm (2.63 inch) |
|
Rook height |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
35mm (1.37 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Pawn height |
47mm (1.85 inch) |
|
Pawn base diameter |
30mm (1.18 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood, scorched rather than dyed |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, billiard board green felt pads on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,100g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm to 55mm |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
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.
