If collecting glass Christmas ornaments has captured your eye, there’s certainly a wide variety of ways to tackle this hobby. You might consider collecting by the country of origin, each of which also offers a unique style depending on era. Or, collect them by occasions, such as annual, anniversary, etc.Then, there’s always themes like seaside ornaments, designers (like Radko), brands (like Ashton and Hallmark)… or if you are feeling eclectic, simply collect the ones that appeal to your taste and overall decorating flair.

Glass Christmas Ornaments

As with any collection, ornaments can be very expensive or very reasonable. Many collectors include a little of both high end and low end in their repertoire for a variety of reasons. First, just because an ornament starts out at the high end does not mean it will retain its value.

Ultimately rarity determines this, and if a bunch of a specific type suddenly hit the market for whatever reason, you can loose some of your investment value. Secondly, most ornament collectors like to USE their ornaments, and being glass these items are prone to breakage. So, having pieces that display nicely without so much worry is a perfect marriage of usefulness and collecting savvy.

No matter what focus your collecting efforts take, always look at the ornament’s overall condition. Cracks, chips, paint imperfections, and stains all substantially impact “book values” of any piece.  If you’re only buying for yourself, imperfections are fine, but be aware that it will make it very hard to sell a collection in the future with those pieces included. The rule of thumb is to buy the best ornaments you can from a trusted source.

Glass Christmas Ornaments

Additionally, if there are boxes with the ornament KEEP THEM. Over time original boxes help keep your purchase save and actually improve its value compared to unboxed items. Some collectors buy two of every ornament specifically so they have one to display, and one to keep in the original unopened box.

Once in the home, take good care of those ornaments. Here, a little research comes in handy as to how to best clean and store the items every year.  It’s a good idea for insurance purposes to also maintain a complete inventory of your collectible ornaments. Those that come as gifts, label as such with the year received. Any known history also supports future sale value.