How to Identify and Collect JEM and the Holograms Toys/Dolls

One of the most popular toys of today's time is the JEM doll line. Im going to outline some basic information about the JEM dolls/toys and give you some great information on how to identify and price JEM items.

First- How to tell if you have a JEM doll:
1. JEM was made by Hasbro. The doll line was produced from 1985 to 1986. To see if you have a true JEM doll, look on her back and it will say Hasbro 1985 or 1986. Under that it will read : China, Hong Kong. If you see these markings then more than likely you have a JEM doll.
2. Look on the back of her head for similar markings.
3. The dolls were bigger than barbie and had unique features such as: Wild colored hair ( pink, bright green, blue, white, deep red/pink) their knees and elbows would move and click three times for various positions, her bust line was smaller than barbies, her hips larger with larger thighs and legs, her feet were also larger.
4. On the JEM/Jerrica Dolls she had light up earrings with a switch on her back

The Dolls and how to tell them apart. Each doll came with an original set of clothing for each year they were released. The 2nd year dolls are the harder dolls to come by doll wise and clothing wise!
1. JEM/Jerrica Original: She has a box on her back with a battery that makes her earrings ( star capped or ball red earrings) light up when the switch is turned on. She had Pink/Blonde Mixed hair so she could change from JEM to Jerrican and Visa Versa. She has a closed mouth variation and a open mouth variation.
2. Glitter and Gold JEM- She had Pink/Blonde hair with Tinsel (gold) and had a wide open mouth smile.
3. Rio: JEM's Boyfriend and the only Boy doll ever Officially made and produced. Has deep purple hair and a dark tan body. Is bigger than KEN doll.
4. Rio Glitter and Gold- 1986 really the only difference is the year when he is nude. Same hair.
5. Kimber-Hologram- Jerrica's Sister. She has deep pink/red hair. She was marketed both years 1985 and 1986. There are two variations of Kimber. One is a darker makeup face mold and the other is a lighter sweeter makeup and face.
6. Shana- Hologram- African American. She has light lilac/purple curly hair. There are 2 versions of her as well as she was produced both years. The only difference by looking at her is the year on her back AND the fact that 2nd year Shana has a 'widows peak' hairline. She has a dark body/torso
7. Aja- Hologram- Asian- She has Bright Aqua Hair and was also produced 2 years. The only difference in her body for each year is the date on her back.
Raya- Hologram- Hispanic- She has bright cotton candy pink hair thats full and bright. Open mouthed smile with a dark tan hispanic body. She was only produced as a 2nd year doll.

8. Pizzazz: Misfits: She was produced both years. She has BRIGHT yellow hair that sometimes bleeds onto her scalp and torso. Some slight differences in her between years is her hair tends to be more greenish in 2nd year dolls  and her bangs in front seem to stand stick straight up out of package on the 2nd year doll. She has a semi mean look to her face with bright orange lips and open mouth smile
9. Roxy- Misfit- Produced both years. There are several variations of Roxy , the most obvious is that the one face mold is a mean look. She has white hair on both dolls. The 2nd face mold is more nicer, softer. The only difference in her i can really tell is the year on her back
10. Stormer- Misfit- Produced both years. She has a dark blue/purple color hair thats in tight curls. She has GORGEOUS face makeup and looks very sweet. She was produced both years and there are severial variations to her makeup. I cant and dont know much of a difference in each year except the year on her back. She is also seen with a beauty mark on her face on some dolls and not on others!
11.Clash- Wanna Be Misfit- She was a 2nd year doll only. She has deep purple hair that is long and she has a beautiful open mouth smile. Her hair is easily the straightest of the Misfits.
12.Jetta: Misfit- She is the ONLY DOLL with black hair. She has silver tinsel throughout her hair as well. Her eye make up is white and black. 2nd year doll only

13.Danse- Friend- 2nd year doll. She has multi colored hair ( pinks blondes etc) She has a slightly different face mold than the holograms. She has long hair and short bangs
14. Video- friend- 2nd year doll only. She has yellow hair and has more of a Barbie face then the other dolls. Her hair is VERY yellow ( not blonde!)

Synergy! Jem/Jerrica's Super Computer. She was made into a doll but in the cartoon she's a holographic super computer. She has a purple body with purple hair with tinsel. Alot of times her legs and arms become splotchy due to the heat over time.

Banee-Ashlee- Chrissy
These are the starlight girls. Each are smaller in size to JEM dolls, and are about the same height as a Barbie doll. But they have the same style body as the JEM doll being obviously not like any barbie.
Banee- Asian-Has dark hair with bangs
Chrissy- African American- Dark hair curly
Ashley- White- Blonde/Yellow hair is shown in curls on mint dolls.
These are harder to identify just by seeing them nude

Doll Fashions:
There were 2 years of Doll Fashions with various different catergories.
1st Year:

In the first year you had On Stage Fashions, Flip Side Fashions and Smashin Fashions. On Stage Fashions  and Flip Side Fashions where for the Holograms and Smashin Fashions where for The Misfits and Rio.

