Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Decide what type of Precious Moments items you want to collect. You can choose items like figurines, ornaments or music boxes. If you choose figurines, you may want to narrow your collection to human figures, angels or animals.
Determine whether your collection is an investment or for personal interest. If the collection is for investment, then be more choosy in the items you collect. For example, the oldest items from the 1970s are generally more valuable. Certain items are also considered "Limited Editions" and are more valuable. Original Precious Moments figurines produced in Japan are more valuable than those produced in China today.
Invest in a good collector's guide, such as "The Official Precious Moments Collector's Guide to Figurines" by John and Malinda Bomm. Such guides interpret the manufacturer's marks on the figurines, which determine age, production run and other information to aid the collector in determining the value of the piece.
Look for resources from which to buy your figurines. Many retail stores carry the most recently manufactured items. There are many Internet resources as well, such as FuntoCollect.com and Collectibles Today.
Check second-hand stores and yard sales for the lucky find. Flea markets and Christmas craft bazaars may also yield interesting items.
Purchase a software package to help you keep track of the items you own. Collectibles Database offers users a subscription to a database, which compiles current information on market prices of Precious Moments figurines.
Build or buy a sturdy cabinet to store your Precious Moments collectibles. The cabinet should protect the items from accidental breaking and from humidity and light, which damage collectibles over time.