Isabelle King (Y12)
I am a bit of a purist when it comes to puzzles. I think I complete the most puzzles out of anyone I know, and I surprisingly know quite a few people in the community. So I will therefore call myself qualified to give the ultimate tour into what you should be looking for. Now puzzle buying is a hard business, but I judge based on the following requirements:
FIRST (context on an appropriate amount of colour):
It must be colourful. I don’t know why people torture themselves into believing that buying a 2000-piece solid blue puzzle is a good idea. It isn’t, you will never finish it, and if you do, you will never do it again. This also applies to very plain landscapes; I have banned anyone from getting me a puzzle that is more than 30% blue sky, or god forbid, a picture of the ocean. When you really get into the hobby, you will loathe having to piece together another plain old skyscape. Instead, opt to buy a puzzle with a minimum of 5 contrasting colours. This will make the process far more enjoyable, trust me.
SECOND (a matte finish is key):
Always buy puzzles that have a matte finish, not a glossy one, unless your house has lighting befitting a filming studio. When it’s glossy, it reflects any and I mean any light that comes its way, making it impossible to see past the glare. You should value your eyesight, and squinting at puzzle pieces is a sure-fire way to lose it prematurely.
THIRD (value of measurement) :
Measure your preferred surface! Puzzle boxes have measurements on the back so that you can make sure that it will fit on whatever table you prefer. I repeat, table, don’t do it on the ground, it gives you terrible back and neck pain that is just not worth it. So, before you get a puzzle, make sure that you actually have the space to do it, or if you’re like me and want to try out a 5000-piece one, kick your family off the dinner table because we have higher priorities.
FOURTH (brand important or not?) :
Avoid brands that tend to have falsely fitting pieces or that rely on push-fitting. I have a list at the end of this article on puzzle brands that are certified by me and ones that were not as reliable. But I think all jigsaw junkies (I just learned this phrasing while making this article and thought it was hilarious) can agree that the worst feeling is when you get to the last piece, and it doesn’t even fit because you messed up somewhere along the way. With good brands, you can avoid this experience.
FIFTH (getting down to the nitty gritty):
This category is probably the most technical and something that you would most definitely never really think about. But puzzles come with various types of backing. I would call myself a traditionalist because my favourite backing is the natural cardboard type found on most pieces, being a blueish grey colour most of the time. However, they also come in lettered form, which is where they are separated on the back by symbols or letters meant for easy sorting into sections. I think this works well if you want to do a jigsaw as a group, because then you aren’t fighting over sections. There are also other types of materials used to make the backs of puzzle pieces, such as wood. I don’t like this type because it tends to dig into your fingers more. In any case, one universal fact is that cheaper puzzles will have more residue in them because it’s cheaper material, which can be annoying. But this isn’t too big of a deal, and in general, cheaper also works just as well!
FINALLY (now what about the actual aesthetics of it):
Going back to the actual illustration on the puzzle, I would recommend (quite obviously) getting a picture that you like and won’t get mad at looking at for a while. This is especially important for the repeatability aspect. Because let’s face it, puzzles aren’t too cheap, and I can’t afford to buy a new one every time I finish the last one. So, here are some examples of illustrations I found particularly cool-looking!
Now, to conclude, here is my final rating list of puzzle brands that I’ve tried out. I’m not going to explain why, so don’t feel obligated to stick by it:
- Ravensburger (aka the goat)
- HEYE
- EDUCA
- Dtoys
- White mountain
- Galison
- Puzzlephoto
If you get anything from this, let it be to try a puzzle. I find it to be a highly relaxing experience that lets you decompress and, in a way, meditate without actually having to sit still. My final recommendation is to put on a podcast or an audiobook while doing it; it’s a great way to learn while still relaxing!