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- Some of the country's most sought-after LEGO sets are rare and expensive.
- You can pay up to R10 000 for a new set and R20 000 for retired sets.
- Even at these prices, LEGO is sometimes cheaper here than abroad - and some consider it an investment.
- We tracked down 10 of SA's most expensive new and retired sets you can currently buy.
- For more stories, go to the News24 Tech and Trends home page.
LEGO has been a popular toy for children and adults since its founding almost a century ago - and it has a strong following in South Africa too.
Although it's hit some stumbling blocks, most famously almost going bankrupt in the early 2000s, it's now a company worth over $9 billion.
Its turnaround has less about you getting that R4 000 LEGO typewriter for Christmas and more about a collection of intelligent business decisions, fan involvement, and some cross-pollination into things like movies. All of which means it's now firmly entrenched in popular culture - and fetching high prices worldwide.
Sets fresh out of the moulds and still in production can fetch up to R10 000 each. And those that are out of production, or were part of very limited runs, can often fetch double that or more.
It's no coincidence that the most expensive sets are now mostly licence deals with big brands, with cross-overs into other realms of popular culture.
Star Wars and Harry Potter currently dominate global charts for the priciest LEGO sets, but models for car brands, like Porsche and Land Rover, also feature regularly.
Increasingly, architectural models are fetching above R10 000 in South Africa.
Previously, the Colosseum was a big hit among LEGO fans, but the Eiffel Tower has recently topped it.
How LEGO determines the price of a new set depends on several factors.
"To name a few, our marketing team looks at the number of pieces in the set, the number of new and unique moulds required, and the cost of licencing characters from other companies and brands," LEGO says in a statement on its global website.
They also explain why set prices vary around the world.
"When deciding a price for each country, other factors come into play, such as statistical data about a country's population, transportation costs, currency exchange rates, local laws and taxes, and the prices of other toys. No two regions are the same, so the price may be different from region to region," LEGO says.
This is good news for wealthy LEGO fans in South Africa because, for the most part, high-end LEGO sets are slightly cheaper here than they are abroad.
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You can pick up South Africa's most expensive set, a retired model of a Porsche 911 in mint condition, for around R18 000 at Kiddiwinks. Internationally, the set can sell for upwards of R21 000.
Some sets still in production are more expensive abroad.
You can buy the Eiffel Tower for R11 000 in South Africa, from Great Yellow Brick; LEGO lists the same set on its website for R500 more. The Lord of the Rings Rivendell is about R1 000 cheaper at local stores than if you bought it direct from LEGO.
Although none of this means LEGO is necessarily a sound investment, a recent study suggested that it may be better to invest in the plastic blocks than gold - with an annual appreciation of at least 11% annually. Still, this would mean leaving it untouched in a sealed box, which LEGO fans might consider an egregious act.
Here are 10 of the most expensive LEGO sets for sale in South Africa:
Porsche 911 GT3 RS: R17 730
This rare, discontinued model Porsche falls under the LEGO Technic brand. Inside the box is a collector's book detailing the history of the two brands. LEGO says building the set offers some insights into what goes into constructing an actual Porsche. Finding an unopened box of this set is uncommon and, when one does pop up, it often fetches a premium price.
Star Wars AT-AT: R14 299
LEGO classifies the Star Wars AT-AT as "hard to find". It sells on the official LEGO site for the equivalent of R15 500, but if you can find it locally, you'll likely pay around R1 200 less. It's out of stock at most stores, but Kiddiwinks had one in stock at the time of writing.
Star Wars Millennium Falcon: R13 899
The LEGO version of the Millennium Falcon is consistently one of the most expensive sets available. Despite not being hard to find, it regularly fetches prices of up to R15 000, depending on the store - but some stores sell it for a lot less. Central to its appeal is its complexity - the set is rated for people 16 and up and has a staggering 7 541 pieces.
Eiffel Tower: R10 999
This LEGO Eiffel Tower is massive - it consists of 10 001 pieces and reaches a height of 149cm when built. Its complexity - and the iconic nature of the building - give this a premium price. It also forms part of LEGO's Exclusives collection, typically only available through official LEGO outlets.
Titanic: R10 999
The LEGO Titanic is a 1:200 scale model designed in three sections. And just as well, because it's massive. Once complete, the 9 000-piece set is 135cm long. It also includes details like portholes, lifeboats, a cargo crane, benches, and the iconic bridge, which help elevate its price above the R10 000 mark.
Star Wars The Razor Crest: R9 499
The hard-to-find Razor Crest is another consistently pricey LEGO set from the Star Wars stable. According to LEGO, it was destined to be a fan favourite from the outset, with authentic detail and references to Star Wars scenes. It also includes five unique "minifigures", which is often a reason for collectors to fork up a little more for a set.
The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell: R7 999
This set from Lord of the Rings is a hard-to-find "Exclusive", and references parts of the film that will please fans. The finished 6 167-piece set includes details like Elrond's study and Frodo's bedroom. It also includes 15 minifigures.
Hogwarts Express - Collectors' Edition: R7 899
This LEGO set is designed to get Harry Potter fans reaching for their wallets. Most stores in South Africa sell it for R8 399, but deals as low as R7 899 are possible. Central to its appeal is it being a 1:32 scale replica of the famous train, with 20 minifigures from the popular franchise.
Cargo Train: R7 500
This rare, pricey LEGO set is not new, has minor shelf wear, and the box has been opened - but with all internal bags sealed, it's still expected to fetch over R7 000. It's for sale in what Kiddiwinks calls "The Vault", a section for rare sets sold by collectors. It includes a cargo train with various cars, four minifigures, and a winch - and it can run along the tracks using nine AAA batteries.
Hogwarts Castle: R7 249
You'll have to work hard to find this scale replica of Hogwarts Castle in South Africa. It's a rare set that again taps into the Harry Potter fandom and can easily fetch up to R8 000 on Amazon. Central to this set's appeal is its detail, thanks to its more than 6 000 pieces, four minifigures, and 27 "microfigures".
