In 1961, Mattel introduced Ken as Barbie's steady boyfriend. Known for his elegant boy-next-door style, Ken dolls have been released and re-released over the years.
Ken has become a symbol of a healthy combination of innocence, boyish masculinity and playfulness. But he's also had his share of scandal.
Flocked Hair Ken
Flocked Hair Ken is a classic and popular doll. This version is valued a lot higher than some other vintage kens due to the fact that it's a first issue, which has a special hairstyle that changed over time.
Early Ken dolls had lifelike flocked hair, but later they were switched to molded hair that was painted. These flocked hair Kens are easy to tell apart from the later painted-hair Kens because of the larger eyebrows on the flocked-hair Kens, as well as the color of their hair.
The first year Ken dolls were produced with a variety of hair colors including blonde, brunette and a rare "Brownette" (light brown) color. The flocked hair rubbed off easily so Mattel switched to a molded hair model in 1962.
Midnight Tuxedo Ken
The Midnight Tuxedo Ken is a high-end collector's item. He comes with a hefty price tag, so it's important to keep him in his original box when you purchase one.
The Crystal Ken was made in 1983 and he is worth an estimated $256 on eBay. If you have him in good condition, he could be worth more than that.
Dress Box Kens are a rare find and they are often expensive to buy on the secondary market. They have a tuxedo and accessories, including a wing-tip collar shirt and gloves.
Kenny Rock Star Ken
Kenny Rock Star Ken has a great value and can be a wonderful addition to your doll collection. He comes in a variety of colors, including white and silver.
He is a doll made by Top Toys in Argentina and is licensed by Mattel. He has an interchangeable jacket that can be worn with either a shirt or a sweater.
The wig he wears is also sold separately as an accessory. He can be found with a silver or white wig, and is also available without a wig.
Kenny was a huge car fan, especially jeeps and trucks. He would drive his 1969 Opel Kadett around and to all the local hangout spots that his friends with trucks or jeeps went to. This led to Kenny learning how to work, modify and care for his vehicles.
Lucille Ball Ken
Lucille Ball is one of the most famous actresses of all time. Her comedic genius and incredible business acumen helped to cement her as a television icon and a trailblazer for women in entertainment.
In 1957, she and her husband Desi Arnaz made a deal that allowed them to own their own show. They sold their episodes to CBS for $4.5 million, which is equivalent to $40 million in today’s money.
In 1962, she bought Desi’s share of Desilu Productions and she eventually renamed it as “Lucille Ball Studios.” This was the first time that a woman had ever owned a major studio. She went on to make several other movies and endorsed a slew of top-tier business firms, earning a considerable fortune.
Original Ken Shaving Doll
The Original Ken Shaving Doll is a rare collector's item and can fetch a lot of money on eBay. This doll has a color-change beard that kids can "shave" off with a sponge-tipped "razor."
He also comes with a vanity/sink, cloth towel and two bottles that children can fill with water to make a splash. It's a fun way for kids to get into the chore of shaving.
This original flocked hair Ken was first released in 1961. He was made in Japan and came with crew-cut flocked hair. However, his flocking could not withstand intensive play or washing, so Mattel eventually discontinued him.
Empress Josephine Ken
The Empress Josephine Ken doll is one of the most expensive Barbies in the world. This regal Barbie is part of the Women of Royalty series and comes with an intricately designed dress that pays homage to historic records.
She also comes with a jewelry suite that includes faux-pearl bracelets, earrings and a necklace. The tiaras she wears are designed with classical references, which add to the Neoclassical style of the doll.
Her tiara is worth an estimated $3,000, while her gown costs over $1,600. This makes the Empress Josephine Ken very rare and is a great addition to any collection.
Gianfranco Ken
Ken, introduced by Mattel in 1961 as Barbie's steady boyfriend, has gone through many incarnations over the decades.
Like Barbie, Ken has evolved over the years to reflect a healthy combination of innocence, boyish masculinity, playfulness and style. This is why he's so beloved.
Gianfranco Ken is worth around $500 if you have it in mint condition and never removed from its box. It's also a Silkstone doll, which means it's an even more exclusive find.
This one is a bit more expensive than the other, but if you're looking to make some cash, it could be for you. This doll was a part of the Women of Royalty series and its likeness to Marie Antoinette is pretty incredible.
City Smart Ken
Ken dolls were a big hit back in the 1960s and they're still loved by collectors. If you have one of the slender Ken models from 1961, they can be worth a lot of money because of their vintage looks.
A Ken doll from the 2003 City Smart line was also a very limited edition and can be very valuable. It is signed by designer Monique Lhuillier.
This update had many positive value changes including a boost for New Good Lookin' Talking Ken ($133) which gained +9.9 overall after posting a -6.3 decrease last time. Other notable increases included The Sports Set Sun Valley Ken at $92 which climbed in value +11.1/+36.5 overall and the most expensive Malibu Ken at $106, which climbed +16.5/+11.1 overall. These dolls are all very rare and highly collectible. Those with older Ken models should watch for further value increases in the future.
Monique Lhuillier Ken
Barbie is a doll that has been around for decades and she's an international icon of glamor. She's a name that generations of women have grown up with, and there are actually a number of rare Barbie and Ken dolls that are now worth a lot of money.
For instance, a special edition bridal doll featuring a gown from fashion designer Monique Lhuillier has become extremely valuable thanks to its exclusive collaboration with the designer herself. It's incredibly rare and has become one of the most expensive Barbie dolls on the market, currently valued at $1,600.
Another highly collectible Barbie doll is the vintage Mattel Francie, which was the first black Barbie. This doll was released in the 1960s, and it is considered to be extremely rare since there were only a limited amount of them made. It is estimated that a Francie Ken can be worth over $4,000.
Totally Hair Ken
The Totally Hair Ken is a funky looking guy with a big hair. He was released in 1991, and he’s still around to pique interest among discerning collectors.
He’s got the most hair of any Ken doll in the history of man made toys, and he even got some serious air time on the TV show Sesame Street! If you have the itch to upgrade your collection, this is an excellent place to start. Compared to the other finalists, this one is not only easy on the eye but also the most lucrative in a given price range. It can fetch close to $500 if you’re lucky. It’s also a smart buy, since the quality of this doll is on par with his more expensive competitors. The one downside is that this entrant may not be in your local toy store for much longer.
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