If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, then you’ve probably happened across The Queen’s Gambit. The miniseries tells the story of Elizabeth Harmon, an orphan chess prodigy who rises through the male-dominated world of chess in the 1960s. Over seven episodes, the show accomplishes something seemingly impossible—turning long, inscrutable games of chess into scintillating drama.
The series’ wild success—over 62 million people have now streamed it—isn’t just limited to mass binge-watching: Chess sets are now selling out across the country. Indeed, eBay has reportedly seen a 215 percent rise in chess sales since the show debuted. And the luxury sector has not been immune, either. E-commerce site 1stDibs reported a 100 percent increase in the sales of chess tables, boards and pieces compared to the same period last year.
Luckily, all is not lost for all aspiring grandmasters. Below, we’ve picked five high-end sets that you can still snap up. Made from premium materials, these gorgeous boards are design objects in their own right. More importantly, they’ll help you channel your inner Beth and finally master the Sicilian Defense.
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L’Objet Chess Set
Image Credit: Neiman Marcus This chess set spares no expense, with 24-karat gold details on a board made of black and white stone. The tiny details are all hand-painted, and the block-inspired shape of each piece gives the whole thing a very mod feel.
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Ralph Lauren Fowler Chess Set
Image Credit: One Kings Lane Every aspect of this chess set is made by hand, and it shows—the board is a real thing of beauty, and draws upon the brand’s expertise in working with leather, complete with intricate stitching around the border. The pieces themselves, meanwhile, are nickel and gold-plated-brass.
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Jonathan Adler Acrylic Chess Set
Image Credit: Bloomingdale's If there’s such a thing as a minimalist chess set, this one from Jonathan Adler is it. Rather than carve out each piece’s shape, the designer opted to make them all cubes, with the image of a rook, knight, queen or what have you drawn on the side. Chunky and standout, while still looking geometric and sleek, this set will double as a design object for your home.
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Aerin Chocolate Shagreen Chess Set
Image Credit: Neiman Marcus The embossed-shagreen finish on this burled wood board makes it shine, even if it’s just sitting on your mantle. The pieces themselves are gold-plated and black satin, with a design that captures the spirit of each without looking too fussy.
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Man Ray Chess Set
Image Credit: Design Within Reach As one of the most well-known members of the Dada movement, Man Ray’s chess set is part game, part artwork. It was the first to cast the individual pieces in abstract geometric forms, taking inspiration from unexpected places—the knight, for example, was modeled after a violin that Ray had sitting around in his studio.
