Tag Archives: Springbok

How to Pick the Best Puzzle Brands

Posted on by

So, we’ve posted before on how to select a high-quality puzzle based on the brand and the quality of the puzzle pieces and printing. But I wanted to give you a little more insight into what makes each of our most popular brands unique. We’ll also take a look at quality and prices.

This is to give you all some insight into each brand we carry, starting with the most popular puzzle brands. I have tested many of the jigsaw puzzles myself and have also talked with many people who love these puzzles! More will be posted later.

_________________________________

Sunsout:

This brand carries thousands of different images, in piece counts ranging from 100 piece mini puzzles to 6000 piece giants. They are made from eco-friendly material in the USA. Sunsout puzzles are also on the cheaper side – with 1000 piece puzzles only $15. Pieces are both ribbon and random cut, depending on the image.

_________________________________


Ravensburger:

Often touted as one of the best puzzle brands, it is probably true. These puzzles have true interlocking ribbon cut pieces – they really snap together well and don’t move around. They also use grained paper which makes the image glare-free with a nice, durable finish and great color. These puzzles are perfect for framing. Their 1000 piece puzzles are $17, and they also have great 500 piece puzzles for only $13.

___________________________

Springbok:

These puzzles are known for the fact that no two pieces are ever the same. They use random cut dies to cut their puzzle, a unique look and interesting challenge. They use 100% recycled materials and are made in the USA. They also limit the number of new puzzles each year in an effort to focus more on quality than quantity. 500 piece puzzles from Springbok are just $12.

Heye:

Heye puzzles have some of the most unique images – from gothic art to highly detailed cartoon puzzles. The pieces are ribbon cut and slide together nicely – but be careful – often times with ribbon cut puzzles pieces of similar shape and color can make it to the wrong spot. Make sure it really fits before moving on! These are top-notch quality – with 1000 piece puzzles upwards of $25 – but they are well worth it if you plan to keep and frame the puzzle. (I myself have 3 mounted on my wall from Heye!)

Aquarius:

If you’re into pop-culture, this is the brand for you. They have everything from vintage Beatles puzzles to I Love Lucy, John Wayne and Rush. Their puzzles are also printed with high-quality ink so the images are bright and crystal clear. These are the perfect puzzles for teenagers or fanatics with 1000 piece puzzles around $15.

Ceaco:

This brand is known for its low prices. You’ll find a smaller box and slightly thinner pieces than a higher-end puzzle, but the fun is still the same! These are great party puzzles or for keeping and doing over and over with the kids or family. 1000 piece puzzles are only $12 and they have great painters like Thomas Kinkade!

Love a particular puzzle brand and want to submit your review of it? Talk to us and tell us what you think and I’ll post it next week!

Question for the comments: What puzzle brand are you loyal to and why?

The Best Jigsaw Puzzle Brands

Posted on by
Springbok, one of the best jigsaw puzzle brands

Are you looking for your next jigsaw puzzle? Need a gift for an avid puzzler? Or, are you a puzzle newbie overwhelmed by the wide variety of options? Let’s discuss some of the best jigsaw puzzle brands and what sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. A few factors contribute to the reputations of the best puzzle makers:

  1. Quality: A high quality puzzle has clean edges that interlock effortlessly and is made from sturdy materials.
  2. The image/artwork: The image or artwork is often the first thing that a puzzler notices. Are the images attractive? Clear? Unique? Does the artwork appeal to you?
  3. Challenge level: Does the puzzle offer a challenge which resonates with your skill level (or beginning status)?

With these criteria in mind, the puzzle companies most often praised for their jigsaw puzzles are Springbok, Ravensburger and Clementoni.

Springbok Puzzles has been around since 1963 and is often cited for its lovely images and high quality pieces. Springbok hand cuts the puzzle dies so that each piece sits perfectly.

Award-winning Ravensburger has been making puzzles for 25 years. Notable recognition was granted by Oppenheim and Parent’s Choice and also earned Family Fun Magazine’s Toy of the Year award. Puzzlers appreciate the accessibility of the puzzles as well as the various challenge levels that they offer.

Enjoy Clementoni puzzles guilt-free because they use recycled and non-pollutant materials. Green is beautiful, because puzzlers consistently note the high quality, vivid and clean pictures on Clementoni puzzles.

If you are still overwhelmed by these choices, just select any one of these brands, and then choose the image that appeals to you most. Whether you are an experienced puzzler, or new to the game, you can’t go wrong when you stick with the best jigsaw puzzle brands.