What is your grail doll, and why is it your grail?

Volks Sdgr Alice. I just know this hobby in May this year. I was very excited when Volks announced Alice and Lorina Swd at this summer. It becomes lottery now, she is my grail doll no matter I win her or not.

 

Not sure whether these could be termed grails, but if they came up for a reasonable price (which is no where close to their original price) they are top of the list...

Story of Seventh Day' Horus... I couldn't justify the basic price of $1700, which doesn't include postage, customs and tax... the whole body design, the hawk head detail is amazing... the whole doll!
Link: Horus

Fairyland's Scarlett... pricey but wasn't keen on the humongous bust and the head sculpt wasn't my thing. Everything else I liked..! The transparent etched brown tail is so so amazing. I didn't appreciate fully the transparent brown resin at the time of release and my tastes have shifted since and I am now fully onboard for that colour, it really sets off the carved in patterns and reminds me of bronze. If this was re-released as merman it would be a no brainer and I would just buy asap...
Link: FairyLand Ball Joint Doll Shopping Mall

 

I don’t know if this counts but I feel like my Honey Delf centaurs are pretty much my grail. I wanted one a long time before they ever made one and had no idea if they would. So they were a grail of a kind.

I love them for their amazing poseability and easy handling. I also adore their sweet faces.

Strangely, I can’t say I’ve ever had a face sculpt grail. Most dolls tend to be darling to me in that respect and most any will do.

 

Popovoy Tawny Owl. It's rare to find dolls with Black/African features. And the detail they put into their dolls is so beautiful!

 

OMG Yes! I absolutely adored Horus, but he was soooo expensive. He'd have been the most expensive doll I'd gotten to date, and I still had layaways I was paying off. He's not quite grail status, but he might be if I ever get my hands on my actual grails.

As for my actual grails, I've been kinda skittish about mentioning them. Maybe I thought I'd jinx it? Anyway, I have two grails, and they are a set to me. Ringdoll's Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. I mentioned this in another post, but I found BJDs (well, got into them, I'd seen them before at cons) through the franchise Mo Dao Zu Shi. I was looking online for merch, and stumbled across Ringdoll's order page for them.... a few months after Lan Wangji's order period ended. I was crushed.
Curiosity had me keep digging and eventually purchasing my first dolls, but those two just got under my skin and stayed there. I eventually found and bought this boy (~2020 Limited doll~ Acheron (Sold out)_Limited dolls_Dolls_Spirit Doll) in part because he looked like Wei Wuxian in the live action tv show, but as much as I love him (he's one of my favorites) he didn't scratch the itch. I gave him a new name and got him a boyfriend, and just resolved myself searching the secondhand market, and hoping Ringdoll did a rerelease.

On a related note, Mo Dao Zu Shi's author, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, has a couple of other series, and Ringdoll released one of the main characters of one of those series. You better believe I snapped that boy up so fast it made my head spin...and smack passersby in the face with my braid.

If anyone's interested in the stories, you can find some of them on Netflix: The Untamed (MDZS live action) and Heaven Official's Blessing (the series Ringdoll is licensing this time around.)

 

My grail is a Dollmore Trinity (Klaire) I just love her face, her size and the fact she fits childrens clothes. I've always loved larger dolls, and to me it seems they just can't get big enough!

 

I went to youtube to see what you were talking about. Holy cow is that a big doll 0_0.

I'm not sure if this would be considered a grail doll, but it is one that I very much want after I get my first doll. I want to make a hybrid with a female chest and male lower body. I'm hoping I'll be able to manage this with my fav doll company (Crobidoll), but they only have the M-Line that could possibly fit the boy doll I'm looking at. Anyways, I plan to make a doll family and this doll would be one of the partners in the relationship.

 

I've only ever had a couple bjds I'd consider grails. There have been some I had an interest in getting, but but that didn't last in the long-term.

