7/16/2020 – The Australian artist and goldsmith Colin Burn has created a chess set that is currently considered to be the world's most expensive chess set. The pieces are made of 18-carat white gold, decorated with diamonds, sapphires and South Sea pearls. Purchase price: 4 million dollars. | Photo: Colin Burn
new: ChessBase 18 - Mega package
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Winning starts with what you know The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Strictly speaking, you do not need a chess set to play chess. Strong players move the pieces in their mind, for others a computer or a mobile device is enough. However, playing on a real board is more fun. In today's top tournaments the players usually create their masterpieces on wooden sensor boards and with wooden pieces that follow Staunton's design.
But there are also countless chess sets that serve decorative purposes or that are pieces of art, and in the past artists have created chess sets of all kinds which are now coveted collector's items.
But what is the world's most valuable chess set? According to the Luxurious Magazine it is the "Pearl Royale".
This chess set was created by the Australian artist and goldsmith Colin Burn and is worth 4 million dollars. The high value is partly due to the materials used. The pieces were made of 18 carat white gold, decorated with black and white South Sea pearls and covered with 513 carat diamonds and blue sapphires.
The game is so valuable that so far only one gallery has dared to show it in an exhibition: the ACCA art gallery in Beverly Hills in 2019.
Colin Burn was born in 1963, trained as a galvanizer in 1979 and then worked for a leading Australian jewelry company. He started his own company at the age of 22. In his works of art he often uses everyday objects and refines them. In Australia and Japan he has received awards for his work.
So, if you happen to look for a really special chess set, Colin will certainly be happy to take your order. The set can also be ordered from the ACCA Gallery in Beverly Hills but please remember to provide sufficient insurance cover for shipping and choose a choose a safe place to store the set if you are not at home. If you let a neighbour accept your packages he or she should be trustworthy.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
The Trompowsky is especially suited for faster time controls as you don‘t have to memorise endless lines of theory, and you push your opponent out of their comfort zone after your second move.
Trompowsky Powerbook 2025 is based on 53,000 computer games from the engine room of playchess.com as well as 49,000 games from Mega and correspondence chess.
Trompowsky Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 8727 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 316 are annotated.
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
In this dynamic and practical video course, IM Andrew Martin arms you with powerful antidotes to White’s most annoying sidelines.
€34.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.