a-lost-king-deactivated20161210:
Good questions! I’ll answer as well as I can ❤
Where to buy BJDs: It really depends on what you’re looking for, more than anything. I’ll start with places not to buy them, then a list of affordable dolls, then dealers and the like and hopefully that will help!
Do NOT buy dolls from Aliexpress.com. All of the dolls on there are 100% recast, and even if you’re totes fine with recast, they’re also incredibly overpriced. If you’re after a recast specifically I can’t help you (I’m fine with recasts but I don’t want to perpetuate them personally), but you will want to speak to the manufacturer directly rather than through a site, so you can get it for the best price. Also avoid buying ‘practice heads’ on eBay, especially if they’re for a price that seems too good to be true: also recasts.
If you do want a recast, try the recast groups on facebook- they can help you out the most.
For a list of legitimate dolls that are affordable, check out this link: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?313459-BJDs-under-300-(aka-more-affordable-dolls)
It’s a little out of date, but it’s definitely a helpful starting point if you’re not looking to spend a lot, if you’re buying your first doll, or if you’re buying a doll for a friend.
Your best friend when buying BJDs is going to be, wherever possible, a doll dealer. Just like a drug dealer, they’ll hook you up with the best prices, discounts for bulk buys, and payment plans. Most doll dealers have layaway options even for doll companies that don’t usually allow them, and have a wide range of other, non-resin stock such as clothes, accessories and wigs available that you can order all together to save big on shipping.
Some of the dealers I’ve personally worked with who have been incredible are:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/jeeryama/m.html
And some of the other well known ones are:
Think Pink and Mint On Card are both extremely anti-recast, and I’ve personally had a lot of difficulty with Think Pink and do NOT recommend them (not recast related). So shop from those two with care.
Onwards onto your second question – What defines a BJD? This is one of those questions that piss a lot of people off because it makes some people look like assholes and some people feel like victims. These are my personal opinions on the matter and seem to be fairly universal, but there’s going to be a few people who disagree so please take this with a pinch of salt!
ABJD (asian ball joint dolls) are dolls specifically from Asia Major (China, Korea, Japan) that follow the traditional aesthetic of gentle, non-dramatic features that tend to look a little anime (though in recent years companies such as Doll Chatau have been challenging this aesthetic, which I approve of very much) and are made of resin. Their joints must be ball-and-socket style with points of articulation in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, neck, hips, knees and ankles at least, and must be held together by tension via elastic stringing. Examples of these are Volks, Soom, Luts, Fairyland. They must have removable eyes and removable wigs, as a degree of customisation is required.
BJD (ball Joint Dolls) is a more universal term used for resin dolls as well as some vinyl and ABS dolls that don’t conform to those strict boundries. They do not have to be produced in Asia to qualify, so French, Russian and American dolls fit under this banner. They also do not have to follow a specific aesthetic and tend to be quite strange looking or quite realistic – like BishounenHouse, an American company. Ball joints are still expected as well as the many points of articulation, but there is some allowance here for Vinyl dolls that have an internal skeleton, like Volks Dolfie Dreams and Obitsu. Animal dolls that are made of resin or ABS tend to fit into this group, as well as hujoo and porcelain BJD.
Non-BJD (non-ball jointed dolls) are for dolls that look like BJDs but don’t fit either the aesthetic or the joint requirements, such as Blythe, Pullip and Monster High. They are exquisite dolls and deserve respect, but due to their materials, lack of removable hair/eyes or lacking the required joints, do not quite qualify as BJDs.
Phew! Sorry for the long reply- hope that helps!
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