I managed to grab my first grail, Dollshe King Corey, a few years back. The other that I can recall off the top of my head that I have yet to acquire—DragonShell Doll Cat. I absolutely adore her. I'm hoping to obtain her at some point. To a lesser extent—I wouldn't mind getting my hands on Immortality of Soul's Bel Canto. If I do, I'd probably make him up to be some kind of Adam Lambert clone (have his likeness and be a flamboyant musician/singer while being inspired by Adam Lambert instead of being him).

 

This is probably a pretty common grail but one of mine is LLT Roderich and I actually managed to nab his head the other day.

I like nearly fell over when I saw it and didn't even have to think about the purchase.

Another one was Cynical Yujin - Migidoll - I nabbed his head as well so yay hybrids. I opened him on camera and like super authentic reactioned at him to the point where I surprised myself XD

Also like any DOD doll - I have Code 2 who was one of the top 2 grails for DOD and I want Ducan. I know that one's gonna be like virtually impossible but you know...hope is magic. XD

 

Definitely DoHwee by obscure_kind he is absolutely adorable!

 

My list is long, but there is a couple I'd love to own. I usually do layaways myself if I find the ones on my list.
For some I'd love even just their full sets and weapons if it was possible.

Soom Sullivan Shadow of Curse full set with human and fantasy parts in gray or WS is my top grail I don't expect to find and would probably die squealing if I did.

Loongsoul NS God of Sun Zhuzhao full set is also a top grail with a Soom Michael Destiny Symphony Hyperon Full set wings, swords and all, and a Ringdoll Pingzhang Zhao full set NS (though for these three I'd be happy just finding all their outfits, fullsets items, and weapons).

Iplehouse EID Leon in peach gold, Iplehouse SID/NYID Vanessa in NS large/glamour bust, Iplehouse EID Tedros NS head or full doll and a Rex NS EID are also ones I'd love to get secondhand if I could find them.

There are quite a few more, but as I said it's a long list.

Most of my grails have some sort of meaning behind them because they represent things I love or involve OCs that are extremely dear to me. There are deeper personal reasons but I usually don't discuss them.

 

I have two grail dolls. The first one is the Volks "Rozen Maiden" Suigintou. I was still a newbie to the hobby at the time. I had a chance to get her when she was first released (2007) but didn't go for her because I was poor. It would have been a choice between asking for money from various family members and not eating for a while to be able to afford her kind of poor to be quite honest. Anyways, I didn't go for her and had regretted it ever since as every time she pops up she's either a super limited edition one-off and/or way more expensive than what she was back in 2007 in the secondhand market. At the last Dolls Party in Los Angeles back in 2019, she went as high as $42,980 USD for a charity auction. And evidently that isn't the highest amount she has gone for in a charity auction situation! So yeah...a grail doll for sure.

The second one is the original Volks Yukinojo. It was actually an advertisement in a Haute Doll magazine (no longer in print) that first introduced me to the world of BJDs and made me want to get into the hobby. He's a pretty old doll so either the ones in the second hand marketplace are super modded or they are the rereleased version which isn't quite the same as the original version. I had a chance to get the rereleased version in mint condition directly from Volks USA back when they had a physical store when it was located in Torrance, California, but I really wanted the original version (that, and I'm not really into super tall guys for our colletion). Now, I wished I had gotten the rereleased version. So yeah, regrets.

 

I've realised today that my Grail is actually Soom Hyperon. I've no idea on a character for him, but I want him. As in want want him. I have for years, quietly pining away for him and occasionally looking for him on the marketplace (always when I can't afford him... ).

To be honest, though, Soom are my Grail company. Dia, Gluino, York, River, but most definitely Hyperon.

 

My grail doll is Soom Hyun. Seeing him on Insta crawls reminded me I’d actually seen him ages before and a hashtag and many posts later, I am a foot deep in this hobby. I’m absolutely ready for him for when he gets rereleased. Soom, please!

