12 inch minimalistische Staunton magnetische reisschaakset – elegante geschenkeditie

I bought this travel chess set as a keepsake for my recently deceased father, almost as if it were a final gift from him, as his passing occurred just a few days before my birthday.
I was looking for a functional chess set that I could easily take with me anywhere. I was immediately attracted by the photos of this model on the Royal Chess Mail website, after hesitating between it and their folding travel chess sets. What appealed to me here was the complete box, which closes securely, as well as the drawers for storing the pieces. This avoids having to store the pieces inside the board itself, as is the case with folding travel sets.
You can also play or replay games from books or annotated collections by placing the pieces along the edges of the board or on the top section of the box. It is genuinely practical.
The pieces have a classic Staunton design, with bishops featuring an almost vertical slit. The proportions between the pieces are perfect, with a special mention for the knights, which are particularly well crafted. This is quite rare with pieces of this size, and even more so for a travel set.
The case is beautiful, both open and closed. It would look perfectly at home on a desk, for example. It is fairly substantial and quite heavy, so carrying it around every day in its current form may not be ideal. However, Royal Chess Mail also provides a small pouch for storing the pieces. I think I will look for a protective sleeve for the board so that I can safely carry it in a backpack or briefcase.
I think this format is actually perfect for travelling: a single, non-folding piece, ideal for placing on a train or airplane tray table, even if it sticks out slightly. In my opinion, it is more practical than a folding travel chessboard.
The woods used are of very high quality. The golden rosewood used for the pieces is beautiful, with a lovely combination of light and dark grain. The chessboard has a matte finish, which does pick up fingerprints a little, but it cleans easily with a soft cloth.
The colours of the squares are perfectly harmonious with the pieces: neither too dark nor too light, with no visual fatigue or distracting contrast when playing or reading a position.
The pieces slide nicely across the board when you want to move quickly, replay variations or work on openings, for example. The pieces are magnetic and stay firmly in place, but the magnets are just the right strength. They are not excessively strong, as is often the case with magnetic chess sets. Here, you never have any difficulty lifting a piece from its square because of the magnet.
In fact, the Royal Chess Mail team has got the balance absolutely right. You could almost think that the pieces are slightly weighted. This is the first time I have experienced this with a magnetic chess set, and it makes the set particularly pleasant to use.
The proportions of the pieces relative to the squares are perfect — as you can see in the photos with four pawns on a single square, or the rook lying down on the board. If I were to be extremely picky, perhaps the King’s base takes up just a little too much space on its square. But in actual use, this is not an issue, and the proportions remain perfectly logical in relation to the other pieces.
This set has a very high symbolic value for me because it was, in a way, my father’s final “gift”. It fits perfectly into my collection, and not only as a travel set. I have to admit that its practical storage and its ability to sit neatly on my desk mean that it sometimes replaces my traditional size 5 or 6 sets when I want to replay historical games or work on my chess.
Now I just need to find a beautiful carrying case or a small attaché case for the chessboard to make it easier to transport.
What a beautiful set created by Royal Chess Mail, exactly in keeping with its minimalist name and elegant gift edition. It is a magnificent object that will appeal to anyone who appreciates beautiful chess sets and beautifully crafted pieces.
I had already loved Royal Chess Mail’s unweighted Dubrovnik set with the folding chessboard case, and once again I am extremely satisfied with my purchase.
And I almost forgot to mention the excellent packaging: everything was very well protected, and the shipping and delivery were both fast. Their chat service is also excellent, with consistently quick responses and very good advice.
One final suggestion: if I were to make another purchase from Royal Chess Mail right now, it would be incredible if the team created a small-format travel set featuring the Dubrovnik-style pieces.
Bedankt, Royal Chess Mail, voor de kwaliteit van jullie producten en de uitgebreide collectie.

Ik heb dit 12 inch reisschaakspel cadeau gekregen en eerlijk gezegd was ik er meteen weg van toen ik het uitpakte. Het vakmanschap is prachtig, de doos voelt hoogwaardig aan en alles is netjes opgeborgen.