Category: Brainteasers
The design of this brass compass provides a clue as to how you might separate the two interlocked pieces. Be forewarned, this is one of the most challenging mechanical puzzles in our collection and this compass does not come with directions. Solving it will take patience and creativity.
Designed by the legendary Nob Yashigahara for Hanayama of Japan.
I’ve spent three evenings on this and still haven’t cracked it, which is exactly what I wanted — the compass face genuinely makes you think about rotation instead of just prying. The two pieces fit so snugly you’d swear they were machined as one solid block. Brutal, but fair.
The brass compass detail isn’t just decorative—it genuinely threw me off for days before I finally spotted the trick. Separating the pieces took real patience, but that satisfying click when they finally came apart made the whole struggle worth it.
Took me nearly an hour to get the two pieces apart, and honestly I had to look at the compass engraving more than once before it clicked. The brass has a nice weight in the hand, though I wish the pieces were just slightly looser to start. Still a great little desk puzzle for the price.
