Do grail dolls have to be expensive or limited?

To me, a grail doll is one that I had a hard time getting but REALLY REALLY WANTED, more than most of my collection. That could be for various reasons like: price, availability, or maybe it could even be a basic but because I always jump on limiteds, I had a hard time saving up for that one basic. My two grail dolls (minifee Juri 10 and sc-doll Char) were both limited and hard to find for the right price, but I am glad to say I'll have both home sooner than later ^0^ (already have one huhu)

 

My grail doll is unattainable because that's just my luck, but grail dolls can come in all shapes and forms!!

 

Haha it's just a plus/bonus if they're limited. they don't have to be expensive. Sometimes my grail isn't limited. but yeah if it's so easy to get, i wouldn't consider it as grail since.. well yknow.

 

I can't say that a grail doll should be limited or very expensive. I can find no exact connection. I would call a doll a grail one because of some experience, events, emotions connected with it. We remember moments mostly. So if I had some special moments connected to one particular doll it could may be become a grail doll for me.

 

I wouldn't consider a standard sculpt a grail doll. It can be a doll you really love and really want to have, but if you can just go to the company site and buy it, it's not a grail doll. One exception I might make is if the price is extremely high, like a Dollmore Lusion or the D-storic lifesize BJD. They maybe available, but the price is prohibitively high >_<

I have a little trouble with the term 'grail doll'. I don't feel like I've ever had a grail doll myself. Every doll I've really fallen for, I've managed to find and buy not long after. OR, if I can't get the doll due to money or difficulty, I get over it and just admire from afar... I went through quite a frenzy getting my DD Alice, but since there wasn't a long time between when I decided I must have her and when I was able to get her, it doesn't seem right to call her a grail. I guess I could say she was my grail for that month or so before of struggle But she's mine now, so that's all over. Similarly, I kind of feel like DD Miku is a grail to me, but I've already preordered her, the only obstacle is the crazy long wait time. She can't be a grail if she's technically on the way to me, right?

 

My grail was an Elf El. When he was released there was only 68 of him and it happened before I got into the hobby, but when I saw him, I wanted one! But the head alone was over $1000! No way could I afford him! Then in 2006, around Christmas, Luts and CP released him again! Type two, without the vampire head, but I didn't care! I wanted him. Release "day" which was night time for me, I tried to snag one. But he sold out in moments. I cried. Just sobbed. I'd never own one.

A few days later, however, Luts announced there were unpaid for orders of him! In a few days time, they would put those still unpaid for orders back up! I went to the site, and put him and all I wanted on my wishlist on the site. The day they re-released him, I signed in, had the wishlist pulled up, and waited. Go time, checked out as fast as I could...and BOOM!!!! ORDER NUMBER!! He was MINE!! I paid for him as soon as I could, and he got home within three days of being shipped out. I actually think I cried the second time when I got the order number. I know I did for certain the first time but can't remember the second time.

 

Oxford dictionaries define grail as a thing that is being earnestly pursued or sought after. In this sense, then a grail do vary from individual to individual, depending on his/her personal finances, circumstance, and preference.

I think grail dolls are always dream dolls, but dream dolls are not always grail dolls. However, depending on the circumstances, a doll can be defined as both a grail and a dream doll. For example, for someone who makes only $20,000 a year and has other financial responsibilities, he/she may love the Resinsoul Mei sculpt above all others but still find it difficult to purchase; in this case, the Resinsoul Mei is both a grail and a dream doll. For someone who makes over $100,000 with plenty of financial cushion and their one and only is the Resinsoul Mei, then it is easily obtainable for him/her and would be a dream doll.

However, if you're thinking of grail as in the sense of the Holy Grail, then yes, grail dolls are those that you would love to have but are extremely hard to find and close to priceless (to both you and everyone else). Perhaps you will spend your whole life searching for it but will never find it. Although the object itself might not be made of an intrinsically valuable material.

Either way, I think getting a doll that you like is a big event, regardless of price or rarity. Even if I were to purchase a doll that is easily obtainable, I would still be quite happy and consider it to be a semi-big deal.

