Solid Silver and 18k gold plated Travel Set, London 1968

My most luxurious travel set to date - intricately made by "G & T.J" makers, London.  "G & T.J" were jewelers, based in Hatton Garden, who supplied the jewellry trade with an array of intricately and beautifully made gold and silver items.

I first saw their design of a chess knight in the form of a 9ct gold charm for a bracelet, and similar knight designs for pendants and broaches.  I had not seen a full chess set by them before (I have since seen one which sold at Sworders auctions in 2021, and one (at time of writing) for sale on eBay (which could well be the same one which sold as Sworders)).

Whilst silver hallmarked items are easy to date (in this case to 1968), a fantastic feature with this set was that it came to me with the original bill of sale from Pearce and Sons jewellers, dated 27 March 1969.  The set originally cost £45 - in 2026 that equates to approximately £1,000.  Quite a pretty price for a travel chess set*.  But, then, I remember Pearce & Sons' Market Street store being quite posh.  I believe the Leicester store closed in the early 2000s, but the business continues in Melton Mobray (Leicestershire) and Oakham (Rutland).

Each piece is a mini work of art - as one might expect when a jeweller makes a chess set.  Total weight of the silver in the set is just shy of 100g - the scrap price of which alone would equate to around £150 currently.

*searching for a modern solid silver set reveals even more eye-watering prices!