The board itself is carved out of Carrara marble, and it is quite heavy-duty. Instead of the traditional chess pieces, designer Tarek Elkassouf etched into the tops of sleek rectangular brushed stainless-steel blocks symbols of the original styled pieces. In keeping up with Tarek's minimalist design, the chess set comes in a simplistic velvet box. The artist and designer is based between Beirut and Sydney. His works have been featured Museums and other institutions throughout the Arab world.