Looking to buy a glass chess set but can’t decide which one to choose and what to look for? After a lot of research, I’ve selected the three best glass chess sets available for sale online.
When I began my search for a glass chess set to buy, I had no budget in mind. I just wanted to find the BEST glass chess set available and buy it. To my surprise, all the available options were in a very modest price range of under $50.
List of the Best Glass Chess Sets For Sale Online
You might think that since glass is an expensive material, a glass chess set would cost much more than $50 but that’s not the case.
One possible reason for this might that shipping expensive glass chess sets would be a nightmare for the manufacturers. With 32 chess pieces made out of glass and a glass board, even a slight mishandling can break or chip a piece and ruin the entire chess set.
While this can also happen with the more affordable glass chess sets, replacing broken chess pieces or board, in this case, won’t cost you that much.
With that out of the way, here are the top 3 glass chess sets that you can buy online.
GamieTM Glass Chess Set – My Top Pick
With three different sizes and price points to choose from, this elegantly designed glass chess set from GamieTM is easily the best choice.
While not perfect for hardcore gameplay (which you don’t really expect from a glass chess set anyways), you can’t really go wrong with this one due to its sheer beauty.
Key Features
- 3 different glass chess board sizes available” 7.5”, 10” or 14”
- 16 clear glass chessmen and 16 frosted glass chessmen
- Anti-scratch pads under the board to prevent scratches and provide stability
- Felt bottomed chess pieces for easier movement on the board
- Excellent quality glass design and finishing
Materials and Build Quality
The chess pieces in this set are frosted & clear and come with a glass board. GamieTM has padded the pieces with felt which makes it really easy to maneuver them on the chess board.
The finishing of the pieces is top notch and the craftsmanship just shines through when the set sits on a coffee table with all the pieces aligned correctly.
Overall, the build quality is pretty good for this price tag. You can confidently use it as a gift for that chess lover in your life or even as a showpiece for your coffee table.
Gameplay
Unsurprisingly, the GamieTM Glass Chess Set is not ideal for long sessions of gameplay. So don’t expect to play Blitz style if you are planning to buy this set.
It’s good for a casual game or two every now and then or if you want to attract the kids towards chess or impress your guest. If you are not careful, the pieces or the board can easily get scratched or even break.
Avant Garde Black Frosted Glass Chess Set – Also Great
This frosted glass chess set with mirror board from Avant Garde is a close second mainly due to its slightly lower finishing quality. Although it makes up for it on superior gameplay since the chess pieces for this one are the traditional light and dark colors and therefore, easier to recognize during gameplay.
This glass chess is only available in 15” x 15” so it lacks the flexibility of the GamieTM one when it comes to size options.
Key Features
- Black and frosted chessmen for easier recognition
- King height: 3″
- King weight: 1.5 oz.
- Mirror board Dimensions: 15″ x 15″
- Etched square of size 1 5/8″ each
- Mirror chess board Thickness: 1/8″
Materials & Build Quality
The chessmen are made of decent quality glass. It should be noted that it’s not safety glass so the pieces can break very easily if not handled with care. The board is a glass mirror with etched squares. The craftsmanship of this glass chess set is very good and all the pieces are easily recognizable.
One major issue I noticed with some of the pieces was the padding which seemed to come off very easily. You might want to take care of this for all the pieces once and for all with some glue Overall, this is a beautiful chess set for this price with some for improvement in finishing.
Gameplay
The two sets of chessmen are colored in contrast which makes the gameplay fairly easy as compared to the majority of other glass chess sets in the market. However, the mirror chess board that comes with this set is not ideal for the movement of chess pieces. If you are buying a chess set for serious gameplay, this is not the one.
Overall
A very stylish, affordable glass chess set that will look great as a show piece on your coffee table or mantle as well as work great as a Christmas or birthday present but not suitable for hardcore chess play.
