DaYan Gem Cube VIII

DaYan Gem Cube VIII

The eighth model in DaYan's Gem series looks like a cut gemstone, and inside it has an FTO (face turning octahedron) mechanism. DaYan Gem Cube VIII is shaped like a truncated tetrahedron with four large hexagonal faces and four small triangular ones. Every one of these faces turns, so the puzzle has eight axes of rotation: four on the faces and four at the corners. It was designed by Daqing Bao, and DaYan released it in 2014.

How it solves

The cuts are not equally distant from the centre. Because of this, the pieces are arranged differently than in a classic FTO, and the puzzle doesn't look like a regular octahedron. Gem VIII is a mass-produced relative of the Master Tetraminx. The two differ in cut depth, so each one solves a little differently. In Gem VIII some pieces come in sets of three identical pieces, while in the Master Tetraminx every piece is different.

According to users, the solution resembles the Master Pyraminx and the Jing Pyraminx. The extra pieces near the corners make it more challenging. If you already know a larger Pyraminx, it should be easier. Many people work out the solution on their own, without a ready-made tutorial.

What to expect from the mechanism

This is not a speed cube and shouldn't be compared with cubes made for setting times. Gem VIII is fairly stiff and often feels scratchy straight out of the box. Lockups can happen, and the caps may pop off. Lubing it and some breaking in noticeably improve the turning, but it is still a puzzle for relaxed solving and for your collection.

Black or Stickerless Bright?

The Black version has black plastic with stickers. The Stickerless Bright version is made of coloured plastic, so there are no stickers to wear off or peel. The mechanism is the same in both versions.

Who is it for?

Gem VIII is a good choice if you can already solve a Pyraminx or Skewb and are looking for an unusual puzzle. Collectors of the Gem series and twisty puzzles will like it too. For a child's first puzzle, it's better to choose something simpler that turns more smoothly.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: DaYan
• Series: Gem (model VIII)
• Type: face turning octahedron (FTO) shaped like a truncated tetrahedron
• Axes of rotation: 8 (4 face, 4 corner)
• Weight: approx. 100 g
• Variants: Black, Stickerless Bright