FAQ

What exactly do I get?

An illustrated folding chessboard. One board only. Chess pieces are not included.

Can I actually play on it, or is it decorative?

Both. It is a working board, with squares sized for real play, and a piece to keep in view when no one is playing.

What size is it?

24 × 20 inches open. 12 × 20 inches folded. It folds in half for storage and travel.

What is it made of?

Baltic birch plywood, with the edge finished in faux leather, animal-free. The illustration is printed on high-definition photographic paper, with your choice of finish: glossy or textured matte.

Why aren't the pieces included?

Because what we make is the board. Each one is designed as a complete image, and the pieces you set on it are yours.

Can I use my own pieces?

Yes. The squares are standard size, so any conventional set works.

How many boards are there?

Four designs: Bestiary, Fire, Legends and Relics. Each one starts from a line by a different author.

What does limited edition mean here?

We make 25 copies of each design. Once they are gone, they are not repeated. Each board is numbered and comes with its signed certificate of authenticity.

Will there be more designs?

That is the plan, but there is no date yet. What does not change is this collection: the four designs are a closed edition of 25 copies each. If we make more, they will be new designs, not repeats of these.

How much does the board cost?

349 dollars plus tax, without personalization.

Can I buy more than one board?

Yes. Each order is for a single board: to get more, fill in the form again. That way each one has its own personalization and its own text confirmation.

Do you take orders for clubs or companies?

Yes. If you need several boards, write to us at info@babelchess.com and we will talk it over: timing and terms depend on the quantity.

How long does it take?

Each board is built once the order is approved. Production takes 7 to 10 business days, and shipping is added on top of that. Weekends and holidays are not business days.

Why does it take that long?

Because each board is prepared, printed and assembled. One at a time.

Can I cancel my order?

Yes, within 24 hours of confirmation, with a full refund. Within that time you can also change it: just reply to your confirmation email. After 24 hours, the order is final.

Do you accept returns?

It depends on whether the board is personalized.

• Not personalized: you may return it within 14 days of delivery, unused and in its original box. Return shipping is paid by the customer, and we refund the price of the board once it arrives and we have checked it.
• Personalized: it cannot be returned or exchanged for a change of mind. Your initials, your name or your own line are printed into the board itself, and that board cannot be sold to anyone else. That is why, before you confirm your order, we show you exactly what you asked for, with the option to edit it.

What if it arrives damaged?

We replace it or refund it in full — your choice. Write to info@babelchess.com within 7 days of delivery, with photographs of the damage and of the packaging. Keep the box: the carrier may need to see it. We may ask you to send the damaged board back before replacing or refunding it. In that case, we pay the shipping.

What if the mistake is ours?

If we sent the wrong board, or your personalization was not made as you ordered it, we cover it completely: replacement or full refund, and we pay the return shipping.

How long do refunds take?

Refunds are issued through our payment provider, to the same method used for the original payment. They usually appear within 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank.

What can I personalize?

Three things, and you can choose any of them:

• The back cover: your initial alone, or your initial with your name below it. Up to 20 characters.
• Squares A1 and H8: your initials inside the board itself.
• The line: you can replace the author's line with your own text, up to 120 characters, name or signature included.

What does personalization cost?

• The BabelChess B, on the back cover or on squares A1 and H8, is included at no cost.
• Back cover with the B and a name below it: 30 dollars.
• Squares A1 and H8 with the B on one and another initial on the other: 30 dollars.
• Back cover with the initial alone: 30 dollars. With initial and name below, up to 20 characters: 40 dollars.
• Squares A1 and H8 with the same initial on both: 30 dollars.
• Squares A1 and H8 with two different initials: 40 dollars.
• Replacing the line, up to 120 characters, with name or signature: 30 dollars.

Can I order more than one?

Yes. Each has its own price and they add to the price of the board. For example: back cover with the initial alone plus the line, 60 dollars. Back cover with initial and name, the line and both squares with different initials, 110 dollars. All of it is added to the 349 dollars of the board, plus tax.

Can I check the text before it is printed?

Yes, twice before you pay. First you see a preview of how your board would look, which is approximate. Then you see your text again, exactly as you wrote it: that is precisely what gets printed, so read it carefully.

I made a mistake in the text. Can it be fixed?

Yes, if you tell us in time: you have 24 hours from your confirmation email to write to us at info@babelchess.com. After that, the text you confirmed is what gets printed.

Is there any text you won't print?

We reserve the right to decline any text we consider offensive, discriminatory, political, or protected by third-party rights. In that case the order is cancelled and refunded in full.

How much is shipping?

Free to the 48 contiguous states. To Alaska, Hawaii and US territories, shipping is paid by the customer: it is a flat rate, and the cost is shown at checkout, before you confirm your payment.

Do you ship outside the US?

For now we ship only within the United States. Shipping to Canada is on hold due to the new tariffs between the two countries. We will offer it again once the situation is clearer.

How does the board travel?

In a box designed for it, the exact size of the folded board. It ships with tracking, and we send you the number as soon as the parcel leaves.

How do I clean it?

With a clean, damp cloth. The laminate handles dust and ordinary marks well. No special product is needed.

Can it get wet?

The board is laminated and protected, so it handles normal use: if something spills on it, wipe it dry and nothing happens. What it does not tolerate is being left wet. Standing liquid can work its way under the print and affect the adhesive. Dry it as soon as you can, and never submerge it.