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The Victorian Series is a brass army that holds its footprint constant through the ranks and lets the height do the talking. Where a timber Staunton steps its bases down rank by rank, this set does not.
The king, queen, bishop and knight all sit on one foot, and the pawn stands well up towards the king rather than far below him.
The consequence is a board that reads as a solid front rather than a graded one. Nothing looks slight, nothing looks like filler, and the two ranks at the start of a game present an unbroken line of metal.
The king is a modest 86mm, and yet the complete 34 pieces weigh 2,700 grams. That is the figure that tells you most about how the set behaves in the hand.
It sits with our metal chess pieces.
Weight is the figure to read first, because it is doing something unusual here. This is a modest height, well short of what a full size tournament army stands at, and the weight is the surprise.
What that produces is a piece that does not move unless you move it. There is no rocking on release, no drift when a sleeve catches the edge of the rank, and no need to steady a piece after placing it.
The second thing is the height ladder, which is compressed. There is less distance between king and pawn than a conventional Staunton gives, so the back rank looks continuous rather than stepped and the pawn line in front of it looks substantial rather than subordinate.
That takes a game or two to settle into, because the eye is used to reading rank partly from how much of the square a piece occupies. Rank is read from height and silhouette instead.
These want squares of 45mm to 55mm, and the roomier end is the one we would choose. At the tighter end the opening ranks sit close together and placing into a busy corner wants a little care, which plays perfectly well and looks denser. Below the window the set is outside what it is cut for.
The footprint is where this pattern is unusual. Four of the six pieces stand on an identical foot, the rook is a shade wider than those four, and the pawn is narrower, so the spread across the whole army is very small.
That is the opposite of the usual arrangement, where the foot narrows rank by rank.
The finish is bright rather than matte, so the set catches light from a lamp and shows the profile of each piece. Against the grey, the gold separates cleanly at a distance and under artificial light, which is where a dark timber against a light timber can sometimes struggle.
Care is short and mostly a list of things not to do. Wipe with a dry soft cloth, and skip metal polishes, abrasive creams and solvent based cleaners entirely, because they will cut through a decorative finish faster than they will clean it.
Keep the pieces dry, do not leave them somewhere damp, and handle them with clean hands where you can, since skin oils will mark a bright surface more readily than they mark timber.
Stored sensibly and wiped occasionally, a set like this needs nothing else. It is not a finish that wants maintenance, only one that wants leaving alone by the wrong products.
The reason to buy this one is stability, and there is no subtlety to the argument. The base shared by the four tallest pieces means they behave identically on the square.
Pieces land and stop. A knock to the table does not cost you the position, and for anyone who has been irritated by light chessmen skating on a polished board, that is the whole case made.
Two caveats. The uniform base is genuinely different to play with, and the tight spread from king to pawn takes a couple of games. And this is a table set rather than a travel one, because that weight has to be carried somewhere. Anyone who wants a more conventionally graded army should start with our staunton chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
45mm to 55mm, and the roomier of the two is the better. At the larger size the widest base in the set still leaves a clear margin of board showing all round it.
2,700 grams for the complete 34 pieces. That is a great deal of mass for a king this compact, and it is what you feel every time you move a piece.
Not quite. The king, queen, bishop and knight each stand on an identical base, so those four take up the same amount of the square. The rook is a shade wider and the pawn narrower, so the spread across the whole army is small but not nothing.
Gold against metallic grey. The two tones read apart cleanly at a distance and under lamplight, which is where a dark timber against a light timber can sometimes blur.
No, and it is not meant to be. At that weight for the chessmen alone it belongs on a table it can stay on rather than in a bag.
A dry soft cloth and nothing else. Metal polishes, abrasive creams and solvent based cleaners will damage a decorative finish rather than clean it.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
86mm high (3.4 inch), 31mm base |
|
Queen |
78mm high (3.1 inch), 31mm base |
|
Bishop |
74mm high (2.9 inch), 31mm base |
|
Knight |
70mm high (2.8 inch), 31mm base |
|
Rook |
62mm high (2.4 inch), 33mm base |
|
Pawn |
58mm high (2.3 inch), 28mm base |
|
Material |
Brass Metal |
|
Light pieces |
Gold |
|
Dark pieces |
Metallic Grey |
|
Total weight |
2,700 grams (6.0 lbs) |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 55mm (1.77 inch to 2.17 inch) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in brass metal
Includes one extra queen 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 Victorian Series is a brass army that holds its footprint constant through the ranks and lets the height do the talking. Where a timber Staunton steps its bases down rank by rank, this set does not.
