What contributes to the price of a chess set?

What contributes to the price of a chess set? What’s the difference between a cheap chess set and an expensive one, and are the expensive ones worth it?

Here I will offer a comprehensive list of factors contributing to the price of both modern chess sets and vintage/antique ones.

Modern chess sets

Westminster Series Artisan chess pieces in boxwood & ebony (House of Staunton).

When it comes to the price of a modern chess sets, the most obvious contributing factors are:

• Craftsmanship – Some chess sets are more difficult to craft than others, and this is particularly true of the knight, which tends to be the most complex piece in a chess set. The craftsmanship of the lathing, carving, and finishing can vary.
• Complexity of the knights – This is definitely a subset of quality of craftsmanship; the price of the knights can account for half of the total price of a chess set, and some sets feature knights only a few artisans in the world are skilled enough to produce.
• Wood type – Some types of wood are more expensive to source than others, and there may be differences in how they’re prepared for lathing, and how workable the woods are. Some wood types have more porous surfaces which require the use of resin to fill in the gaps in order to end up with a smooth finish. Some wood types are so hard that they can affect the equipment used to lathe them, which can add to the cost. Some wood types are exotic and even banned from further harvesting, in which case you’re lucky if you can get access to already harvested wood. And finally, in some cases one may desire wood with an abnormal growth or genetic defects that can create beautiful textures, such as Karelian birch which was historically used for some Tsarist-period chess sets, or bird’s eye maple which is predominantly used in chess boards today.
• Finish – The type of finish can contribute to the price as well. Standard pieces tend to feature simple varnish and ebonized pieces, while some sets are offered in different stains (e.g., Mahogany, purpleheart, or some vintage Chavet sets feature a green stain), or the white pieces feature a distressed effect (a black wash that brings out the details) or antiquing. The level of antiquing can also vary a lot, from a simple brown stain to a more complex staining process involving multiple colors, such as in the Indian Chess Company’s Averbakh I reproduction. And finally, some chess sets may feature a lacquer finish, which is usually applied to both sides. An example of this is the House of Staunton’s Circa 1940 Soviet Club Series, which is a reproduction of the carbolite 1940s Soviet Staunton sets, and thus it’s offered in a white and black lacquer that emulates the white and black carbolite pieces of the original sets.
• Weight – The weight of a chess set can contribute to the price; some sets can get a bit heavier with broader bases or simply by making the pieces larger; but generally, a chess is weighted by adding metal in the base. Lead is often used due to its high density. Even more dense and expensive is tungsten. So both the type of metal and the amount will contribute to the price, so heavier chess sets tend to be more expensive.
• Size – The size of the chess set contributes to the price as well, as you require more wood to make the pieces, and the production process may get more complex for larger sets.
• Production process – The cheapest sets may be produced with automated machinery as opposed to manual labor by a craftsman; or sets may be pressed into a mold using wood pulp, or cast in metal or plastic.
• Material – Yes, the wood species used contributes to the price, but of course more generally the material used is a factor. The cheapest sets are made of plastic rather than wood, but even here is variance in quality and cost. Some plastics like woodtek are made to resemble wood, so woodtek chess sets tend to be more expensive—especially the ones with more credible wood textures. Some vintage chess sets in particular are made using plastic with a marbling effect. Examples are some editions of the ’70s Cavalier sets, and some editions of Peter Ganine’s 1957 Superba tournament sets. And chess sets can be made of other materials, including bone, horn, ivory, stone, resin, or different metals. I’ve even seen seen some vintage chess sets made of tooth and amber; and some antique ones using mammoth ivory! The House of Staunton offers several modern sets made of mammoth ivory, such as the Mammoth Ivory and Genuine Ebony Collector Series.

I think these are some of the most obvious factors that influence the price of a chess set. But there are some other relevant factors as well:

