Hanayama Cast Puzzle: O'Gear (Level 3)

A ring threaded around a gear, and it has to come off.

Rated Level 3 of 6 on Hanayama's difficulty scale — the middle of the range, where most people find their level.

Hanayama's Huzzle Cast series is the benchmark for mechanical puzzles — solid cast metal, no instructions in the box, and a single instruction: take it apart, then put it back together. The reassembly is always the harder half.

Pocket-sized, satisfyingly heavy, and it will be picked up by everyone who walks past your desk. Solutions are available from Hanayama if you need them, though most people hold out longer than they expect to.

Perfect for: desk fidgeters, puzzle collectors, Secret Santa, and anyone who claims to be good at this sort of thing.