Disentanglement Puzzles


Free the ring. Release the bottle. Then put it all back.

A disentanglement puzzle asks you to separate what seems permanently joined: a loop of cord from a wooden frame, a ring from a post, a bottle from its lock. There is always a way, and finding it takes patience rather than force. Ours are handcrafted in natural wood in our Thai workshop, and made to be handled again and again.


Explore by craft: Burr · Kumiki · Tangram · Disentanglement · Cube puzzles
Skip to results list

Filters

12 items

Filter

An ancient kind of puzzle

Rope-and-ring puzzles are among the oldest puzzles we know. The Chinese Rings, also called the Baguenaudier, was described by the Italian mathematician Gerolamo Cardano in 1550, and is older still in China. The principle has hardly changed since: a closed loop, a rigid frame, and a route between them that only appears once you stop pulling and start thinking about how the cord can move.

Read more: Disentanglement puzzles: a fascinating history

Made to be handled

These are puzzles you work at with your hands for a long time, so the details matter: smooth edges where the cord runs, holes drilled cleanly so nothing snags, and wood that feels good to hold. Our bottle locks fit standard wine and beer bottles, which makes them a memorable gift: the present is right there, if they can solve it. Every piece is backed by our lifetime guarantee.

Which disentanglement puzzle should I choose?

  • New to disentanglement: Mysterious X. Remove the ring from around the X. Ideal for beginners and children.
  • For a wine lover: Wine Bottle Lock Puzzle. Locks around a standard wine bottle; the wine is the prize.
  • For a beer lover: Beer Challenge. The same idea, made for a beer bottle.

Want to go deeper? Rope and ring puzzle solutions · Wine bottle puzzle solution · A history of disentanglement puzzles

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to cut or untie anything?
Never. Every disentanglement puzzle can be solved without cutting, untying or forcing. If you find yourself pulling hard, there's a better route.

Will the wine bottle puzzle fit my bottle?
It's designed for standard wine bottles. 

Are solutions included?
Yes. Solutions are also on our blog: Rope and ring puzzle solutions.

Which one is easiest?
Mysterious X. It's a gentle introduction to how these puzzles work, and a good first puzzle for children.