When Random Eyes really does mean Random!

I haven't ordered new BJD in a long time (more than ten years at one point), but when I did, most companies/brands would send eyes that would fit the doll at the very least. Some like Soul Doll that make/made their own eyes, would let you pick from their selection. MYou, the last brand I purchased from in 2022, sent me the doll with the eyes from the dolls full-set, which are a decent quality 9mm glass eye, with a smaller than average iris (The doll is a mature-ish, tiny). As the free pair, I always get nude dolls, no face-up.

I don't own that many BJD, but at least from four different companies, and I guess I never had the misfortune to receive free eyes that didn't even fit in the doll, and I never purchased a full-set doll in my time in this hobby. I never used the free eyes either, if only as short-time temp eyes, but never with any intent on using them as permanent for any doll. I still kept all, and was glad to have functional temporary eyes for some of my earlier BJD. Even my newest since he's tiny.

I feel most free eyes were intended as temporary eyes for first time owners back in the day, not sure about full-sets, or even now. As I recall some brands did charge extra for the eyes, even if you paid for the full-set -- more so if the eyes were "fancy." Then again, none of that might be helpful, but some companies will note if the eyes pictured with the full-set are available or you'll just get random ones, whether you paid for just the face-up or the whole nine yards. (:

 

I mean, of the dolls that ai have ordered they all came with random eyes that fit. Unless you bought a sculpt that has a more expensive eye type like small iris and small eye diameter, I feel like they should have given you the eyes that fit the socket regardless. I dont even care if they look bad with big irises or an ugly color as long as they are able to be used. You can still get a random color/style/quality while still getting a good fit. Kinda cheap if you ask me.

 

"Random eyes" means they're cleaning out their drawers/cupboards

 

2 of the 4 dolls I've gotten have had poorly sized eyes. One simply had too large irises, but the other was a 1/6 head with narrow eye sockets and way too big eyes.

 

Had this one time with a DikaDoll 70cm guy whose eye size was listed at like 12mm and I received with him what looked like 20mm plastic reborn eyes Think I still have them around somewhere...

 

Oh, that's so weird!
I've never had a doll come with the wrong sized eyes, even if they were cheap/junky eyes.

Usually companies just send a cheap pair of glass/acrylic eyes.
Most of the ones that I've gotten have been basic brown or blue; but none of those colors have stayed with that doll.

The funniest color I have gotten was from Peakswood, they "gave" me random Swan doll eyes that were beautiful. My complaint was, they were gray eyes....with a gray resin doll.
Literally ANY other color would have been preferred. I'm assuming they don't put too much thought into what they send people.

 

I have had dolls coming to me with eyes that didn't fit to my liking, such as a bit of gaping or just a bad over all fit, but never any that were so wrong that they could not be installed at all.

Color wise I think it's an even split between fantasy colors and blue. The only time I got non blue natural colors are when the company let you give a preference. I always just assumed it's a way to offload hard to sell colors or surplus stock.

Twice I got "eyes" that were not actually doll eyes, but those cheap half sphere cabochons sold for scrap booking and glue-two-parts-together kind of jewelry making. They looked horrible in the dolls and were pretty much useless, but in both cases it was from very affordable companies and the size was correct, I will give them that.

At the end of the day, I don't expect much from random eyes. Best case scenario, it's something for the doll to use until I find something better, but even if that's not possible it goes in the eye drawer. From there they will then be used as reference material for when hunting for the right size and color for future dolls. It's actually very valuable to have a variety of sizes, colors and types to play around with.

 

I don't own many dolls, especially not new ones. The ones I've ordered in the past from the makers (I think the last new one was in 2020?) that were sent with a random set of eyes, were random coloured eyes but with irises that fit the doll. It doesn't make sense that they sent you eyes with irises the size of a stadium and they don't fit your doll's eye size.
I doubt they can do anything, but I would email them pictures so they can consider it for the future as they're not doing it great if this is the case.
I've never bought from Ringdoll, but at best, they could send you new ones as an apology. I understand that they're not going to be looking at the best eye and wig combination for your doll, but at least they could make sure you can have a doll that looks good.

 

When I opened up the head of my last doll from Dollmore, I realised his supplied and installed random eyes had both cracked to pieces. Luckily the doll and everything else in the box was okay!

 

It might be a good idea to replace whatever they used as eye putty. Some companies have been known to use things like unbaked polymer clay and other such things, the softeners leach out and can damage other plastics they come in contact with, such as eyes made from acrylic or other resins. Even the polyurethane of the doll can be effected if left over time.
I had an Iplehouse doll that I foolishly reused the putty he came with for his new eyes, and they ended up looking exactly like that.
Better safe than sorry.

 

@Lillith I replaced it when I took the broken eyes out. I wonder if the putty caused the cracks or if the eyes were pushed into the head really hard when they were fitted