7 Most Expensive Toys In The World
The toy industry has been around for as long as we can remember, and it's constantly innovating new ways to bring joy to children. But just how much does it cost to make that magic happen? We've rounded up some of the most expensive toys in the world, from over $250,000 dollhouse and $6 million teddy bears to diamond-encrusted Barbie dolls—and beyond!
$302,500 – Stefano Canturi Barbie
Do you love Barbie? Then this is for you. A one-of-a-kind Barbie priced at $302,500 (as of 2018) was created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi. The doll comes with a black strapless evening dress as well as a choker necklace that has a one-carat square-cut pink diamond. The necklace alone is worth $300k!
$2 million – Golden Monopoly
If you are a diehard aficionado of this toy and flaunt a fat wallet, you can think about investing $2 million in the Masterpiece Rubik’s Cube which easily finds a place in our list of most expensive toys and games. This beauty is a fully functional toy, with each side embellished with 185 carats of precious gems including rubies, emeralds, and amethysts.
$2.1 million – Steiff Louis Vuitton Teddy Bear
Steiff’s Louis Vuitton teddy bear holds the record for the most expensive toy of this type. It was bought by Korean Jessie Kim for $2.1 million at a 2000 Monaco auction.
This bear has been outfitted with a range of pricy Louis Vuitton travel gear and luggage. On top of that, it is made with real fur and gold and has diamond and sapphire eyes. It is currently displayed at the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju, South Korea.
Details such as eyes with sapphires and diamonds, and gold elements can contribute to this price. What prevailed during this auction was the emotional factor: Kim had owned this bear since she was six years old!
$5 million – Madame Alexander Eloise
If you're looking for an extravagant toy to buy for your child, then look no further than Madame Alexander Eloise. The doll was created by French designer Madame Alexander who only crafted five of these beauties before she retired the line due to its immense cost. One would think that $5 million would be more than enough money to go around for any toy maker, but apparently not with Madame Alexander Eloise!
Eloise is adorned in 9 carats worth of diamonds and other precious stones like ruby and sapphire. She also wears Swarovski crystals as well as fur from Oscar de la Renta and Christian Dior clothing which makes it easy to see why this doll set a record-breaking price.
$1.5 million – The Masterpiece Cube Rubik’s Cube
This is one of the costliest versions of the popular Monopoly board game and is estimated to be worth $1.5 million. It is made of 18-carat gold and encrusted with jewels. It is the brainchild of San Francisco jewelry designer Sidney Mobell who created it in 1988. Mobile took a whole year to make this game. The set of dice costs about $10,000 as the number dots are made with 42 full-cut diamonds. In addition, properties in the game board are set in gems and there are a total of 165 gemstones. The hotels are topped with sapphires and the house chimneys with rubies. This amazing piece of art was donated by Mobell to the Smithsonian Museum in 2003
$6.25 million – L’Oiseleur (The Bird Trainer)
You’d be hard-pressed to find more than a few people who would pay $6.25 million for an automated doll that plays music, but there are those who will do whatever it takes to own the most expensive toys in the world. L’Oiseleur (“the bird trainer” in French) is a 4ft tall moving doll designed by a French automata expert named Christian Bailly who took more than 15,000 hours to complete this project. The automated doll is given life and motion by 2,340 polished steel parts. It functions with the assistance of spring-driven cogs and gears, and not motors or batteries.
L'Oiseleur weighs 122 pounds including the mother-of-pearl and jade pedestal that he stands on when playing music.* He wears velvet clothes embellished with gold threading and pearls.* His eyes move back and forth as he plays his flute while birds flap their wings on either side of him.* If you wind the golden key at his backside then these mechanical creations will come alive right before your very eyes!
Titania's Palace dollhouse-$256,500
You know the saying, “the rich get richer?” Well, here's a case where that can literally be true. The Titania's Palace dollhouse is made up of 18 rooms and more than 3000 separate pieces of miniature art. It was created by British painter Sir Nevile Wilkinson beginning in 1907 and finishing it in 1922. To put this into perspective: It took four years longer than building the Tower of London took!
This thing really is spectacular. The designers spared no detail when they put together this dollhouse; everything from the furniture to the chandeliers is incredibly realistic-looking. You'll find handmade mahogany beds with silk wallpaper lining each room and tiny paintings hanging on walls throughout its entire structure (and yes, these too are replicas from famous artists).
Of course, there are some other things you need to know about this wonder before you run out and buy one for yourself or your kids:
It costs $256,500! That being said... it does come with over 3000 pieces of exclusive artwork inside.... so maybe if we all chip in?
So there you have it, the most expensive toys in the world. Are you surprised by our list? Did we miss any that should be on here? Let us know in the comments below!
