Rolls-Royce has unveiled a chess set—and, true to form, it’s no ordinary one. In fact, it might just be the Rolls-Royce of chess sets. The new Rolls-Royce Chess Set is a refined ritual, a feat of design, and a tribute to craftsmanship—perfectly at ease in a world of coach doors, hand-stitched leather, and gleaming wood veneers. The design echoes the marque’s signature “waft lines,” offering a subtle homage to its automotive heritage.
From the very first glance, it’s clear this is no ordinary chess set. While traditional sets require a stable surface, Rolls-Royce has ingeniously embedded magnets beneath the board and within each piece. Wrapped in supple leather, the base arches gently at the center—a subtle yet intentional curve reminiscent of the waft lines on a Phantom or Ghost. With its minimal footprint, the entire piece appears to hover, as if Rolls-Royce design exists just slightly beyond the pull of gravity. The result? A game that can be played seamlessly in the back of a Cullinan, aboard a yacht, or even mid-flight on a private jet—without a single piece shifting out of place.
On either side of the board, a hidden drawer opens with the slightest touch, revealing a spare queen—ready for those victorious moments when a pawn earns its crown. The chess pieces themselves are pure sculpture. Rolls-Royce designers reinterpreted the classic silhouettes of bishops, knights, and rooks with a bold, monolithic edge. Crafted from ceramic-coated aluminum, each piece is sharply faceted, angular, and anchored on a square base. Stainless steel tops add a gleaming contrast, evoking the tactile elegance of the metal organ stops found inside a Rolls-Royce. The black pieces are finished in a silky satin, while the white ones radiate with an iridescent glow.
The board is a testament to Rolls-Royce’s uncompromising material obsession. Available in four distinctive wood veneer combinations—from high-gloss Blackwood and Ceramic White to open-pore Smoked Eucalyptus and Paldao—each square is laser-cut and hand-set with meticulous attention to the wood grain. Naturally, all veneers are sourced from the same log to guarantee consistent patterning and uniform aging—because anything less simply wouldn’t do.
As with any Rolls-Royce creation—wheeled or otherwise—personalization is integral to the experience. Buyers can select from 13 leather hues and four refined veneer options, ensuring each set reflects its owner’s individual style.
Whether anyone will actually play a full match on one is another question entirely. But, as with most things Rolls-Royce, the true allure lies less in utility and more in the statement it makes.