• Complexity of other chess pieces – While the knight tends to be the most complex piece in a chess set, in many pre-Staunton sets and reproductions thereof (e.g., the 18th-century Dutch chess sets, or the 18th/19th-century Barleycorn chess sets), the rooks can be quite intricate—featuring brickwork, flags, or cannons. 19th-century Dieppe chess sets often featured complex figural pieces—depicting, for example, Henri IV and Napoleon for the kings on either side. And the 19th-century Mexican Pulpit, the English Hastilow, Cantonese Burmese-Canton, and the Indian Vizgatapam and Pepys can be incredibly intricate—often featuring royals with fully realized crowns with open spaces on the inside. 
• Extra queens – Whether or not two additional queens for pawn promotion can of course affect the price as well—even more so with more complex queens. Cheaper sets don’t tend to feature extra queens.
• Padding – The material used for padding can also be of influence. Soviet Shkolnik sets came with what seems like a paper material. Historically, baize was used for most high-end wooden chess sets; and modern sets may come with felt, baize, or leather. Of course there is variance in quality of most of these materials as well; some felt has a wool-like feel that stimulates the more expensive baize. The cheapest plastic sets may not feature any padding.
• King’s marks – The inclusion of a king’s mark on the king’s side knights and rooks can increase the price. It’s an archaic practice, but sometimes they’re still included for historical and/or aesthetic reasons.
• Weighting system – Besides the material and amount used for weighting, the weighting system used can contribute to the price as well. Some sets contain standardized pieces of lead that are glued in place or fixed in place with resin; others feature cast lead to fill as much of the cavity in the base as possible. The most expensive sets from House of Staunton are weighted using a proprietary technique that allows the wood to expand without pushing into the weight, thus reducing the risk of cracks developing in the base. In some cases, the chess pieces are too slender to add weight inside the base, in which case they are weighted with brass discs affixed to the bases. Examples of this are the House of Staunton’s Killarney repro and their Biedermeier repro.
• Warranty – Some vendors may offer a limited warranty for cracked pieces which will be replaced for free if it occurs within the warranty time. The sets from the House of Staunton’s Forever Collection have a lifetime warranty for cracked pieces, which is undoubtedly factored into the price. Most sets come without a warranty, however.
• Dual wood types – The inclusion of oppose-color finials or other components that necessitate the use of two kinds of wood per chess piece—or the staining of certain parts—can drive up the price as well.
• Historical significance – Some sets are more expensive because they’re authentic reproductions of sets with historical significance. Especially reproductions of well-known sets or historic chess makers can be in high demand.
• Tournament sets – Some sets are more expensive because they are licensed tournament sets that are currently used in large chess tournaments, such as the Official FIDE World Championship chess set, the 2015 Sinquefield Cup set, and the 2023 Sinquefield Cup set.
• Limited edition releases – Some chess sets may be more expensive because they are limited releases. This could be a case of fabricated scarcity which drives up the price, or sets that are offered in limited quantities because the demand isn’t high. I think an example of the latter may be the Indian Chess Company’s Averbakh I reproduction, which is limited to just 25 sets. It’s actually very reasonably priced for what you get though—a beautiful set with fairly sophisticated antiquing on the white pieces.
• Special releases – The House of Staunton offers a few sets that aren’t very limited sets, but come with certificates of authenticity that are signed by the 10 players of a particular tournament—such as the 2024 Sinquefield Cup Commemorative Series Chess Pieces. Of course the inclusion of those signatures is factored into the price of the set. Another example is the 2023 Champions Showdown Chess 9LX Official Series Chess Pieces, of which five sets were made for the tournament, which are the exact sets offered here (not replicas).
• DGT-enabled chess pieces – Some chess pieces include chips that allow them to be recognized by electronic chess boards. The House of Staunton offers 13 DGT-enabled sets, starting at $549 for a simple Dubrovnik in golden rosewood.
• Reputation – Some chess vendors may be able to ask more due to their reputation; for instance, all chess sets by the Slovenian Noj are quite highly priced, and the demand is so high that there are waiting lists.
• Working conditions & salaries – As Chuck Grau noted, another reason why a company like Noj is a lot more expensive than some of the Indian vendors is because of differences in the working conditions and their salaries. Noj is a family-run company where everyone gets a living wage, whereas Indian artisans may be paid a lot less for a higher output of chess sets.

Vintage & antique chess sets

Ferocious Knight set (Kultsport, 1930s), from the collection of Chuck Grau.