 

Using term "grail" automatically indicates we mean something hard to obtain, so I find it fairly obvious getting such a doll should come with a price - either literally a high price or simply high level of unavailability.

Seeing how grail doll might be something completely different to each of us, this should be considered a very personal term and indicator of "dreams to come true". Your grail may not neccesairly be an actually hard to obtain doll, but it is for many reasons to you.

So, in the end, I would answer "yes" to your question.

 

I think a lot of people use "grail doll" like "dream doll". I don't think they have to be limited or expensive (the opinion of what is expensive can vary from person to person) but it just makes it more of a challenge to obtain. If a grail doll is easily obtained because it is a standard and/or inexpensive doll, it's not less special to the person, but it wasn't exactly a rare purchase that had your heart racing. In my opinion, a grail doll should have some challenge to be able to obtain it whether it is money, availability, or both. A doll made by Resinsoul could be someone's dream doll due to their financial situation, and a Limited Edition Volks doll could be someone else's dream due to the availability of the doll. For each person to get their dream, they'd have to save up or search endlessly on markets but it would be worth it to them in the end.

 

A grail doll to me must be a doll that was difficult to obtain, be it an LE or discontinued sculpt or just the problem with money. How much the dolls costs doesn't matter, because expensive/cheap varies. You can't fit something so vague into a single price range(Unless maybe a million dollars being expensive but even that isn't considered rich anymore compared to billionaires!) anyways.

Someone on a limited budget of say, $20 a month towards a dolly fund likely won't get their doll for at least a year and much more than that if their doll is on the higher range of the hobby(years!). Saving pennies towards a doll for a long time would make me see their doll as a grail doll. You would have to really desire something to stash away money for so long.

The wait and want are the same, be it money or doll availability.

For the record, my grail doll is Soom Monzo. I'll never own him unless I somehow win the lottery. My FI would kill me if I spent $1000+ on the second hand market! My current "maybe obtainable someday" grail doll is a Volks Kanon HEAD. Who in their right mind will part with the most important part of the doll and cut their losses like that? I'll likely have to buy a full doll and sell the body, or pay big bucks for that head...this is a DISTANT dream.

 

Is a 'grail doll' always something you must own yourself? Do you have to pursue the doll in order for it to be your grail?

The doll I consider my grail is Unoa Zero Latea, and while I love her so much and would love to own her, I will not pursue her simply because she's way out of my budget and, because of her price tag, way out of my comfort zone. Can I still call her a grail doll even if I have no plans of ever leaving this state of dreaming of her?

 

I think a grail doll to me is more like a "dream doll". My grail doll would be my Ringdoll Raymond(non-limited). He is not that expensive even with his fullset but I love him and have treated him as my grail doll~

 

To me, a grail doll is a doll that make you wanting and admiring, can't get enough of that doll, may it be expensive or inexpensive. It just kept drawing your attention no matter how many dolls you have!

I have just a doll, my Holy Grail doll - CP Delf Lishe! i can't imagine not having her in my life, she is so captivating! She never ceased to amazed me, she is so versatile, she looks great no matter what I put on her.

 

I don't think a holy grail doll has to be expensive or limited, it is just a doll that you are really wanting to have. Like for me, my holy grail doll is a Minifee Chloe, and she is affordable for me.

 

Personally, The Holy Grail can just be something that was hard to obtain simply because you didn't have the funds for it and you finally own it. I seen oodles of people refer to their resin loves as their Holy Grail because of that situation...seems plausible.

 

I dont think so at all. For me a grail is just a doll you really want but cant afford or something along the lines of that

 

I think what really makes it a grail doll is that it is hard for you in particular to obtain that doll. I know right now I keep having to push back getting one particular doll who isn't limited or expensive but I have been trying to shell this character for years and something always comes up. When I finally click that button to bring him home its going to be wonderful. Some limited run or big sale on another doll from my list always pops up and pushes him back precisely because he isn't limited.

Before him, however, my grail doll was one that was discontinued and I never thought I would get because of price and needing other things for my existing dollies first. Now he is coming home.