Ravensburger release the worlds largest jigsaw - 40,320 pieces!

At the New York Toy Fair this year,  Ravensburger released their 40,320 piece “Making Mickey’s Magic” puzzle celebrating 90 years of the world’s most famous mouse. 
Further interesting facts:

• Piece Count: 40,320
• Format: 22.3' x 6.2'
• Area: nearly 140 square feet
• Weight: approx. 44 lbs.
• Estimated Completion Time: About 600 Hours

Find out more about it here.

World's largest Mickey Mouse puzzle released to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Ravensburger has revealed the world’s largest puzzle of the world’s most famous rodent, Mickey Mouse. The puzzle, Mickey Through The Years, features images of Mickey Mouse over his 90-year career starring in Disney animated features and shorts, dating all the way back to 1928’s Steamboat Willie.

The puzzle is absolutely gigantic, measuring in at 22 feet long and six feet tall. The whole thing weighs a mind-boggling 50 pounds. A puzzle that large requires a massive number of pieces, and Mickey Through The Years has 40,320 of them. Don’t lose one! It’s estimated the puzzle requires around 600 hours to complete.

To make things simpler, Ravensburger has divided the puzzle into 10 frames, and each has its own box. This puzzle is basically a mash-up of the 10 smaller puzzles.

Although this puzzle has not yet come to New Zealand just watch this space....

Guinness Records for jigsaw puzzles

Guinness-recognized puzzles
jigsaws feature a number of times in the Guinness book of Records. Here is a summary for you:

Most pieces: The 551,232-piece, 48-foot, 8.64-inch by 76-foot, 1.38-inch puzzle was completed by 1,600 University of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City students at Phu Tho Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Sept. 24, 2011. It had 3,132 sections, each containing 176 pieces. The puzzle depicted a lotus flower with six petals.

Largest: The 21,600-piece puzzle measured 58,435.1 square feet. That's roughly the size of a small strip mall. Devised by Great East Asia Surveyors & Consultants Co. Ltd., it was put together by 777 people at the former Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong and was completed Nov. 3, 2002. Each piece measured no more than about 20 square inches.

Smallest commercially available (1,000 or more pieces): This 1,000-piece, 7.17-inch by 10.12-inch jigsaw puzzle is manufactured by Standard Project Limited, which produces Tomax puzzles in Hong Kong. It was measured in Hong Kong on Dec. 12, 2009. The miniature puzzles were already launched the year before and depict various designs, with images ranging from landmarks to famous works of art.

Smallest commercially available (500-1,000 pieces): This 500-piece, 8.27- by 11.65-inch puzzle depicting Machu Picchu is available from Tomax. It was deemed the record Feb. 3, 2010, in Hong Kong.

Largest collection: Georgina Gil-Lacuna has 1,028 different puzzle sets in Tagaytay City, Philippines. She has been collecting puzzles for more than 26 years. Her largest is 18,000 pieces. The record was set Nov. 29, 2012.

Most expensive: A hand-crafted, 467-piece wooden jigsaw puzzle custom made by Rachel Page Elliott sold for $27,000 at a charity art auction to benefit the Golden Retriever Foundation, a non-profit organization, at the Eisenhower Conference Centre on Sept. 28, 2005, in Gettysburg, Pa. Many pieces are cut in unique designs of birds, cats, horses and golden retrievers in various poses.

Largest spherical: This puzzle depicting a Winnie the Pooh scene has a 15-foot, 7.8-inch circumference and was made by Unima Industrial (HK) Ltd. in Hong Kong. It was displayed and measured at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Jan. 10, 2005.
Source: Guinness World Records

World's largest puzzle completed again!

Back in December we wrote about the  Philipino puzzle collector Gina Lacuna who now holds the Guiness Book of Records for the most jigsaw puzzles. Well she is in the media again, as she has achieved yet another feat by completing the worlds largest puzzle. You can read more about her amazing accomplishment here. 





THE WORLD’S largest puzzle, the “Double Retrospect,” is now on display at The Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

Bucket list cancer victim completes 24,000 piece jigsaw puzzle

Congratulations to this lady, who, following treatment for breast cancer, decided to start a bucket list - and completing the 24000 piece 'Life' jigsaw was on her list.
Read about it here.  Do you have completing a particular jigsaw on your bucket list??  Tell us about it!

Guiness World record!!

Jigsaw puzzle collector Georgina Gil Lacuna receives her world record certificate

In the mountain resort of Tagaytay City, Philippines, Georgina Gina Gil Lacuna keeps more than 1,000 jigsaw puzzles – all completed by her over a little more than a quarter-century.

