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Springbok Puzzles – We Have a Lot To Talk About!
Springbok puzzles have quite a history going back to their creation in 1963. The company was acquired by Hallmark in 1967 and was produced and sold exclusively in Hallmark stores until 2001.
A fan-based letter writing campaign kept the brand from being discontinued and is currently the oldest and most respected brand named puzzle on the market.
Are Springbok Puzzles right for you?
In this article I’ll review the features and benefits of Springbok Puzzles.
Springbok Jigsaw Puzzles Images & Themes
Image Quality and Resolution
Springbok puzzles generally receive positive feedback for their image quality. They are known for using vibrant, clear, and detailed images. The colors are often described as vivid and true to life.
Springbok Jigsaw Puzzle Theme Variety and Originality
Springbok offers a diverse range of puzzle themes to cater to various interests. They have a strong reputation for their classic American imagery, but they also offer a variety of contemporary and modern designs.
- Classic Americana: Springbok is well-known for its nostalgic and picturesque depictions of American life.
- Nature and Wildlife: From breathtaking landscapes to adorable animals.
- Cities and Skylines: Famous cities and their iconic architecture.
- Art and Illustration: The brand collaborates with artists to produce puzzles featuring stunning artwork and illustrations.
- Humor and Novelty: A selection of fun and quirky puzzles with humorous themes or unique designs.
Just The Deets For Springbok Puzzles
Inside The Box:
- Piece Cut: Random
- Piece Fit: Snug
- False Fits: No
- Piece Gauge: 1.8 mm
- Puzzle Finish: Glossy
- Reference Poster: No
- Dust Level: High
Outside The Box:
- Box Quality: Sturdy Cardboard
- Box Size 1000 Piece (Hobby Lobby): 12″ x 9″ x 2″
- Finished Puzzle Size 1000 Piece: 24″ x 30″
- Made in USA
Puzzles Sizes and Piece Count Breakdown
Puzzle Size
Please note that all Springbok puzzle pieces are larger than normal. Finished 1000 piece puzzles are 30″ x 24″ which is quite a bit larger than the typical size of 26.75″ x 19.75″.
The 350 and 500 piece puzzles are 23.5″ x 18″, the 1500 piece puzzles are 36″ x 28.75″ and the 2000 piece puzzles finish at 42.5″ x 34″.
The 400 Piece puzzles are Family style, with three different piece sizes and are 26.75″ x 20″ when completed.
Piece Count
Springbok puzzles offers several piece counts: 36, 100, 350, 400, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000.
- 36
- 100
- 350
- 400
- 500
- 1000
- 1500
- 2000
The 36 piece count is geared towards Alzheimer and dementia patients with nostalgic images and extra large pieces. These puzzles are 23.5″ x 18″ when completed and $3 of each puzzle is donated to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
Cut Style
Springbok puzzles are known for their unique piece cut. The pieces are moreΒ irregular and fit in an unpredictableΒ manner compared to traditional puzzles.
Random cut puzzles feature pieces that are cut in various shapes and sizes, often with whimsical and non-uniform edges.
The irregular cutting of the pieces adds an extra level of challenge to solving the puzzle, as it eliminates the visual cues provided by the regular grid pattern.
Materials
Springbok puzzle pieces are a good thickness -18% thicker than the industry standard.
Their pieces are made from made from 100% recycled materials with 80-90% post-consumer waste, acid free paper, and vegetable based inks.
Benefits of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles
There are so many benefits to doing jigsaw puzzles. They’re great for keeping your brain sharp. I use them for concentration, manual dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.
In addition to those skills, they help teach pattern recognition, shape sorting, color recognition, problem solving, and even patience.
Does Jen Recommend Springbok Jigsaw Puzzles?
I’m on the fence about Springbok puzzles. Hesitation factors include the size of the puzzles, the dust quantity, and the fit of the pieces. Not purchasing directly could result in an image that is truncated as pictured on the box.
As you can see below, the box on the left is a different shape and had more of the original puzzle image visible. I was disappointed that part of the image was missing in the final puzzle.
I contacted Springbok’s customer service and asked them if this was a special box for Hobby Lobby so that I would know if future purchases there would result in a different image. They replied quickly and offered to replace my “defective” puzzle and said that they have noticed this defect on some of the Hobby Lobby puzzles.
The rough edges on the back of the pieces makes for not only a tighter fit, but seem to create a lot of dust. Normally puzzle dust is only something I deal with while sorting pieces. With his puzzle I was constantly cleaning dust from the first piece to the last.
On the positive side, Springbok has beautiful puzzle images and quite a variety.
The other puzzle brand with a 1000 piece puzzle of similar size is White Mountain. While both have random cut unique pieces, Springbok’s pieces are not flat backed.
You can check out my review of White Mountain puzzles here.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on some of the other positives about Springbok. The inside of the box lid was chock full of information about about the history of the company, tips for jigsaw puzzling, and a special code to enter to receive a couple of discount codes.
Check out the collection of Springbok puzzles available on Amazon by clicking below.
2 Responses
I received a Simpler Times puzzle for Christmas. I have been working on it since and Iβm not getting much done. I have put many puzzles together, but I have to say itβs the worst one. The picture is awful to use as a guide. Maybe you should put a printed foldout picture to use as a guide.
Hi Susan,
I agree. Having a reference poster is important, especially if the photo on the box is small or obscured by branding. I’m surprised that Springbok doesn’t include one!