Excavation · Est. 1795★★★★★ 150 reviews

Muddy hands, real science, zero screen time

£13.99£18.99 Save 26%

or 4 payments of £3.49 with Klarna

🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.

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Standard · 2-3 working days

Holds focus for 40 mins
No batteries or screens
Hands-on geology
Real crystals inside
Gift-wrapped ready
Ships 2-3 business days
30-day returns
Klarna available

Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795

as seen in

Real talk

It's 1:58pm. You need her occupied.

Every parent working from home knows that moment: the call starts in two minutes and there's nothing on the shelf that actually holds their attention. This kit does. Kids excavate real crystals from the block, uncover the gems one by one, and build a collection. The work is tactile, absorbing, and genuinely educational. It's not a screen, it's not passive, and it's not something they'll lose interest in halfway through your first sentence.

You get 40 minutes of uninterrupted focus. They get the quiet thrill of real discovery,the kind that builds confidence and keeps small hands busy long after you've hung up.

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What arrives

Everything needed to start excavating. Comes beautifully wrapped in our signature ribbon-tied packaging, ready to give as a gift.

The excavation block with tools and collected crystals

In the box

Dig block loaded with real crystals

A solid block containing multiple real gemstones waiting to be uncovered. Kids use the included tools to carefully excavate each stone. The block is designed to hold attention for the full duration of play without rush.

✓ Contains real crystals to discover
✓ Comes with excavation tools
✓ Encourages careful, focused work

Close-up of excavation tools and technique

Play style

Tools for precise digging

Proper excavation tools teach hand strength and precision. Children work methodically, learning that patience and care uncover the gems faster than rushing. This builds concentration naturally.

✓ Develops fine motor control
✓ Teaches patience through process
✓ Rewards careful, steady work

Collection of real crystals and stones uncovered from the dig

In the box

Real crystals to keep and collect

Each excavated gem is a real stone the child keeps and adds to their growing collection. This shifts play from consumption to ownership,they're building something that stays.

✓ Real gemstones, not plastic replicas
✓ Builds a personal collection
✓ Keeps the discovery meaningful

Order by 2pm, arrives by Tuesday

Was £18.99

Crystal Set - Gemstone Digging: £13.99

While they play

What they're quietly learning

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔬

Geology and natural systems

Kids learn how crystals form and what makes different stones unique. Real objects teach better than pictures or screens ever do.

✋

Precision and hand strength

Excavation tools build fine motor control and grip strength. Every careful stroke matters.

🧠

Sustained focus and patience

The kit naturally rewards steady, concentrated work. Rush and you damage the gems. Slow and careful wins.

📦

Ownership and curation

Building a real collection teaches pride in what they've found and creates a reason to return to the kit again and again.

What families say about Jaques of London

What parents and grandparents say

★★★★★

"Excellent quality wood toys, so well made, no sharp edges, all lovely & smooth, very colourful & plenty of choice. Very reasonably priced & so beautifully wrapped you don't want to open them. Highly recommend this company."

Lynda Evans✓ Google review

★★★★★

"Fast delivery, excellent products, extremely good quality and long lasting. My granddaughter loves the toys from here. Good age ranges covered."

Danella Jones✓ Google review

★★★★★

"These toys tick all the boxes, educational, colourful, fun, well made and great service. I just keep buying more and more."

Irene Johnstone✓ Google review

★★★★★

"We love our toys from Jaques of London. The quality is excellent and they're the perfect size for little hands to hold and play with easily. Beautifully made, sturdy wooden toys that will last for years. Highly recommend!"

Tegan✓ Google review

★★★★★

"Harrods grade gifting for a very reasonable price. Not the usual tat from China. Had several hand picked orders fron Jaques, nice to know its a UK business with old school quality."

John A✓ Google review

★★★★★

"I am a real fan of this company. If only I had come across them years ago when my boys were little. It's my go to for beautiful, good quality toys for my granddaughter now and any gift I need to buy. They arrived quickly, prices are reasonable and the special touch is they are beautifully packaged too. I love the heritage of this business!"

Sarah Lardner✓ Google review

★★★★★ 4.8/5 rated by families across Google and Trustpilot: real reviews, quoted word for word

Get ready for life

Why real play matters

Real brain growth comes from real play.

3 mins

Unpack and start digging

No setup, no assembly, no charging. It arrives ready to excavate. Your child is absorbed within moments.

→

40 mins

Uninterrupted focus on one task

The excavation holds attention through a full call. Kids stay at the table, working methodically to uncover each crystal.

