Tuesday, August 19, 2025

ZEN ZHU

Arrival Date: 8/18/25

Size: 17"

Year: 2025 Signature Collection

Edition Size: 2000 (Mine is #969.) 

Designer: Ali Montgomery & Charlie

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $235

Thoughts: MY BOY. Zen Zhu is my favorite from the 2025 collection. He's actually my favorite dragon overall, nudging Embers out of the spot. I think my top three are Zen Zhu, Embers, Mirren now. While a simpler design than Mirren, Zen Zhu got my attention with his fabulous color combo. He's definitely one of my favorite CB pieces overall, up there with Bod, the gargoyles and the other dragons.   

MIRREN

Arrival Date: 8/18/25

Size: 17"

Year: 2025 Signature Collection 

Edition Size: 2000 (Mine is #953.) 

Designer: Ali Montgomery & Charlie

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $248

Thoughts: I'm so happy to finally have some of the new dragons home! We kind of got screwed here in the US, as we've not only been waiting months for these, but the arriving assortment was so big that many collectors have multiple expensive preorders coming in all at once. I had three ($248, $245, $235) plus one that's getting covered by my rewards points. It's not always easy being a US CB collector! But they're worth it. Mirren is absolutely stunning. She's gorgeous colors with these wonderful details that make her stand out from the previous dragons. These new pieces share some similarities with the originals, like their faces, claws and main body style, but have fresh features that make them more interesting than yet another color of the same basic dragon. 


 


Mirren has an extra long tail with a little fluke on the end and fin detailing down her tail and back. 


I adore her. I do wish she'd come a bit earlier though, because arriving at the same time as my most wanted for the year means she's going to have to fight for the spotlight a bit.