I did realize though, that Ize Stage’s sculpts are also very close to my ideal features, especially Taesung and Dante. That said, I know I’ve missed their release but I’ve completely fallen in love at first sight of the new sculpt teased on their Insta. Even without a faceup. He might just be very close to being up there with Hyun for me. I can’t wait!

i think my grail aesthetic for male dolls is full-on manly men. I never realized until now

 

I have two! Which I believe might be entirely possible to get someday maybe depending on rerelease and being quick!

My first grail is Nihilum Dolls Cusp in black skin. Her head sculpt and body is so unique and gorgeous. Every time I see pictures of her I know that she'd be a doll for life. Like I can't get over how beautiful Nihilum Dolls are, having any of them would be a dream T-T

My second is Lillycat Ellana. I sort of have similar reasoning. Lillycat's face sculpts are beautiful and unique. I also find the bodies to be appealing and great at posing. Right now I have Lyse in Caramel and she is one of my favorites. I hope there will be a time I can find Elana second hand or Lillycat will open a preorder for her again ^-^

There are so many I want honestly haha but those two have been on my mind a lot.

 

The very first bjd I ever fell in love with was a Soom Gem "Dimo" and I just couldn't afford his hefty price tag back in the early 2000s (or any doll for that matter, really). Years later with a stable job that paid well, I was finally able to really get into bjds and purchase my first one. I never thought I'd own a Dimo, but someone was selling his head! Needless to say, I snagged him and later when the same person was selling is romantic version head, I snagged that one, too ^_^ He's a hybrid, but he is by far my favorite doll. His sweet face and big eyes make me really happy! My new grail is one that had come out before I got into bjds as well, a Soom Teeny Gem "Happy/Lucky Gotcha!" They have super cute winky faces and little peace sign hands. Maybe I'll get lucky someday? ^_^

 

Crobidoll Day Dream Boni. I don't know why but I just love Boni, and the sleeping face especially! But it's a limited, so I will probably never own her...

 

I have three (main) grails. I've always adored unconventional sculpts, so when I discovered Unidoll, particularly Ark and Kaito, they immediately went on my wishlist. I love their grumpy expressions and I think they would fit into my collection nicely. My third grail is Iplehouse Psyche. She is such a unique doll - I've yet to see another sculpt like her at all - and I really hope I'll get to own her one day.

 

I feel like all my grails end up being whatever limited doll comes out that catches my eye XD At the moment it's the Y'shtolla Dollfie Dream that I'm aiming to pre-order before the cut off date. But as for what is a current grail of mine, I'd say it's the Iplehouse Y.I.D Olivia. Since I started the hobby and looked at company pictures, I've always found myself drawn to her but could never justify buying her since I wanted to have a character in mind before making the plunge. I have a character in mind now but my newest issue is debating if I should get her with a face up or not I adore her first default face up but at the same time, I wanna paint it so it matches closer to my character :'3

 

I would say Volks Ruby, she is Volks only sculpt that represents Black features along with limited suntan skin tone. Pretty noteworthy given the company and location.

 

Luts SDF Mia in NS is my grail. It started with wanting to change the sculpt for one of my characters, because two of my dolls who are supposed to be sisters don't quite look related. And when I was researching, I found owner photos of Mia that were the perfect expression of my character's personality, while also having features in common with the sister. Unfortunately, however, the sculpt seems to be quite rare Maybe one day!

 

I'm talking about a Doll you're willing to do anything for.
Your Holy Grail Doll(s) that you would absolutely give anything to own.

I have two, but can only name one.
Souldoll Zenith Paratiisi

What a magnificent amazing doll. She's so gorgeous it's breathtaking. Her Hair, her horns, her outfit. Just screams beauty. If I ever find this doll, no matter the cost- I would indeed sacrifice my priorities for her. You ever just seen something that triggers a '' I NEED IT'' aspect and it lives rent-free in your head? Yeah, that's her.

 

To me, it's Volks Suigintou for now.

