BJD worth $5000: have you seen one?

there was a series 1 Bermann that went for 6k a few years ago.

 

there is currently a doll listed $4650 on ebay and another one $4250....oops~!

 

When Gentaro Araki first released B-el and L-bi for ordering, he also made a one-off of each and sold them on YJP. They came with cut and styled wigs, a faceup by him, and an outfit (made by him?) which was like a formal black and white outfit with a jacket, shirt, pants, shoes, etc.

Each of them went for around $7000 if I remember correctly!

 

He looks so real. I wonder if his skin color is body blushing. I never liked the Luo sculpt, but he's really attractive in those pictures.

 

oh wow, he looks almost eerily real. awesome work.

 

Wow, that list is pretty cool! I remember a lot of those dolls. It interesting to see which ones have held their value and which were clearly just inflated prices during post event frenzies. It's also humbling to see so many doll names on that list that currently live in my house.

I've gotten to hold and admire a number of rare dolls, including at least one of the $5000 Bermanns and the Black Ducan. They are spectacular and I felt honored to be trusted with them, but truly, no more honored than I do when someone allows me to hold their absolutely most precious and treasured $600 doll. I tend not to think about the value of a particular doll as just the money invested in it but also the time and imagination and emotion invested in it. I know that I'd be much more upset if something happened to my Shiwoo or my Roda than if something happened to my Genji or my Onyx.

 

That is a pretty awesome thing.

 

Anyone see this? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330390340731
In case it expires.. it's this doll: http://marina-b.deviantart.com/art/Lily-on-Ebay-148258682 and it sold for exactly $40,000. *A*!!!

 

Marina's dolls consistently make me gasp with their beauty...

The "regulars" at $5000 seem to be the Rozen Maiden Volks releases; their boxes signed by the manga artist (is it Peach-Pit?) bump up the prices too, it seems. I don't really blink any more at the prices of some ABJDs. If I had the cash, and it was a doll I coveted, I'd drop it, no worries. To me, my dolls are completely priceless once they enter my life, however much they cost, be they bog-standard or rare, anyway

Some top customiser's works have almost made me shed tears XD XD; Some dolls are just transported out of this world under the hands of some people! It's amazing! I wish I was able to do the same

 

The downside of having a doll that has ridiculously escalated in value is that you don't feel quite so free in taking them places for photoshoots or sometimes, even mentioning that you have one.

 

Yes, but *listed at* =/= *sold.* The dolls I think you're referring to are wildly overpriced Volks standards; the seller is clearly trying to trick uninformed buyers into thinking that the dolls are rare traditional or artist creations. (Some of the auction listings actually describe the dolls as ichimatsu ningyo.)

 

I get not wanting to take chances with a really expensive doll outside of your house, but why not be able to mention it? Do you mean for fear of someone overhearing and trying to break into your house to steal your valuable doll?

 

No, not that. Someone once made a remark about it to me that kind of embarrassed me, so I take other dolls to meets now. I bought it new when it was expensive, but not outrageous, and dislike being made to feel like I am either stupid, crazy, or extravagant for buying it or stupid and crazy because I don't want to sell it for a tidy profit. I hate drama.

 

It stinks that someone would make you feel bad and it stinks that it had the effect of making you hesitant to go out w/ this doll more. i think for the most part people here are thrilled to see pics (or see IRL!) rare/expensive dolls it's a shame that a few people's reactions ruin it for the rest of us.

 

i believe that there are still some Volks limited dolls went for like $5000

 

Yes, such as Shinku

 

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330390340731
Ah....I just saw this today! I am slow. I love Marina's talents. She sculpts, paints, sews, beads and even make wigs and eyes!! She deserves the recognition. I was wondering how she charges for a doll, now I know it's out of my league. The doll in the auction is interesting and I think brave because she has teeth, traditionally, doll collectors had preferred dolls with closed mouth.

My dream and goal is still to own an antique French Jumeau made in the 1800s. I am not ready now but I hope to be able to do this one day. A doll costing more than $5000 must offer something more than love. I will pay $5000 for a ABJD if his box is officially marked "Rurouni Kenshin" and copyrighted by the manga and anime creators. The doll must be marked "Made in Japan". The reason is not love, it's really not so simple.

 

being a student (and a broke one, at that), i won't be able to afford any bjd that cost $5000. but if i had the money and if it was a doll that i really really want, i might consider paying that amount. i guess it's really just a matter of whether you have the money to spend, and whether you mind paying the money to own the doll.

 

I doubt i would ever pay that much for a doll, but also i dont think i would ever pay that much for an item aside from maybe a car, but thats just my personal preference.
I dont see why people who do though should be ashamed of it. Once the price of dolls gets over at least $1000 i would start considering them works of art, not just "silly dolls" as i'm sure critics would call them. A painting in art gallery can go for thousands of dollars, why not that same art applied to a different media? It this case just happening to be dolls?

It all depends on what you are passionate about, and if that item will give you pleasure when you think about it, then why not get something that makes you so happy?

 

While first looking through this, I definitely thought people who would spend 5K and up on a doll were clinically insane... but hey, if it makes you happier than anything else you could spend that money on... then why not, right? That's not a crazy thought at all. As long as you're not dooming yourself/your family to financial ruin, of course~

That being said, if I was making bank and often had thousands of dollars to spend, you bet I would spend it on the more pricier dolls that I normally can't afford at all ever (like Soom Amber and Volks Ami Ayase, ohhh so pretty~). Until then, though, I'm as pleased as punch with the prospect of getting my Luo, who is quite a few grand under what we're talking about.
But he'll be priceless to me.