As for second-hand chess sets, all the aforementioned factors will contribute, but there are a few additional factors, including:

• The age of the chess set – Older chess sets can be more expensive, especially when they’re in a good condition.
• The number of chess sets produced or their accessibility – Some chess sets may be easier to find online than others. This can be due to the set being produced in limited quantities, or few people are willing to sell their sets (for instance, you are unlikely to find any of the reproductions that the Ukrainian chess maker Oldset produced—both because they are beautiful sets that the owners would be unlikely to part with anyway, as well as the fact that Andrei from Oldset died in the war against Russia in early 2024, which now makes the existing sets even more valued). There may also be other barriers to access. For instance, I get the impression that the market of Soviet chess sets is much larger and more exciting than what we Westerners see via eBay and Etsy; the Russian online marketplace for chess sets just isn’t accessible without an address and bank account in Russia.
• Condition – The condition of the chess set obviously affects the price; whether the chess pieces are still intact, and the amount of wear of the pieces. Although not all wear reduces the price. I have a beautiful 1950s Soviet set with considerable wear, but it has both a beautiful patina (see below), and the wear quite beautifully outlines the shapes and details. I will post a photo of the knight at the end.
• Patina – Some chess sets develop a beautiful patina over time, which is the color and quality of the surface. Not only can the wood and the stain or paint change in color over time as a result of interactions with UV and oxygen, but the grime of hands and discolorations from heavy smoking can develop the color and contrast as well. The distressed effect of some modern chess pieces essentially emulates the grime that gets into crevices, while the antiquing effect simulates things such as discolorations from smoking. I’m not sure if this counts as a beautiful patina or something that brings down the price (I imagine it can be quite subjective whether it’s desirable or not), but I’ve even seen a Soviet set with dark specks that seem to be burn marks from ashes of cigars falling onto the pieces while the smoker played games of chess. All this and the general wear can subjectively add to the beauty of the set for some collectors.
• Restoration & replacement – Some chess sets may sell for more once properly restored; some sets may go for less because repairs had to be made, or some of the pieces have been replaced by pieces of another set or modern reproductions.
• Demand – Some sets may sell for more simply because demand has increased; for instance, the Mordovian chess sets have become more desirable since one was featured in the finale of The Queen’s Gambit.
• Knowledge of the seller – Some chess sets are offered for less than what they are worth, simply because the seller doesn’t know what they have; you may get particularly lucky at thrift stores. I haven’t had such luck yet, but I did get two variants of a 1967 Soviet carbolite set for $50 including shipping, whereas normally these sets go for at least $100. Such a lucky find!
• Connections – And finally, you may get a better price for a set depending on who you know. If you have frequent dealings with particular sellers, they may warm up to you and be more likely to give small discounts. With vintage sets, the price isn’t necessarily the same for everyone.
• Biases – Oh I guess that brings me to one final factor. Some sellers may have biases which could influence the price. Maybe they are more likely to lower the price for someone of the same ethnicity and culture. Or maybe they have a weak spot for a damsel in distress in desperate need of a nice Soviet chess set. 🤭

Is it worth it?

Finally, let me briefly address the question whether an expensive chess set is worth it. Maybe? I think this is so subjective. Some people have a limited budget, in which case a high-quality and nicely weighted plastic set is much more worth their money. My wife has the Fischer Series set, which at 45 ounces is surprisingly heavy (heavier even than many wooden sets of up to $300 or more). And it features no mold lines either, which really surprised me for a set that costs just $17.95. I would say that is definitely worth the money.

You may want to pay more for a set of a particular design and/or wood type that you like. Or you may find it worthwhile to pay more for the weight. Personally, I enjoy playing with a heavily weighted set, so I would be prepared to pay more based on the weight, or to invest time in adding tungsten to the set to make it heavier.

As a chess collector of vintage Soviet sets though, weight is not something I prioritize. Some of the nicest chess sets are unfortunately not weighted, in which case I will have to consider whether I want to drill holes in a vintage set to add weight, or leave them intact. When it comes to vintage sets, I’m prepared to pay more for the design, the patina, the age, and the historical significance.

Whether you’re a chess player or a chess collector—or both—you will probably value different things, and weigh those against how much you’re willing to spend. So is a more expensive chess set worth it? Depending on what you’re after, it definitely can be.

And with vintage sets, it’s also possible that an acquisition counts as an investment, where the value of the set can increase over time. I personally don’t think this should be a primary motivation when it comes to buying chess sets, but that’s speaking as a chess collector and enthusiast. If you’re a dealer, of course you will prioritize monetary value.

A carbolite Shkolnik II (Kievplastmass, 1960s) from my collection. Not a particularly expensive set, but I like it; and I weighted them with tungsten putty and refelted them with purple felts, making the set uniquely mine and ready for play.

Do you know any other factors that could contribute to the price of a chess set that I missed?

And as promised, below is my little Soviet knight with a beautiful patina and considerable wear. Clearly my knights are zebras rather than horses. 🤭