The Elements Jigsaw Puzzle: 1000 Pieces (BD&L)

This is the best jigsaw puzzle I have ever tried. It is very large and very tricky, and you cannot help but learn masses of stuff about the elements as you are doing it. Because it takes a long time to complete, you probably want an empty table top to leave it on for a week or so. Or maybe I am just really slow at jigsaws! :)

We did this puzzle on a family holiday and really enjoyed it - it is big enough for several people to work on it at a time. It does have quite a lot of dark pieces, so good light is recommended. Very interesting to find out a bit more about the elements. It is a bit wider than most 1000 piece puzzles so we had to build an extension to our puzzle board - you might want to check you have the room before you start!

DIMENSIONSAllow more space for this one, it’s longer and narrower than the usual 1000 piece - about 35 inches wide, but a reduced height. I had to use my extra-large board, the 2000-piece one.QUALITYIt’s ok. Not the best quality I’ve ever come across, but it’s ok. Nice varied pieces, interesting shapes, fitting together well, and they were all there.The cardboard is thick enough to handle, and the finished jigsaw is quite substantial, it was just that the image could have been glued on a little better. Several of the pieces were starting to “flap open” (see photo for example) so I found it easier to keep the glue beside me as I did the jigsaw. Once all the rogue flaps had been glued, it was fine.DIFFICULTYThe hardest part (for me) was the edge, or at least, two thirds of the edge. Pure black, almost impossible, so that had to be left until the end - one piece at a time, trying every piece in turn.The main body of the jigsaw was good - challenging enough to keep me absorbed, but easy enough to complete in a couple of days.SUBJECTObviously this is main reason for choosing any jigsaw.I found it interesting, attractive, and informative; fascinating, to be honest. Beautifully laid out, with some great illustrations, and very imaginative/resourceful depictions of the different elements.The artist has chosen whatever he thinks is the best image of each element - whether it’s based on the name, or the actual element. For example, “Tin” is shown as a little tin soldier, whereas “Einsteinium” shows an image of the great man himself.CONCLUSIONAll-in-all, I enjoyed doing this jigsaw. Tricky in a few parts, informative, excellent images, and fairly robust. Recommended.

EXCELLENTLY CUT AND PIECE TYPE (SHAPE) VERY INTERESTING, FOR MANY PIECES WERE 4-HOLE, AND 4-POINTS, WHICH IS CURIOUS. I HAD TO DO THE BLACK OUTSIDE EDGE LAST, FOR MANY OF THESE PIECES FITTED MANY OTHERS.A SUPER PUZZLE, QUITE TRICKY.

As a bit of a chemistry nerd, I loved this puzzle. The image quality is great and was challenging to do but not too difficult! The only issue is that I had a duplicate piece which someone may be missing!Great puzzle, now under glass on my desk!

I do enough jigsaws to feel confident in saying that this one is poor quality and incredibly hard to complete, without feeling it reflects on my jigsawing skills. The pieces are too ill-fitting, and yet similarly shaped, for the plain black areas to be realistically solveable. Also it was a poor quality print, many of the corners were getting damaged just from normal handling. Do not buy. I will be avoiding this brand. And I’m sad because I only allow myself one jigsaw a month and was excited for this :’(

It would be great if there is an explanation note for the puzzle. Lovely picture but you need to know why the pictures are selected or who is who - which I find difficult to explain to my kids.

Brilliant educational jigsaw. Best completed from the inside out as the edges are all black. It was a challenge but great fun and we learned a lot with the children while we did it. The pieces are all different shapes which makes it more interesting.