Grandmaster Regulation Glass Chess Set – Great Budget Option
If you’re looking for a more affordable option while still not missing out on style, the Grandmaster Regulation Glass Chess Set is the one to buy.
The chess pieces in this set are clear and frosted which is not very good for gameplay but very visually appealing.
Do note that the pieces are made out of plastic that looks like glass but it’s not glass. This should not be a problem since the set still looks impressive and is priced accordingly.
Key Features
- Chess board is a 10″ beveled glass
- 16 clear and 16 frosted chessmen made of plastic
- Pieces are felt bottomed which makes them stable and sturdy
- The perfect option if you are looking for a cheap glass chess set
Materials & Build Quality
This is a well-made glass chess set with plastic chessmen that look and feel like glass. The pieces have felt bottoms which may come off but can easily be fixed by some glue.
The set I received had some minor imperfections and the packaging could have been much better but overall, I can’t complain about the build quality at this price range.
Gameplay
The board is very small (10” wide) so you may have a hard time playing chess on it regularly. Other than that, the gameplay is exactly what you would expect from an affordable glass chess set with clear and frosted chess pieces.
Overall
If you have kids, this is the glass chess set to buy – affordable, fancy looking and still functional. My nieces and nephews just love it and think it’s the coolest thing ever. I would not recommend this for regular chess play.
Glass Chess Set Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to glass chess sets, I frequently come across some common questions that really bother people. Here is a list of some of the most commonly asked questions on reddit.com/chess, chess.com, and other chess forums. In case you have a question that is not covered below, please feel free to ask in the comments below and I will be happy to answer it.
Where can you buy glass chess sets?
You can easily find glass chess sets online or in-store at places like Walmart or In and Out. Online is the most convenience since you can compare prices and check out unbiased reviews from verified buyers.
How much is a glass chess set worth?
Glass is an expensive material and more often than not, you can expect to pay a large chunk of cash for anything made out of glass. You can get very decent chess sets made out of glass priced under $50. You may even find ones that cost above $50 but they would most likely be second hand, discontinued models with no option to buy replacement pieces.
Do glass chess sets come with wooden storage cases?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Most manufacturers don’t include a wooden storage case in order to keep the retail price low but you can always buy one separately – just keep the chess set dimensions in mind as well as consider the safety of the box.
Which pieces is white in glass chess set?
Recognizing which piece is which is critical for playing chess and glass chess sets with frosted and clear pieces make this very difficult. Although there is no set rule to decide which piece should be considered ‘white’, you can either decide yourself and stick with it or check the manufacturer’s manual to see if they have assigned white to any particular type of piece.
Can you buy replacement glass chess pieces?
Glass chess pieces are really easy to break and sooner or later you’ll need to replace them and buy new ones.Yes, most manufacturers do provide replacement pieces. You can check online or call them to order
Fortunately, most manufacturers do provide replacement pieces. You can check online on the manufacturer’s website or contact them on the platform you bought it from e.g Amazon, Walmart etc.
Can I buy glass chess pieces only?
In case your chess board is in good shape and you like it as it is, you can just buy glass chess pieces only instead of buying a whole another chess set.
In case you are going a more DIY route and building your own glass chess set, buying the pieces may be an option to consider because creating your own glass chess pieces in the correct shape is not an easy task.
What type of glass chess sets can you buy?
Most glass chess sets you’ll find online are made with frosted and clear glass chess pieces and a glass mirror. If you want to go the extra mile, you can order custom made glass chess sets or uniquely designed luxury chess sets with your own specifications. This will allow you to choose the quality, colors as well as the materials to your own taste and budget.
Final Word
So, there we have it. You are now aware of all the options that are for buying glass chess sets. Hopefully, this guide will help you decide which glass chess set you should buy for yourself or as a gift for someone else. It may look like there are not too many options to choose from but trust me, the ones that have been covered here are the only ones that are worth buying.
Do you have any questions or suggestions? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.