The Best Luxury Backgammon Sets for 2026: Heirloom Leather, Travel and Design Sets
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated November 2026.
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Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world and still one of the most elegant. A beautiful set lives out on the coffee table or in the study, invites a game after dinner and, made well, lasts long enough to be handed down. That’s why a luxury backgammon set is such a good gift for the person who already has the decanter and the humidor.
Luxury sets range from a few hundred dollars to well over $10,000, so we’ve sorted the best into heirloom, leather, travel and design-led picks. We drew on gift guides from Town & Country (November 2025) and the British country magazine The Field (September 2025), plus the makers’ own sites, which we checked on November 1, 2026 for current prices and options. Because some magazine prices are a year old, we note when a price comes from a magazine rather than a maker’s current listing.
Quick answer: for a true heirloom, Geoffrey Parker’s handmade English leather boards are the benchmark. For a classic briefcase set you can personalize, choose Aspinal of London. For travel, Smythson’s roll-up set is the most elegant, and Mark & Graham’s magnetic set is the practical bargain.
Our picks at a glance
| Set | Price | Best for | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoffrey Parker custom leather backgammon | £4,425 to £5,875 | An heirloom | Maker’s site, Nov 1, 2026 |
| Alexandra Llewellyn backgammon | From about $2,420 (travel) | An art piece | Maker’s site, Nov 1, 2026 |
| Aspinal of London 15-inch set | $1,240 | Classic briefcase set | Town & Country |
| Hector Saxe leather backgammon | From about €470 before VAT | Parisian leather | Maker’s site, Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ralph Lauren Home Parkwood set | $2,995 list | Mahogany with checkers | Town & Country |
| Smythson Panama roll | $795 | Luxury travel | Town & Country |
| Jonathan Adler Zebra set | $425 | Design lovers | Maker’s site, Nov 1, 2026 |
| Mark & Graham magnetic travel set | $129 | Budget travel | Town & Country |
Magazine prices were current at publication and may have changed; check the retailer before you buy.
How we chose
We chose based on the sets recommended by Town & Country and The Field, and on what the makers themselves say about materials, construction and personalization. For a luxury set we weighed craftsmanship (hand-finished leather or wood, weighted stones and proper dice cups), the size and how it will be used, whether it can be personalized, and how good it looks on display. We haven’t played on every board ourselves, so we stick to what makers and the cited editors report. Amazon links go to the exact listings Town & Country linked where it did, and to Amazon searches otherwise.
The best luxury backgammon sets
1. Geoffrey Parker custom leather backgammon: best heirloom
Best for: the serious player, or a once-in-a-lifetime gift.
Geoffrey Parker’s boards are handmade in the Essex countryside, and each set is made to the buyer’s specifications. The company says its traditional gaming leather alone offers more than 28,500 possible color combinations, before bridle hides and exotic leathers like alligator, ostrich and camel. The sets include triple-weighted stones and professional dice cups designed to prevent foul play, and Geoffrey Parker even supplies a small sample of slip agent for its dauphin gaming leather to speed up play.
You can choose sizes from Travel and Compact up to Tournament and Competition, reconfigure the storage, add embossing, and even adorn the board and stones with gold, silver, platinum or gems. On November 1 its main luxury set was listed at £4,425 to £5,875 depending on configuration. Custom orders are non-refundable, so confirm every detail before you order.
Pros
- Handmade in England to order
- Professional weighted stones and dice cups
- Near-limitless personalization
Cons
- £4,425 and up
- Custom orders are non-refundable
2. Alexandra Llewellyn backgammon: best art piece
Best for: someone who wants a board that doubles as a work of art.
Alexandra Llewellyn’s handcrafted boards come in three sizes, per her site: a large Tournament size, a medium Tabletop size for display on an ottoman or table, and a compact Travel size. Town & Country featured her Tulip Oak set ($7,435 at publication), inspired by the tulips in her father’s garden, and also liked the cigar design.
These are investment pieces. In US dollars on November 1, her site listed tabletop leather boards around $6,210, most larger leather sets at $7,420 and marquetry boards up to $18,290, with travel boards lower. Shipping is complimentary worldwide, and the site lists November 23 as the last order date for personalized boards for Christmas delivery.
Pros
- Artwork-quality designs
- Three sizes
- Free worldwide shipping
Cons
- Very expensive
- Personalization deadline of Nov 23 for Christmas
3. Aspinal of London 15-inch backgammon set: best classic briefcase set
Best for: a traditionalist who wants a set that looks like it came from a London club.
The Field describes Aspinal’s 15-inch set as a briefcase-style wooden frame hand-bound in full-grain leather, with playing points made from 50 pieces of smooth inlaid leather, in four colorways. Town & Country’s writer was nostalgic for the briefcase structure from her family’s own set and notes it can be personalized with up to four initials.
Town & Country listed it at $1,240; The Field listed it at £650 in the UK. Prices vary by market and color, so check Aspinal’s site.
Pros
- Leather-bound briefcase design
- Personalization with up to four initials
- Recommended by Town & Country and The Field
Cons
- Pricier in the US than the UK
4. Hector Saxe leather backgammon: best Parisian leather
Best for: someone who loves French leather goods.
The Parisian games maker offers leather backgammon in grained leather, alligator print, shagreen print and chain designs, plus canvas and travel sets. On November 1 its US storefront priced in euros, with a travel set at about €470 before VAT and grained leather boards from about €840 to €1,815.
Expect international shipping and duties to add to the euro price, so compare the landed cost before you order.
Pros
- Wide choice of leathers and finishes
- Travel and full-size sets
Cons
- Priced in euros
- Duties may apply
5. Ralph Lauren Home Parkwood Game Gift Set: best mahogany set
Best for: the Ralph Lauren loyalist, or a family that also plays checkers.