 

I think my "grail dolls" would have to be Dollshe Husky and Merry Doll Round Fang. I felt most satisfied after getting them and think I could be happy if I sold off all my other dolls and just kept those.
I actually got my Dollshe Husky many years ago, as only my second BJD. I got my Fang a few years ago and slowed down my collecting a lot after that. When the weather warms up, I want to try to redo my Husky's faceup to make him look the way I imagined many years ago before I had the faceup skills to achieve it.

 

At this point? A doll I can keep,

 

Doll Chateau Nicola-A fullset!

 

SOOM Open eyes Hyperon is my last grail.
I got Romantic eyes Hyperon (2015?) then I took a very long break from the hobby. I hop back on to the hobby (late 2018) and saw he was re-released multiple times after 2015 so I was so sad. But after a long wait, SOOM re-release him this year!!! I am so excited that now he is coming home. Three months and you will finally be mine!!! YEAH!

 

Hmm... I eventually found my others, but I'm still looking for that elusive Lati Oracle M. In the now-more-than-a-decade since he was released, I've actually never seen one come up for sale. Not one.

The Soul Doll Celestyn? I've seen exactly two of those for sale in the years since they were discontinued. I wasn't quick enough to get either...

Volks' Andre isn't that rare. I could buy one right now if I wanted to. I'm just not willing to throw $2500 at someone to do it.

 

To me, a grail doll is just a doll that I really love a lot and would personally have a hard time getting, usually because it was limited or way too expensive for me realistically. Whether or not it's actually "rare" or hard to find doesn't necessarily factor in unless it actively makes it harder for me to obtain.

Before I even properly got into BJD, the Volks DD Hatsune Miku was actually my main grail doll! I was still a younger teen at the time she came out I think? So I had no way to get her at all due to not having any sources of income. I didn't understand how Volks' lottery system worked at the time either tbh!

Currently I'd say my grail dolls are DD Miku (still ), DD Rin & Len, and DD Nero. For me they're grails because they were released for a relatively limited period and were (and still are, secondhand, too tbh) really expensive. I don't have any of them yet unfortunately!

DD Miku is probably the most grail-like for me, partially because she was my first real "grail" experience, and because there's a lot of extra content (mostly clothing sets based on her song PV art!) Volks released for her that I'd also ideally like to own along with the doll. On the flip-side, I'd be satisfied with just the standard fullsets for Rin, Len, and Nero.
Altogether they'd all be a bit hard for me to get because of the cost and the fact that I have to look through the secondhand market for them. The variance of their availability paired with the high cost makes them more like long-term goals for me.

Another doll, or really just doll head, that might end up being a grail for me, is the Minifee Kyle sculpt. I purchased one through Fairyland's a-la-carte system because I wanted to use the sculpt for a pair of original characters, and they discontinued that sculpt very shortly after. The only problem is, I intended to use the sculpt for a pair of twins, so I had intended to buy two but wasn't able to at the time due to not having enough funds. I rarely see Minifee Kyles around personally (so far anyways) so I'm a tad bit worried about the possibility of being able to find a second head, with the company faceup to boot, to make the other twin. It doesn't seem to be a very popular sculpt so I highly doubt Fairyland would consider bringing it back, considering the fact that they said they would only consider bringing back popular sculpts to the a-la-carte system.


Currently I'm attempting to save up for Nero, since I've found her in some secondhand markets in decent condition, but we'll have to see if she's still there when I've saved up the money!

 

If I had unlimited money it would be Fairyland feeple60 Carol. Oh well, one can dream right?

 

I have 2 grails as of right now, one of them being Miracle Doll's Mad Rabbit and the other, Asleep Eidolon's Lucas Caramel.
I'm currently saving for Lucas right now and I've missed every re-release of Mad Rabbit so far lol.

