Most Christmas gifts are forgotten by spring. A chess or backgammon board with a name, a date or a few words engraved inside it is different: every time it is opened, the message is there, for years and often for generations. On our backgammon, chess and 2-in-1 sets the engraving is free, and below you will find how it works, message ideas for everyone on your list, a few tips and the dates to order by.
How our free engraving works
- Choose a set from our personalized backgammon sets, personalized chess sets or chess and backgammon sets.
- On the product page, type your text in the "Personalized engraving" field: a name, a date or a short wish of up to 80 characters, including spaces.
- Add the set to your cart and check out as usual. We engrave the text inside the board, free of charge.
- Engraving is done on the same day, so engraved orders ship as quickly as any other order.
Our chess and backgammon tables do not have the engraving field; if you would like a table personalized, or the text in another alphabet such as Armenian or Cyrillic, please contact us before you order.
Christmas engraving ideas
Short, personal and with a year: that is the formula that works best. Here are ideas you can use as they are or adapt; every one fits within 80 characters.
For dad and grandpa
- "Merry Christmas, Dad – your first opponent, 2026"
- "Grandpa's board – may the games go on for generations"
- "To the best dad and toughest opponent – Christmas 2026"
For a partner or a couple
- "Every move with you. Merry Christmas, my love – 2026"
- "Anna & David – our first Christmas together, 2026"
For the whole family
- "The Hakobyan family – Christmas 2026"
- "Family game nights start here – Christmas 2026"
For children and young players
- "For Aram – your first board. Play bold! Christmas 2026"
- "Think ahead, dream big – Merry Christmas, Lily"
For friends
- "Rematch anytime. Merry Christmas, old friend"
- "Roll the dice, make memories – Christmas 2026"
For colleagues and clients
- "With thanks for a great year – Christmas 2026"
- "To our partners – thank you for 2026. Season's Greetings"
Tips for a perfect engraving
- Keep it short. Shorter messages look cleaner and are easier to read on the board.
- Check spelling twice. We engrave exactly what you type, so double-check names and dates before you order.
- Add the year. "Christmas 2026" turns the board into a small time capsule.
- Use the recipient's date format. 25.12.2026 and 12/25/2026 mean the same day to different people.
- Skip emojis and special symbols. Letters, numbers and simple punctuation work best.
Boards to personalize this Christmas
- A first engraved board: the Classic Chess Set with an expanded playing field, 40 cm (4.8 out of 5 from 18 reviews) or the compact Classic Backgammon Set, 30 cm.
- For dad or grandpa: the St. Gayane Church Backgammon Set, 60 cm or the Mount Ararat Chess Set, 50 cm.
- For the whole family: the Classic Chess and Backgammon Set, 70 cm, the Chess Set for Three Players, 60 cm or the Backgammon Set for Three Players, 30 cm.
- A once-in-a-lifetime gift: the Walnut Backgammon Set with Geometric Pattern, 60 cm or the Walnut Chess and Backgammon Set with All-Over Braid Carving, 60 cm.
Order-by dates for engraved Christmas gifts
Every order is engraved, checked and packed within 1–3 business days (engraving is done on the same day), and delivery takes 8–16 business days with free standard shipping to the US, UK and EU, or 2–5 business days with express delivery by FedEx or DHL. We recommend ordering by:
| Delivery before… | Standard shipping (free to the US, UK and EU) | Express (FedEx or DHL) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas, December 25 | Order by November 25 | Order by December 11 |
| Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, January 6–7 | Order by December 4 | Order by December 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the engraving really free?
Yes. Engraving up to 80 characters is free on our backgammon, chess and 2-in-1 sets.
Where on the board is the text engraved?
Inside the board, so the message is revealed every time the board is opened for a game.
How long can the message be?
Up to 80 characters, including spaces. Most of the ideas above are between 30 and 55 characters.
Does engraving delay delivery?
No. We engrave on the same day, so engraved orders ship within the usual 1–3 business days and the order-by dates above apply as they are.
Still choosing? Browse our Christmas gifts for chess and backgammon lovers, sorted by budget, or see gifts for backgammon players and gift ideas for chess players.
