These luxurious mahjong sets are guaranteed collectibles.

Mahjong, the widely popular Chinese tile-based game, was first developed during the Qing dynasty. Since then, it has spread like wildfire, winning over fans across the globe. Such is its presence on the world stage that numerous designer brands and other luxury lifestyle companies have taken to creating their own special-made and limited-edition mahjong sets. The most expensive and coveted of these – items that stand apart for their unique aesthetics – are made with unusual high-end materials and feature beautifully detailed carvings and designs. If you’re after a statement-making mahjong set, these may be just what you’re looking for. 

Gemstone mahjong Set

S.T. Dupont, the French manufacturer of luxury lighters and collectable pens, has opted for gem-studded luxury with its 144 handmade blocks of Tanzanian ruby tiles. Each tile is cased with a gold-vermeil that is beautifully hand-engraved. The set includes chips in the form of ancient coins carved from white or black mother-of-pearl, and two ruby dice with pavé-set diamonds and gold-vermeil casings. As if the rubies, diamonds and pearls weren’t enough, each tile also features more than 1000 Burmese rubies and 300 high-quality diamonds on the face and reserve side of each tile. In short, this is one luxury mahjong set that is sure to appeal to haute joaillerie aficionados.

Price: HK$8,219,823

Ox bone and bamboo set

A luxury trunk for the gentleman who enjoys his whisky and cigar over a game of mahjong is this ox bone and bamboo set by English luxury game maker, Geoffrey Parker. Presented within a leather-bound trunk is a set of 144 beautifully hand-carved Ox bone and bamboo tiles by Liu Jun, an expert in traditional mahjong craftsmanship. The trunk, crafted from an exotic ostrich leather, also doubles as an armoire of crystal glasses, cigars and decanter. 

Price: HK$304,968

Leather printed set

The Helios Mahjong Set has been burnished in the iconic orange-brown color scheme of its maker, the French luxury brand Hermès. Crafted from pallisander wood and encased in soft Swift calfskin, each of the 144 tiles is encased with leather, with the requisite symbols printed atop. This limited-edition set enhances traditional mahjong motifs with a wholly modern appeal, though some fans maybe disappointed that the usual cacophony of tiles clacking together has, in this instance, been muffled. 

Price: HK$313, 125

Walnut wood and laser carved set 

Italian luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli had deftly fused traditional and contemporary elements in its collector’s-edition walnut wood mahjong set. Made from innovative materials like high-quality marble-esque KRION™, and dovetailed with European walnut wood, it depicts a refined reinterpretation of the traditional bone and bamboo style. Its engravings are far from traditional, however, featuring finely and perfectly carved symbols with the use of a laser. It is an impressive take on modern mahjong tile-making.  Two hand-made dice crafted from the same wooden material and a case made of two stack able trays and cover complete the set.

Price: HK$73,445

 

Feature image of Joanna Mahjong Set from Ralph Lauren