2nd Year:

In the 2nd year you had On Stage, Flip Side , Smashin Fashions and Rio's Fashions. They ungrouped Rio and the Misfits for this Year
You also had the Music is Magic Series of more elaborate , more expensive fashions with instruments!
And the Glitter and Gold Line of Boxed fashions

On Stage Fashions Year 1- They are carded bubble fashions with a picture of a cartoon character wearing the fashion. Year 2- Carded Fashions with a Picture of one of the actual dolls wearing the fashions. You can easily tell if you have one or the other by looking at the front of the box. Years Are 1986 and 1987
Flip Side Fashions Year 1- They are boxed fashions which included a reversible outfit and were more elaborate items. They also have a picture of the cartoon wearing the fashion on the front. Year 2- Boxed fashions with a picture of one of the dolls wearing the fashions. Years for both are 1986 and 1987
Smashin Fashions- Year 1 was mixed with Rio's fashions and the Misfits Fashions. Each had a picture of the Cartoon wearing the fashion. 1986 was the date on the boxes and are all carded bubble fashions
Year 2- They split them up into Just The Misfits- They are also carded bubble fashions ( interesting enough the Misfits never got the deluxe boxed fashions ) and have ap icture of the actual doll wearing them. 1987 was the year
Rio- 1987 Fashions- The name says it all. They show the actual Rio doll wearing the outfit. They are carded bubble fashions
Glitter and Gold- Boxed deluxe fashions. 1987 only They are more flashy and harder to find. They have a picture of the actual doll wearing the fashion on the box.
Music is Magic- 1987 Only. Boxed deluxe fashions.  Have pictures of the actual doll wearing the fashion on the box

Now that you have some basic knowledge of the JEM doll and Fashion Items im going to list each fashion by name/type

1st Year On Stage Fashions:
Only the Beginning
Command Performance
Permanent Wave
Encore
Music is Magic
Award Night
Twilight in Paris
Dancin The Night Away

2nd Year On Stage Fashions:
Award Night
Come on In
Encore
Friend or Stranger
How You Play the Game
Love's Not Easy
Set Your Sails
Permanent Wave
There's A Melody Playin
Muisc is Magic

1st Year Flip Side Fashions:
Like a Dream
Up and Rockin
Rock Country
City Lights
Let's Rock this Town
Music in the Air
Sophisticated Lady
Gettin Down to Business

2nd Year Flip Side Fashions:
She Makes an Impression
Sophisticated Lady
Running Like the Wind
We Can Change It
Lightnin' Strikes
Getting Down to Business
Broadway Magic
Music in the Air
Let's Rock this Town
Puttin It All Together

1st year Smashin Fashions:
Just MisBehavin
Rappin ( Rio)
Truly Outrageous ( Rio)
Outta My Way
On the Road with JEM ( Rio)
Winning is Everything
Makin' Mischief
Let the Music Play

2nd Year Smashin Fashions:
Just MisBehavin
There Aint Nobody Better
Let the Music Play
Designing Woman
You Cant Catch Me
You Gotta Be Fast
We're Off and Running
Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

2nd Year Rio Fashions:
Universal Appeal
Rappin
Congratulations
Time is Runnin Out
It Takes A Lot
On the Road with JEM
Share a Little Bit
Truly Outrageous
It All Depends on the Mood

Glitter and Gold Fashions:
Fire and Ice
Golden Days, Diamond Nights
Gold Rush
Midnight Magic
Purple Haze
Morrocan Magic

Music is Magic Fashions:
Electric Chords
24 Carat Sound
Star Struck Guitar
Rockin Roses
Rhythm and Flash
Splashes of Sound

JEM Playsets and Misc Items
There were various JEM items that were released throughout the few years JEM was out. Including in those were playsets:

First Year Releases:
Star Stage
Rockin Roadster
Rock Backstager

2nd Year Releases:
Star Stage
Rock Backstager
Glitter and Gold Roadster
New Wave Waterbed
KJEM

Video Madness Playsets:
Welcome to the Jungle ( Misfits)
Love is Here
Show Me the Way
It's Workin Out

Games: Rockin Romance
Concert Clash
Fashion Flash

Wrist Watches
Record
Keyboard
Audio Tape

About each:

Star Stage: Was a JEM Stage with a working cassette player! It looks like a big Keyboard with pink and white tiger stripes on the top and has the JEM logo. When you open it up it becomes a Stage for JEM
Rock Backstager: Large Pink and turquoise speaker that works ! It opens up to become JEM's dressing room. Came with various accessories including a patch cord to allow you to plug it up to listen to music!
Rockin Roadster: JEM's convertiable car. Pink and Yellow car with a real working radio in the trunk of the car. Has JEM plates!
Glitter and Gold Roadster- JEM's new car. Rereleased with a new look! It was pink and white convertible with a radio in the trunk.
New Wave Waterbed- This was a keyboard that opend up and changed to JEM's waterbed. It really worked and came with JEM sheet music to play on the keyboard of JEM songs. Its pink with large keyboard keys, came with a inflatable pink waterbed to fill up and a cover/bedspread
KJEM: Was a "Air Guitar" that came with a small ( child) mic with jack, amp and speaker. And when you converted it it became JEM's recording studio/radio station. The colors are pink/ lime green. Looks like a real guitar ( well you know what i mean !) when closed
Video Madness Sets- Each set came in a box with a backdrop and various accessories for that specific playset. The backdrops where reversable with Side A and Side B. Each Set came with a Casette Tape

Board Games: There were three as stated above each one came in a different colored box and included a cassette tape that today are hard to locate!

JEM watches: These were called Wrist Rocks Wristwatch. Each was a working watch that was in one of the three different designs.

Other various items that was produced for the JEM line included: Coloring books, paint with water, sticker books, reading books  ( hard cover and softcover) clothing items, school items, soap and vanity sets. There are a ton of miscellanious JEM items that were produced.

I hope you have enjoyed this small but hopefully imformative guide. There are so many items out there for JEM!

Just some last minute notes to help you locate JEM items:

When searching on Ebay, also try typing in Gem. Some people misspell her name and you can find some great deals on dolls due to this error.
Check local flea markets you never know what might turn up
Estate sales  are also a good way to look especially when they are a doll collector! Call and ask if you see an estate sale listed if they have older toys or dolls. It can never hurt!
Join toy groups online. Alot of the time dealers and collectors sell exclusivly to other dealers and collectors.
Look for JEM sites! There are a ton out there!