Fact Check: Did Pop Mart Ever Make a 24K Gold Labubu or Is It Pure Hype?
The gold rush began in earnest on July 9, 2025, when a viral TikTok luxury collectible video surfaced featuring an influencer brandishing what they claimed was an authentic 24-karat solid gold Labubu. The toy carried an alleged price tag of £20,000 (roughly $26,000 USD). Comment sections erupted instantly. Enthusiasts who had spent years lining up at retail stores across Southeast Asia and North America demanded to know how such an item bypassed typical VIP allocation channels.
Speculative collectors jumped on secondary marketplaces trying to locate equivalent listings. Resale market valuation for baseline vinyl Labubus had already surged after high-profile celebrity endorsements, with retail $15 blind boxes routinely flipping for $150 to $400. A genuine solid metal version from Pop Mart would represent a monumental category shift. Instead, closer inspection revealed that the viral sensation was either electroplated aftermarket art or a heavily polished bronze-alloy recast commissioned from a private boutique jeweler.