Town & Country recommends the Parkwood set for its mahogany construction and Ralph Lauren’s signature tartan. It includes both backgammon and checkers.
Town & Country listed it at $2,995, on sale for $1,797 at publication in November 2025. Check current pricing with Ralph Lauren.
Pros
- Mahogany with tartan detailing
- Backgammon and checkers
Cons
- High list price
- Price may have changed since publication
6. Smythson Backgammon Roll in Panama: best luxury travel set
Best for: the frequent traveler.
Smythson’s crossgrain calf leather set rolls up to fit in a carry-on, Town & Country says. Panama is Smythson’s signature crossgrain leather, so it pairs nicely with a Smythson diary or passport cover.
Town & Country listed it at $795. The Field also recommends a roll-up from Noble Macmillan (£265), handmade calfskin in four bright colors, which can be personalized.
Pros
- Rolls up for travel
- Fine crossgrain leather
Cons
- Small playing surface
- Premium price for a travel set
7. Jonathan Adler Zebra Backgammon Set: best for design lovers
Best for: someone with a bold, playful home.
Town & Country calls all of Jonathan Adler’s backgammon sets delightful but says the animal motifs, like this zebra set or the serpent-themed Eden set, are particularly great to gift. It’s a set to leave out as decor.
It was listed at $425 on Jonathan Adler’s site on November 1, the same price Town & Country reported.
Pros
- Statement design
- Under $500
- Price confirmed on Nov 1
Cons
- Style-first, not a tournament board
8. Mark & Graham Magnetic Travel Backgammon Set: best budget travel set
Best for: plane rides and vacations.
Town & Country likes Mark & Graham’s travel set for its magnetic pieces, so you don’t lose stones under your seat on a long flight. It listed at $129, on sale for $89, at publication.
It’s not an heirloom, but it is the most practical set here for travel.
Pros
- Magnetic pieces
- Affordable
Cons
- Small board
- Not an heirloom
Stylish picks on Amazon
Two of Town & Country’s picks are sold on Amazon. The Tizo Lucite backgammon set ($258 at publication) comes in orange and blue, and Town & Country calls a Lucite set one you can never go wrong with. The PrintWorks backgammon set ($74 at publication) folds up to look like a book, so it doubles as decor on a shelf or coffee table. For more options, browse leather backgammon sets on Amazon, or look for a leather dice cup and doubling cube upgrade.
More sets the editors like
The Field recommends Life of Riley’s leather set (£430), presented in a leather-bound case with the wooden pieces and dice housed in the board’s raised edges, and Hay’s Danish-designed travel set (£49) in wipe-clean FSC-certified board and acrylic for a modern look. Town & Country adds Magnetic Midnight’s woven set ($780), hand-crafted in natural Iraca palm by Colombian weavers; Nine Fair Design’s handcrafted walnut monogram board ($895); and Cult Gaia’s Backgammon Clutch ($798), a rattan clutch that opens into a leather board.
For the true splurge
Town & Country’s list also includes fashion-house sets: Dior’s large embroidered backgammon ($5,100), Gucci’s set with a forest print and GG Supreme case ($5,450) and Versace’s Barocco set with Medusa-inlaid dice ($6,575), all prices at publication in November 2025.
How to choose a luxury backgammon set
Pick the right size
Alexandra Llewellyn’s three sizes are a useful guide: a tournament board for serious play at a table, a tabletop board for display on an ottoman or coffee table, and a travel board for carrying. Geoffrey Parker offers six sizes from Travel to Competition. If the set will live out as decor, a tabletop size is usually the sweet spot.
Leather, wood or Lucite
Leather boards, like Geoffrey Parker’s, Aspinal’s and Hector Saxe’s, are quieter and faster to play on. Wood and marquetry boards are more decorative. Lucite sets are modern and easy to clean. Choose the material that suits the room as much as the player.
Look for proper equipment
Weighted stones, lined dice cups and a doubling cube make a set feel serious. Geoffrey Parker includes triple-weighted stones and dice cups designed to prevent cheating; budget and decor sets may skimp here.
Personalize early
Initials make a set an heirloom, but they add time. Aspinal personalizes with up to four initials, and Alexandra Llewellyn’s last order date for personalized Christmas boards is November 23. Personalized and custom pieces are often non-refundable, as Geoffrey Parker notes for custom orders.
Build a game-night corner
A backgammon set pairs naturally with a whiskey decanter and good glasses, or a humidor. For more game-night gifts, see our luxury chess sets.
FAQ
What is the best luxury backgammon set?
For an heirloom, Geoffrey Parker’s handmade English leather boards are the benchmark. For a more accessible classic, Aspinal of London’s 15-inch briefcase set is recommended by both Town & Country and The Field.
What size backgammon board should I buy?
A tabletop size suits display and casual play, a tournament size suits serious players, and a travel size is for carrying. Many luxury makers offer all three.
Are leather backgammon boards better?
Leather boards are quieter and play smoothly, and makers like Geoffrey Parker build their professional sets in gaming leather. Wood and Lucite boards are more decorative.
How much does a luxury backgammon set cost?
Design-led sets start around $400, like Jonathan Adler’s $425 Zebra set. Leather briefcase sets run about $800 to $1,500, and handmade custom boards cost several thousand dollars or more.
The bottom line
If you want the best, order a Geoffrey Parker board and personalize it. Aspinal’s 15-inch set is the classic choice at a more approachable price, Smythson’s roll is the most elegant travel set, and Jonathan Adler’s Zebra set is the most fun to leave on the coffee table. Order personalized sets early for the holidays.
