Your Barbie can make you rich: 10 models worth thousands of dollars

The Barbie you played with as a child (or toddler) could be worth a fortune. If you own one of the Barbies included in the following ranking, selling it could earn hundreds, in some cases even thousands of dollars.

The strategy of Mattel, the creator and producer of Barbie, is already working: the release of the film "Barbie", directed by Greta Gerwig, is raising interest and demand for the best-known doll in the world.

Barbie made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959, which is traditionally her birthday. Since that time, she has become an international icon, with a name and body recognizable around the world.

And today, thanks to the appeal of the product, collecting, and vintage charm, some Barbies out there are worth a fortune.

Barbies who are worth the most in the world

The price, you know, is determined by the offer. To determine which Barbies are worth the most in the world, we must examine the sales that have involved some specific doll models, whose price is determined by the interest found in the sector.

1) Barbie By Stefano Canturi ($302,000)

She is the most valuable Barbie in history. Born in 2010 to celebrate the Barbie Basics collection in Australia, Mattel commissioned renowned jewelry designer Stefano Canturi to create a limited edition doll decorated with high-quality diamonds.

This Barbie is adorned with a rare 1-carat Australian pink diamond, an emerald cut, and a 3-carat white diamond. In 2010 it was auctioned by Christie’s for 302,000 dollars. All profits were donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

2) Barbie and the Castle of Diamonds ($94,800)

On the occasion of the release of the animated film "Barbie and the diamond castle" in 2008, Mattel made a doll of the same name for promotional purposes. Though the film turned out to be rather "forgettable", the doll has instead entered the hearts of several collectors. This Barbie wears a pink dress dotted with 318 diamonds, worthy of the castle with the same name. Its value is 94,800 dollars.

3) Barbie De Beers 40th anniversary ($84,471)

Once again, we have a Barbie that was a product of a collaboration involving jewels, this time with De Beers, released in 1999 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Barbie.

This Barbie wears an evening gown, but a bikini was also included in the package, along with a belt encrusted with 160 diamonds, combined with white gold jewels.

4) Original Barbie ($27,450)

Now let’s move on to the more commercial Barbies, the ones you’re more likely to have in some old trunk. These Barbies, if sold, can make you a small fortune.

Now let’s talk about the “original” Barbie, the very first Barbie. We are in 1959. The first Mattel doll had light skin and a more common look than the typical Barbies of the 80s. It had a marked tan and absurd and unattainable beauty standards. Available in both blonde and brunette hair, she dresses in a Hollywood-style swimsuit, sports red lips, and thick black eyeliner. About 350,000 dolls were sold in just one year, costing $3 each.

The only way to check if you are holding an authentic first edition Barbie (thus finding out if you are about to earn over $27,000) is to look at the doll’s feet: if they have holes in the bottom then it is the original Barbie, if it doesn’t have holes it is the second edition. A perfectly preserved doll was sold at auction for $27,450, but yours could be worth even more!

5) Barbie Midnight Red ($17,000)

Launched in 1965, Barbie in Midnight Red was sold at Christie’s in 2006 as part of a collection of 4,000 Barbies.

6) Barbie Pink Diamond ($15,000)

Created by David and Phillipe Blond, designers known as “The Blonds”, with the help of Mattel’s chief designer Bill Greening, this doll wowed the audience at the New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 show. She wore a dress covered in tiny fuchsia roses and diamonds, paired with pink faux fur.

Shortly thereafter, it was sold at auction for $15,000.

7) Barbie Ponytail ($10,000)

The Barbie Ponytail, in the "Easter Parade" edition, is dressed almost entirely in black, with black hair too. It was sold in a box together with a bathing suit and sunglasses.

8) Barbie “Loves the Improvers” ($9,892)

It is a very rare Barbie, practically impossible to find. Born in ’68 as a promotional object for the US steel company Inland Steel. Available in both blonde and red hair, it is estimated there are only four models in the world, making this doll the rarest Barbie ever.

Conceived by Spanish designer Paco Rabanne, she wears a trapeze dress made of tin. This is surely not as elegant as her "colleagues", but certainly effective.

9) Barbie Midnight Pink ($8,500)

From the private collection of two Dutch women and auctioned in 2006, “Midnight Pink” Barbie was produced in 1965. She wears an elegant pink short-sleeved cape, whose neckline is adorned with white faux fur, and sold for $8,500.

10) Barbie Lorraine Schwartz ($7,500)

Lorraine Schwartz, a well-known jewelry designer, inspired and collaborated on the creation of a Barbie with silky red hair dressed in a skimpy little black dress. It sold for $7,500 at auction, but the diamonds adorning the belt, shoes, and earrings are worth over $25,000.

How much is my Barbie worth?

Many collectors and enthusiasts of all ages appreciate vintage Barbies as highly valuable collectibles. Although they were made to entertain girls and boys for generations, today Barbies are often sought after for their collectible value.

Collectors are particularly interested in vintage Barbies well preserved with original packaging, clothes, and accessories.

For this reason, one of the first factors to consider when determining the value of your Barbie is its condition. Of course, collectors are willing to pay more for a doll in fine condition than for a doll of the same model that is however damaged and beyond repair.

The doll’s value increases if it is placed in its original box and comes with all its original accessories. However, if the item is missing parts, has suffered damage such as cut or matted hair, or has chipped paint, scratches, or anything else that detracts from its original appearance, its value will drop dramatically.

Another aspect to take into consideration is the level of rarity. Even if a doll is in perfect condition, if supply exceeds demand on the market, it will likely be worth very little. Aside from rare collectible models, Barbie’s age usually determines its rarity; the older your doll, the rarer it is likely to be.

The next step is determine the year and model of the doll. While older dolls tend to be rarer and therefore more expensive, many more modern collectible models may be worth much more than one might expect. This is the case, for example, with the collectible dolls Barbie Karl Lagerfeld from 2014, Barbie Aqua Queen of the Prom from 2001, Barbie City Smart Silkstone from 2003, and many others. It can often be helpful to compare your Barbie to dolls of the same model that have been sold in the past.

Usually, the trademark is embossed on the right side of Barbie dolls, along with the year the doll was patented or copyrighted.

Now all that remains is to run to the attic or cellar to look for your old Barbies and find out if you have a little big fortune.

Original article published on Money.it Italy 2023-07-20 15:27:02. Original title: La tua Barbie può valere una fortuna, ecco 10 modelli che fanno guadagnare migliaia di euro