Is Royal Selangor expensive? An honest review of price and value
Sleeves først — alltid
Hvert kort skal i syrefri sleeve før noe annet. Fingeravtrykk og mikroriper er den vanligste verdikilleren, og de kommer i det øyeblikket du håndterer kortet ubeskyttet.
Toploader eller binder
Kort du skal omsette eller gradere går i toploader; samlinger du blar i går i binder med sidelastede lommer. Aldri topplastede lommer i ringperm — kortene glir ut.
Skrin, mørke og stabilt klima
Oppbevar mørkt, tørt og stabilt: 40–55 % luftfuktighet og unna yttervegg. Treskrin med lokk beskytter mot både lys og støv — og ser bedre ut enn pappesker.
Forseglede bokser: ikke rør seglet
Uåpnet vare med intakt segl er verdt mest. Oppbevar boksen i original krympeplast, gjerne i beskyttende case, og løft aldri i plasten.
Yes, Royal Selangor costs more than a random tin figurine from a souvenir shop. But to call it expensive is to compare the wrong things. Let's take it from the beginning.
Price vs. value
Royal Selangor costs more than mass produced — but is cheaper than silver and holds its value better.
Cost per year is low
A NOK 1,000 piece that lasts 50 years costs NOK 20 per year — cheaper than a plastic figure you throw away in 2.
What you pay for
You pay for 130 years of craftsmanship, for 97.5% pure tin alloy, and for a piece that will last a lifetime.
Investment perspective
Limited edition pieces from Royal Selangor have traditionally risen in the secondary market over time.
What are you paying for?
When you buy Royal Selangor, you are paying for:
- 140 years of craftsmanship: Each piece is produced in Kuala Lumpur by craftsmen with generations of experience.
- 97% pure pewter: The highest quality available for casting. No lead, no health risks, durable for generations.
- Individual casting and polishing: Not mass produced. Each piece is cast separately and polished by hand.
- Official licenses: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, Tolkien — Royal Selangor pays to do it right, not just copy.
- Packaging and presentation: The signature black packaging is an experience in itself.
Comparison with alternatives
The alternative to a Royal Selangor piece at NOK 800 is not necessarily a cheaper pewter figure. You are more likely to compare with:
- A bouquet of flowers (NOK 300-600) — gone after one week.
- A dinner visit to a good restaurant (NOK 600-1,200 per person) — a great experience, but no lasting gift.
- A medium-quality whiskey (NOK 500-900) — good, but habitual.
One more Royal Selangor piece NOK 800 will be there in 20 years and look better than when you unpacked it.
The question is not whether Royal Selangor is expensive. The question is: what is the alternative, and what will it cost in 20 years?
— Dano Prisguide
What is the right budget?
- "A little more than flowers" gift: NOK 400-700
- Solid anniversary gift: NOK 700-1,500
- Important milestone gift: 1,500-3 NOK 000
- Exclusive gift or business order: NOK 3,000+
Our Rating
Royal Selangor isn't expensive — it's priced fairly for what it is. The expensive is what you can't buy back: the memory that someone gave you something that lasts.