 

For me a grail doll is a doll I absolutely adore but it’s very unrealistic to get because of the number of items or price. Something far out of reach. Some dolls on my Wishlist I see once and think oh they are pretty I would like to own them in the future. But for my grail dolls I love to browse through the internet and just look at pictures of them. Jo March and a head made after a celebrity would be my grail dolls. (And normal skin Delphine from dod )

 

My collection is pretty much complete, so I only have one small teeny tiny “grail”: a Dearmine Gorgi. I need a little corgi companion for one of my shelled characters. I keep hoping Gorgi will be re-released soon, or that some other company will make a corgi doll.

 

I have two on the list at the moment
One is venitu, I love his size, he is perfect for SD size, I like his face, hands and feet, I think he is the only realistic mold I like, I feel he has everything I like and I have an idea in my head of how I would like him to be physically from the hair, make up and clothing style.

my second in the list is yuu from volks, honestly volks is not my favorite brand because it is rare that I get to like 100 percent of their sculpts.... but that mold fascinates me, I love his little face in the form of uWu LOL

 

Dream of Child Ivan. I found his picture on google image by accident when searching anime and I fell in love right away. I didn't know anything about bjd back then and a bit sceptical buying something and had to wait months to get it. I never had interest in any dolls (still now) so bjd is my first. It took me years to decided to buy a bjd and now I feel lucky that I have both Ivan homme and elf, as it is difficult to find them second hand now.

 

My grail doll is a doll chateau violet, but she’s just so expensive for an msd

 

Am I weird that I don't have a grail doll? I have a grail faceup. For years I've been wanting a bjd of my favorite Final Fantasy VII character, Reno. I accumulated everything for him little by little. The only thing left is to find someone who can do a really good faceup of him. I'm picky about the quality of faceup I want, and so far no luck. So I guess that is my grail.

 

probably a delf soony! i’ve wanted want for so many years and i always miss out when one is for sale

 

I guess... iMda Memory Molly in choco or tawny? I don't know. It's hard to say if there's a doll I'd "do anything" for. There's a lot of other things that come before dolls for me, which is why my wishlist is ginormous but I haven't made many moves to get any of those dolls. But Molly is the closest to my own art style and I think she'd make a heckin' cute version of my character. If I could only have one doll, it probably would be Molly?

 

I have a few, some are going to be more attainable than others, but the one that I think will give me the most challenge is the Luts Senior 65 Delf Bliss Vampire. He was a limited edition that NO ONE talked about, NO ONE (at least in the western part of the hobby/on here) bought, and NO ONE has posted a single owner pic of (since Luts is a Korean company, there may be Korean social media sites with pics of him that I just don't know about or can't access, but I've searched here, Flickr, Imgur, Google Images, and Instagram and found NOTHING).

I don't really care about getting his fullset outfit (not my style), or if he has his original faceup (prefer to do my own), I just want that particular sculpt. Instead of giving him top fangs, they gave him mostly bottom teeth (he has a similar mouth shape to the Bliss Sweety event head, just with pointy teeth) and that's really unique for a vamp. He'd be perfect in the little-not-so-little vampire coven I have planned for my collection. It'll be a long, long time before I can even think about posting a WTB, but one of these days I hope I can bring him home!

 

I sold my collection years ago to fund some other things and recently decided to come back to the hobby. My holy grail would be a Rosette doll Fir -- I used to have two that I absolutely loved.
Unfortunately they seem very rare on the market and haven't been in production for years. I asked Soom if they were going to rerun a preorder but they told me it is very unlikely

 

I have more than one, but the holiest would be Dollzone Star (and Moon). I'm just in love with their faces.

 

This is difficult. I've never really had a grail, one doll that I really want above all others and one that I actively look for. I'm more of a "If I find them, I want them" kind of person, if that makes sense.

I come across dolls for sale (usually second hand) and go "Hey, I really like this doll." If I don't end up buying that particular one, I usually don't go looking for another of the same sculpt. Most likely, I forget about it and move on to something different.

That being said, I do have a wishlist of dolls I've kind of sort of maybe thought about possibly getting in the future. But time will tell if I ever do want those dolls enough to buy them over something else.

