Buying a chess set for yourself is relatively straightforward. Buying one for somebody else is more interesting. You need to judge their taste, how seriously they play, where they might keep it and whether they would prefer something traditional or something that makes visitors stop and stare.

That uncertainty is actually one reason chess sets make such satisfying gifts. They are useful objects, but they can also be decorative and personal. A chess set can mark a birthday, graduation, retirement, anniversary or Christmas without feeling like something chosen simply because the giver ran out of ideas.

Start With the Person, Not the Price

The most expensive chess set is not automatically the best gift. A keen club player may appreciate clear, traditional pieces and a comfortable playing size. Someone fascinated by history may get far more pleasure from a themed set. A casual player with a beautifully furnished home might care as much about how the set looks on a table as how it performs during a Sicilian Defense.

Think about the recipient’s interests before thinking about materials or specifications. Do they love history, modern design, fantasy, art or unusual collectibles? A chess set can reflect another enthusiasm while still being something that can genuinely be played.

A Gift With a Story Has an Advantage

Some chess sets arrive with a story already attached. The Isle of Lewis chessmen are perhaps the classic example. The originals were discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland in 1831 after spending centuries hidden away, and their wonderfully expressive medieval faces have since become recognizable far beyond the chess world.

The Berkeley Isle of Lewis Chess Set in ivory and brown draws on that history. Made in England from crushed marble, its pieces are based on laser scans of the originals and have the substantial weight that suits this distinctive design. For someone interested in medieval history, Britain or archaeology, the gift has an immediate talking point before a game has even begun.

Or Choose Something Completely Unexpected

Not every chess gift needs several centuries of history behind it. Sometimes the right choice is precisely the opposite: something contemporary, funny or sufficiently unusual that the recipient would never have thought to buy it.

The Bored Ape Yacht Club Chess Set in white and brown takes that approach. Made from crushed marble bonded with resin, it translates the familiar Bored Ape imagery into physical chess pieces. Its 3.75-inch king makes this a substantial set, and the board is chosen separately, allowing the presentation to be matched to the recipient’s taste.

Would a chess traditionalist choose it? Perhaps not. But for somebody interested in digital culture, NFTs or unconventional design, that is rather the point. Memorable gifts rarely come from treating everybody as though they have identical taste.

Don’t Forget Where It Will Live

Size deserves more thought than it usually receives. A large set can look magnificent on a dedicated table but becomes less convenient if it must be packed away after every game. Smaller sets suit apartments and occasional players better. If pieces and board are being selected separately, make sure their proportions work together; generously sized pieces need sufficiently large squares.

The Best Gifts Outlast the Occasion

Perhaps the strongest argument for giving a chess set is its longevity. Flowers disappear, wine gets drunk and plenty of fashionable gadgets eventually find their way into a drawer. A well-chosen chess set can still be sitting in someone’s home decades later, gathering games and memories along the way. Choose according to the person rather than the occasion, and the gift has a good chance of becoming something they would never willingly part with.