Chess has long been played and regarded as a game of strategy, meant for those with sharp minds and strategic thinking.

Given its popularity, many Malaysian households have a chess set of their own, with plastic pieces placed atop a chequered piece of cardboard.

However, on the opposite end of the price scale are some of the most luxurious chess sets in the world.

These sets are quite literally treasures, with expert craftsmanship and precious materials going into their creation.

1. The Cybis Chessmen (RM220,857)

Created in 1970 by American artist Harry Burger Jr, the designs of the ornate pieces were based on a medieval tapestry depicting historical figures through the ages.

These figures were religious, mythical and historical, including the likes of King David, King Arthur and Alexander the Great.

Only 10 of these chess sets were created, with one being gifted to the USSR as a diplomatic gift by then-US president Richard Nixon, thus resulting in a high price.

2. Charlemagne vs Moors set (RM648,365)

Entering the world of metalworking at the age of 14, Piero Benzoni remains one of Europe’s most talented silversmiths and jewel sculptors.

Among his most prized creations is a chess set depicting a medieval European battle, with knights, towers and a royal court based on real-life Frankish emperor Charlemagne.

In addition to gold-plated legs that resemble medieval-era metalwork, the chess pieces are solid bronze with gold and silver plating.

Even the board is made from precious stone, namely onyx, with additional gold plates, ballooning its price to that of a house.

3. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Limited Edition set (RM863,070)

In 1977, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee, British games designer, Geoffrey Parker, created a chess set to mark the celebration.

He created two identical chess sets, one as a gift for the queen and the other for sale to anyone willing to purchase it.

The handmade pieces were crafted with sterling silver and gold leaf, and the board was authentic buffalo leather.

Allegedly, the price of the chess set has increased with the age of the queen herself, so who knows how much it will cost in the near future?

4. Royal Diamond set (RM2,213,000)

Once the most expensive chess sets in the world, these were the 2005 creations of French jeweller Bernard Maquin.

Using 1,200g of 14-karat white gold, Maquin, with a team of thirty craftsmen, spent over 187 days working on each of the 32 chess pieces.

Just to give them an additional sparkle, some 9,900 white and black diamonds were used to decorate the pieces.

To add to their value, only three sets were ever created, thus making their rare appearance in auctions ever more exciting.

5. J Grahl set (RM3,098,200)

Considered to be among the most luxurious to date, this chess set was created by Jim Grahl as a commission for a wealthy family.

The chess pieces sport a medieval motif, with costumes and architecture resembling that period in history.

Each chess piece of 14-karat gold, uses a painstaking and time-consuming crafting method, resulting in extremely detailed pieces.

While the original continues to brag the highest price, 11 replica sets have also been made, with a price tag of nearly RM2 million each.

6. The Art of War set (RM3,098,200)

Literally one of a kind, this chess set’s design took inspiration from the Warring States period of Chinese history, during which Sun Tzu wrote “The Art of War”.

Made with gold and rhodium, the pieces are studded with rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires.

The board itself is pricey, made from valuable ebony wood and gold, with more jewels as decoration.

The price of the set is unknown, and the designer Victor F Scharstein turned down an auction bid of US$700,000, leaving many to wonder just how much his creation is actually worth.

7. The Pearl Royale set (RM17,704,000)

Currently the world’s most expensive, the Pearl Royale chess set was made by Australian goldsmith Colin Burn in 2008.

Each piece was sculpted from 18-karat white gold and has been adorned with a layer of diamonds, sapphires and pearls from the Pacific Ocean.

So far, this unique set has rarely made a public appearance, with only the original and three limited edition copies in existence.

The only time it was seen on display was at a 2019 exhibition. It has been kept in Burns’ personal possession ever since.