THE GRANDMASTER’S CHOICE: INTRODUCING THE ROLLS-ROYCE CHESS SET – AutoMart Canada

• Rolls-Royce presents the Chess Set, designed to be
  enjoyed in clients’ homes
• Opens in a single theatrical motion, echoing the sense of occasion
  of a Rolls-Royce
• Features hidden drawers and sculptural, ceramic-coated magnetised pieces
• Crafted with meticulous attention to detail; the result of one
  year of design, engineering and experimentation
• Available in four veneer finishes, with a choice of 13 leather colours
• Celebrates and elevates the strategy game enjoyed by many
  Rolls-Royce clients

“We are in the privileged position of knowing our clients
personally. These relationships – and the unique insights they
provide into our clients’ worlds, tastes, and preferences – inform
everything we do at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Knowing that many
clients enjoy chess — often at an extremely high level — we were
inspired to create our own Chess Set as a natural evolution of the
sense of hosting and occasion that defines the Rolls-Royce
experience. Incorporating materials and the meticulous craft
techniques our clients know and love from their motor car, the Chess
Set is a discreet, beautiful, and authentic extension of our brand
into their homes. It serves as a contemporary work of art in its own
right, as well as a practical, playable game.”

Nick Abrams, Accessories Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents the Rolls-Royce Chess
Set, a contemporary expression of one of the world’s most revered
games of strategy that transcends cultures and generations, echoing
the spirit of hosting and shared experience that defines the marque’s
other lifestyle offerings. The chess pieces are ceremoniously
unveiled, capturing the same sense of occasion as the arrival of a
Rolls-Royce motor car. Handcrafted using the marque’s signature
materials and techniques, it offers numerous opportunities for individualisation.

HIDDEN DRAWERS AND MAGNETISED PIECES
The Chess
Set was designed to capture a sense of movement: the leather-clad base
rises gently from the centre, referencing the waft lines of the
marque’s motor cars as it appears to float on its narrow footprint.

The playing board opens in a smooth, single theatrical motion to
reveal a leather-lined holder that slowly elevates, presenting the
magnetically held pieces – a movement reminiscent of the coach doors
opening on a Rolls-Royce motor car. For an effortless experience,
magnets hidden beneath the playing surface ensure the pieces remain
perfectly aligned during play, lending each move a sense of precision
and decisiveness. The design team experimented with six different
types of magnets to identify the optimal strength that secures the
pieces yet allows them to float effortlessly across the board. A
discreet drawer on each side of the board, opened with a light touch,
contains an additional queen to take the place of a piece that has
been promoted during the game.

Both the generously sized board and the chess piece holder are
framed with polished aluminium edges. A polished aluminium Spirit of
Ecstasy emblem is discreetly affixed to the front and back of the
Chess Set, signifying its provenance.

Each set is meticulously crafted by hand. The aluminium grid of
the board is machine milled, then further refined by hand to achieve
the precise definition of the corners – a delicate process, as the
fine metal bends easily. The veneer squares are laser cut and then
precisely placed on the board by hand. Each of the veneer pieces is
crafted from the same log to achieve a consistent pattern in the
natural grain, ensuring the wood will age uniformly over the years.

THE CHESS PIECES: MONOLITHIC FORMS
Every chess
piece has been precision-crafted with faceted surfaces, transforming
them into sculptural objects in their own right. To create the pieces,
the marque’s designers studied the profile of traditional chess
pieces, electing to extrude them downward into square bases. Each of
the highly sculptural pieces is made of ceramic-coated aluminium, contains a hidden
magnet and is crowned with a jewel-like polished stainless-steel head.
The weight, solidity and cool-to-the-touch tactility of them are
deliberately evocative of the solid-metal organ stops found in
Rolls-Royce motor cars — a shared expression of material authenticity
and satisfying mechanical engagement. The black chess pieces are given
a satin finish, while the white pieces feature a subtle iridescent treatment.

EXQUISITE MATERIALS FROM THE ROLLS-ROYCE
PALETTE
The Rolls-Royce Chess Set incorporates the same
materials used to craft the interior of the marque’s motor cars. The
playing board is available in a choice of four veneer combinations,
each arranged to create a diamond pattern when viewed from above.
Around the playing surface, a longitudinal grain is used. High-gloss
finishes include Blackwood with Ceramic White and Macassar Ebony with
Royal Walnut; Open Pore veneer treatments in Smoked Eucalyptus with
Paldao and Obsidian Ayous with Blackwood are also available.

Elements of the Chess Set can be individualised to reflect the
client’s personal style and the aesthetics of their home. Clients can
select from 13 Rolls-Royce leather colours — Cashmere Grey, Phoenix
Red, Charles Blue, Forge Yellow, Iceland Moss, Scivaro Grey, Arctic
White, Havana, Tailored Purple, Mandarin, Peony Pink, Black, and Lime
Green — allowing them to tailor both the exterior and the chess piece
holder to their exact requirements.

The Rolls-Royce Chess Set is now available for commission in
Rolls-Royce showrooms and Private Office boutiques.