 

I have 3 of my grail dolls. DollChateau Snowborn, my unusual FaeWoodsDolls Delpinium/Naga Orchid hybrid, and my RumpelDoll Morfeo

I think a grail doll is THE doll you want the most and don’t have, your most favorite must have doll!? And once you obtain them, they are a favorite and potential must stay!? That’s how i feel about it.

 

YESS they are absolutely STUNNING! I have The Star, and would love to one day own The Moon as well! Absolutely lovely sculpts.

 

My grail dolls are a lot . Minifee lucywen , minifee dina , minifee sia , minifee carol , feeple60 carol ….. all fo them from fairyland . In love with fairyland brand .

 

Oh wow. So, long before I began actually collecting bjds still in the “some day” mode . . . I fell in love with Souldoll Rae human version. To this day, I still visit her pictures on their website, lol. She’s perfection. And recently I failed to pull the trigger on Minifee Luha fullset - regretting that for sure! Lol. Live and learn. Oh, and Feeple65 Chole and Siean!!!

 

Haha I just posted about him in the other thread but: Soom Ender Lord of Dead. I couldn't afford him when he was released, but ohh how I wanted him. I've loved Anubis ever since I was a kid reading my mom's Egyptology texts. And the jackal head is so sleek and elegant and well made. Plus the Mega Gem body is really nice.

 

Slightly silly, but my grail is the Volks Disney Ariel…I know only one was made for a showcase, but I have hope one day she may get a release and I’ll be in a position to purchase!

 

The Miracle Doll 68cm muscle girl body! Omg as someone who is getting into weightlifting and stuff, shes absolutely badass and I want her badly lol

 

My Grails are Iplehouse Chase and Ringdoll Sol. I enter on the BJD world because a photo of a Chase doing a cosplay of a character from the anime Junjou Romantica. Was love at first site. And Sol captivated me, sadly i din´t had the money at the time to buy them. But i still had hope and i will get them !

 

I have my grail of grails--Soom's Sweet Witch (I have two of her!)--but if I were to do a secondary grail...probably either Ringdoll's Carmilla or Merrydollround's Little Monster Dango. I love monster-based dolls, and I didn't get the chance to snag either of them (though maybe I'll find a Dango soon, you never know).

 

Loong Soul black Dragon
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Oohhh, good to know there's someone else with such an approach! Well, I can really want some specific doll but I wouldn't go searching for them, rather wait for them to show up. I don't really think I can call any of my wishlist dolls a grail. The closest is Zaoll Luv that I own now, I've liked her since soon after entering a hobby but couldn't afford her back then; after years of being not engaged, I rejoined the hobby and saw the perfect Luv at the second-hand marketplace

 

My grails are RingDoll Eren Jaeger and RingDoll Ciel Phantomhive. I only got into BJD in 2020, and these were sold years before that! I had no chance to get them then, so I have a little money set aside on the off-chance I ever encounter one.

 

The Mana-sama Super Dollfie. I doubt I'll ever own him, and that's okay.

 

The Soom Hyperon has been my grail since I was like 17, preferably the scarred head version but I'd be happy with either. It's a sculpt I've never fallen out of love with, but truly I don't know what I'd do with him if I ever got one. He's not like a grail doll that perfectly suits a character of mine and I've never actually expected to ever obtain him.

 

My grail is Doll Chateau Fergus and I’m fine with just the head. I’m not really sure why, I just need him? My other grail is a Popovy LandY, nude but with the proper wig. Same reason, I just need her, I guess? I think they’re neat -insert Marge Simpson meme here-

 

Sio2 Funan! Very cute, although he's bit unwieldy for my current doll storage.

 

The doll to complete my collection would be Volks Reisner the Scarface 2008 version. A decade ago he was expensive and hard to find, I'm not even sure how much he would cost now. I'm sure he probably pops up now and then on Yahoo Japan and the like, but I'm not nearly motivated enough to try and look, even if I could remember the shopping service I used 12 years ago or if they even still exist!