The king, queen, bishop and knight all sit on one foot, and the pawn stands well up towards the king rather than far below him.
The consequence is a board that reads as a solid front rather than a graded one. Nothing looks slight, nothing looks like filler, and the two ranks at the start of a game present an unbroken line of metal.
The king is a modest 86mm, and yet the complete 34 pieces weigh 2,700 grams. That is the figure that tells you most about how the set behaves in the hand.
It sits with our metal chess pieces.
Weight is the figure to read first, because it is doing something unusual here. This is a modest height, well short of what a full size tournament army stands at, and the weight is the surprise.
What that produces is a piece that does not move unless you move it. There is no rocking on release, no drift when a sleeve catches the edge of the rank, and no need to steady a piece after placing it.
The second thing is the height ladder, which is compressed. There is less distance between king and pawn than a conventional Staunton gives, so the back rank looks continuous rather than stepped and the pawn line in front of it looks substantial rather than subordinate.
That takes a game or two to settle into, because the eye is used to reading rank partly from how much of the square a piece occupies. Rank is read from height and silhouette instead.
These want squares of 45mm to 55mm, and the roomier end is the one we would choose. At the tighter end the opening ranks sit close together and placing into a busy corner wants a little care, which plays perfectly well and looks denser. Below the window the set is outside what it is cut for.
The footprint is where this pattern is unusual. Four of the six pieces stand on an identical foot, the rook is a shade wider than those four, and the pawn is narrower, so the spread across the whole army is very small.
That is the opposite of the usual arrangement, where the foot narrows rank by rank.
The finish is bright rather than matte, so the set catches light from a lamp and shows the profile of each piece. Against the grey, the gold separates cleanly at a distance and under artificial light, which is where a dark timber against a light timber can sometimes struggle.
Care is short and mostly a list of things not to do. Wipe with a dry soft cloth, and skip metal polishes, abrasive creams and solvent based cleaners entirely, because they will cut through a decorative finish faster than they will clean it.
Keep the pieces dry, do not leave them somewhere damp, and handle them with clean hands where you can, since skin oils will mark a bright surface more readily than they mark timber.
Stored sensibly and wiped occasionally, a set like this needs nothing else. It is not a finish that wants maintenance, only one that wants leaving alone by the wrong products.
The reason to buy this one is stability, and there is no subtlety to the argument. The base shared by the four tallest pieces means they behave identically on the square.
Pieces land and stop. A knock to the table does not cost you the position, and for anyone who has been irritated by light chessmen skating on a polished board, that is the whole case made.
Two caveats. The uniform base is genuinely different to play with, and the tight spread from king to pawn takes a couple of games. And this is a table set rather than a travel one, because that weight has to be carried somewhere. Anyone who wants a more conventionally graded army should start with our staunton chess pieces.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
45mm to 55mm, and the roomier of the two is the better. At the larger size the widest base in the set still leaves a clear margin of board showing all round it.
2,700 grams for the complete 34 pieces. That is a great deal of mass for a king this compact, and it is what you feel every time you move a piece.
Not quite. The king, queen, bishop and knight each stand on an identical base, so those four take up the same amount of the square. The rook is a shade wider and the pawn narrower, so the spread across the whole army is small but not nothing.
Gold against metallic grey. The two tones read apart cleanly at a distance and under lamplight, which is where a dark timber against a light timber can sometimes blur.
No, and it is not meant to be. At that weight for the chessmen alone it belongs on a table it can stay on rather than in a bag.
A dry soft cloth and nothing else. Metal polishes, abrasive creams and solvent based cleaners will damage a decorative finish rather than clean it.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King |
86mm high (3.4 inch), 31mm base |
|
Queen |
78mm high (3.1 inch), 31mm base |
|
Bishop |
74mm high (2.9 inch), 31mm base |
|
Knight |
70mm high (2.8 inch), 31mm base |
|
Rook |
62mm high (2.4 inch), 33mm base |
|
Pawn |
58mm high (2.3 inch), 28mm base |
|
Material |
Brass Metal |
|
Light pieces |
Gold |
|
Dark pieces |
Metallic Grey |
|
Total weight |
2,700 grams (6.0 lbs) |
|
Recommended square size |
45mm to 55mm (1.77 inch to 2.17 inch) |
|
Piece count |
34 |
|
Chess board |
Not included |
34 chess pieces in brass metal
Includes one extra queen 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.