Ms. Lacuna, whose puzzles are on display at the inn, now holds a rare honor: crowned the Guinness World Records holder for the world’s largest collection of jigsaw puzzles.
Ms. Lacuna’s daily routine  involves piecing together a puzzle – or five. She has completed 1, 030 jigsaws, and is working on Keith Haring's Double Retrospect. By the time she finishes this in February, Guinness will bestow upon her the record for building the biggest jigsaw puzzle in existence in the world. The puzzle has 32,000 puzzle pieces and is 17 feet long and 6 feet wide. About one-eighth of the puzzle has been completed.

You can read more about this amazing woman here.

Attempt at new world record for largest jigsaw

A Dorset craftsman will attempt to set a new world record by creating the largest hand-cut, wooden jigsaw puzzle.

Dave Evans, of Guest Book Puzzles, Weymouth said the jigsaw would be made up of 40,000 pieces and reach 150 sq ft (13.9 sq m).

It will feature a union jack and a montage of photographs of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Dorset.

Mr Evans said he planned to present the puzzle, which he will cut in February next year, to the Queen.

You can read more about it here 

World's biggest jigsaw puzzle collapses

I nearly cried when I read this article! This poor 70 year old chap completed the 32,000 piece jigsaw (the worlds largest) then stood it up against the wall so it could be photographed, and it collapsed!! Most of you will agree, there have been times when the cat has jumped on it, or the kids have played with your jigsaw, and messed up a bit - but to have spent 342 hours putting it together only to have it collapse is devastating. But he was not put off, he simply spent another 50 hours putting it back together again! Read the full story here.

Do leave us a comment if you have a story of when you had a mishap with one of your jigsaws.

Worlds largest puzzle completed!

A couple who are recently married, are the first in the UK to complete putting together the 32,000 pieces which make up the Ravensburger jigsaw Double Retrospect. They spent just under 12 weeks putting together the jigsaw which has a finished size of 544 x 172 cms. Read more about them here

New EDUCA puzzles

Educa is a great jigsaw puzzle manufacturer with a strong and popular range. According to their website they value creativity, safety, variety and quality.

Educa have the record for the smallest 1000 piece puzzle (46 by 30cm).

Educa in 2007 brought out what was then, the largest jigsaw puzzle at 24,000 pieces. This puzzle, called Life, The Greatest Puzzle, features the work of New Zealand artist Royce B McClure, well known for his 3d effects jigsaw puzzles.

Ravensburger's 32,000 piece jigsaw!

Ravensburger Australia are about to release the worlds largest jigsaw 32,000 pieces -called Double Retrospect artwork by Kieth Haring. Educa held the record for the largest commercially available jigsaw puzzle with Life 24000 pieces. But now Ravensburger strikes back! I don't think the image of 32 blocks of symbols has quite the same apppeal to me as the Royce McClure artwork in 'Life', but then if you are a puzzler, and you're up for the challenge... The finished size is 544 x 172 cms! Watch this utube video of its production - fascinating! Or click here to see another video of it.
Leave a comment to tell us what you think of the new puzzle.

Difficult puzzles

The complexity of a jigsaw puzzle largely depends on two things - the size of the puzzle, and the colour of the design, or a combination of them. The Worlds Largest Jigsaw, 24,000 pieces relies on considerable patience by virtue of its share size, although the pattern itself is bright and colourful and not too difficult.
In a puzzle such as Lunchtime 1932, 1000 pieces, the pieces are shades of black and white, and so it is very difficult to complete.

No matter what your age or puzzle ability, the more challenging the jigsaw, the more rewarding on completion. What is the most difficult puzzle you have ever put together?? Click on comment below, and let us know.

World's largest puzzle completed

Here is an interesting report from the UK Man completes worlds largest jigsaw. This puzzle is available in NZ, just contact us if you are interested. It is certainly a beautiful puzzle, and is also available in a smaller version of just 3000 pieces.
I am constantly amazed at the patience and perseverance shown by people who do jigsaws. Congratulations! What a great achievement!

Worlds largest jigsaw

I am constantly amazed by the size of some jigsaws. 18,000 piece ones have been around for a while, but this 24,000 piece one is now available in NZ. Whats more it has its own website!http://www.worldslargestpuzzle.com/ . The artwork for Life - The Great Challenge is also by Royce B McClure a New Zealander. He has tried to make each section different enough from the other sections so that you won't feel that you are doing the same puzzle over and over.

It is also in the Guiness Book of records, now thats some achievement for a jigsaw puzzle!

And for anyone who feels 24,000 pieces is a bit much, it is also available in 3000 pieces. I think thats more my size, until one day when I have heaps of time and space.