→

1 collection

A keeper they'll return to

Real stones mean real value. Children want to display and protect their gems, and the kit invites repeated play and discovery.

Why this matters right now

Est. 1795 Britain's oldest games company 231 years of toys that hold up under real play. When we make a kit, it works for the long haul.

23,000+ Orders from parents like you Real families, real focus time. Your child won't be the only one discovering gems while you take your call.

60 days Warranty on everything If it doesn't deliver the focus you need, we'll sort it. Full returns, no questions asked.

230 yrs of making things worth keeping Jaques of London has been crafting games and toys since 1795. This one is built to be handed down, not thrown out.

We really are different

Why this kit, not the plastic versions

	Jaques Crystal Set - Gemstone Digging	Cheap Alternatives
Real crystals vs plastic replicas	✅	❌ Empty reward
Holds focus for 40 minutes	✅	⚠️ 10-minute novelty wear
No batteries or charging	✅	❌ Another screen to manage
Teaches precision, not speed	✅	⚠️ Encourages rushing and breaking
Built to last and be passed on	✅	❌ Landfill after one play
Gorgeous gift packaging included	✅	⚠️ Wrapped in plastic and tape
60-day returns, no fuss	✅	⚠️ Stuck with it

Jaques

✅ Real crystals inside
✅ 40-minute focus window
✅ Zero batteries needed
✅ Builds precision skills
✅ Survives years of play
✅ Ready-to-gift packaging
✅ 60-day returns

Cheap alternatives

❌ Plastic fakes everywhere
❌ Boredom in 10 minutes
❌ Constant charging cycles
⚠️ Rushed, broken toys
❌ Bin-bound after one season
❌ More plastic waste
❌ Restocking fees apply

Order by 2pm, arrives by Tuesday

Was £18.99

Crystal Set - Gemstone Digging: £13.99

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.

Questions & answers

Real questions parents ask

Will this actually hold her attention for 40 minutes?

Yes. The excavation process is methodical: find the gem, carefully dig it out, clean it, add it to the collection. Kids naturally pace themselves because rushing damages the stones. The goal is clear, the reward is real, and the process fills the time. If it doesn't work for your child, you have 60 days to return it.

What's the right age? Is it suitable for a 4-year-old?

The kit is designed for ages 3 and up, though focus and precision improve at 5 and 6. A 4-year-old will dig and collect; a 6-year-old will work with more care and build a proper collection. If you're buying for someone you're unsure about, email us with the age and we'll confirm it's the right fit,we'd rather you order with confidence.

Do the crystals break easily? Is it actually durable?

The crystals are real stones,strong enough for careful excavation but not unbreakable if hammered. The kit teaches precision because rushing damages the gems. Parents tell us it's worth every penny, full price. One review: 'Not the usual tat from China' (John A). Built to last since 1795, and backed by our 60-day returns and full warranty.

When will it arrive? Can I get it by the weekend?

Order by 2pm and it arrives by Tuesday. If that doesn't work for your timeline, contact us before checkout and we'll explore options. The kit arrives gift-wrapped in our signature ribbon-tied packaging, so it's ready to give immediately. One parent told us it 'arrived next day, saved Christmas' (Leigh Hemmings).

How much does it cost?

The Crystal Set - Gemstone Digging is £13.99 today (down from £18.99). Klarna is available at checkout if you prefer to spread the cost.

What's your returns policy?

30 days, full refund, no conditions. Return it for any reason and we refund in full. We've been standing behind what we make since 1795.

Order by 2pm, arrives by Tuesday

Was £18.99

Crystal Set - Gemstone Digging: £13.99

Our story

Making toys worth keeping since 1795.

Jaques of London was founded in 1795. We invented croquet, table tennis, and the Staunton chess set. For 230 years, we've been making things that pull children away from passive entertainment and into active, curious, hands-on play.

Jaques has made games for real children and real families for 231 years. This kit carries that legacy: real crystals, not plastic gimmicks; tools that teach precision through use; packaging that honours the gift. We built the Gem Discovery Kit because we know what working parents need at 1:58pm,a toy that actually works, holds focus, and doesn't require a charging cable or your constant supervision. Every detail, from the tool design to the crystal selection, exists to solve that 40-minute problem and turn it into genuine learning.

Toys and games that leave something behind: a skill, a memory, a piece of play that gets passed on.
Joe, Jaques of London

Ready when you are