Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon that captured the hearts of children and adults alike. Beloved all around the globe, the fandom is still going strong years after the last movie was released. The books were the catalyst that kicked off the hype for the series, but the movies truly elevated the excitement to a whole new level. It’s estimated that over a billion people have watched at least one of the Harry Potter movies.
That’s about an eighth of the entire world population. As such, it’s hardly a surprise that many of the fans refuse to let go of the magic, and are keeping the series alive despite the lack of new content. One way they’re doing it is through transforming their personal spaces into a testament to Harry Potter. This guide will attempt to find the very best replicas available for purchase so that you too can show your love for this incredible series.
Bottom Line Up Front
- Best Wand – The Marauders Wand Collection
- Best Horcrux – Ravenclaw’s Diadem
- Best Magical Item – Professor Slughorn’s Hourglass
- Best Location – Lego Diagon Alley
- Best Value High-Quality Replica – Professor Dumbledore’s Wand (The Elder Wand)
What’s the Point of Owning Replicas?
So, why should you go out and buy a replica? If you’re a huge fan of the franchise, you may well want to own something from the movies. However, unless you’re a millionaire, chances are you wouldn’t be able to afford a genuine prop that was used by the actors or on set. But just because you can’t own the real thing, doesn’t mean you should give up hope entirely. The purpose of replicas is to, well, replicate. They look as close as possible to the real thing without actually being that item. Harry Potter is a hugely successful series, and as a result, there are plenty of replicas out there on the market. If you’re a fan, then you’re bound to want at least one of them in your home. They make for fantastic display pieces, and can also be incredibly useful if you’re into the cosplay scene. You can find replicas that cater to a wide range of budgets, so don’t fret if you can’t spend too much money. Some of these items are pretty small, and as such, are considerably cheaper than the more expensive replicas.
Best Harry Potter Wands
What better symbol of magical ability than a wand? These mystical items are vital to the plot of Harry Potter and come in so many unique designs. There are many wand replicas out there, but the undeniable leader in quality is the Noble Collection. As such, I’ll be choosing the wands that I think are best from all the ones available on their website.
Professor Dumbledore’s Wand
I believe this was the first wand I purchased, after all, who wouldn’t want to own the Elder Wand? According to Harry Potter lore, it’s the most powerful wand in existence, capable of feats that no other wand could hope to match. There are three options for buying this wand. If you’re only interested in the wand itself then you can buy the window box version which comes in relatively boring packaging that you’d likely throw away after opening. If you want your replica to be displayed more neatly, then you might consider buying the boxed version. Finally, if you want to go all out, the Ollivander version comes in a gorgeous box complete with plush velvet lining and purple ribbon inside. This is the one that I own, and I do like it, but it’s worth noting that the purple ribbon does fray over time.
The Marauders Wand Collection
This delightful testament to the Marauders is beautifully crafted. It contains all four Marauders’ wands – James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. The Peter Pettigrew wand is exclusive to this set and cannot be bought individually. As with all the wands in the Noble Collection, each one is unique and is based on the design seen in the films. The overall aesthetic is beautiful as they work so well together. Some are light and some are dark, some are simplistic and some are intricate. Sirius’s wand is my favorite of the bunch as I love all the runes that are carved into the handle. The four wands are mounted onto a gorgeous resin replica of the Marauders Map which has been folded carefully in the middle to tease the magic contained inside. The printing on it is stunning, and it’s the perfect backdrop for this wand collection. It’s worth noting that these wands do not come with individual wand boxes, so you would need to store them on this display.
Dumbledore Army Wand Collection
No, I’m not making a typo. Yes, I do know that it’s supposed to be Dumbledore’s Army. However, this is how they spell it on their website and it’s the official name of the product. The name aside, this is an exceptional product. The collection contains six wands, all presented on a wall plaque designed to look like the sign-up sheet that they use in the movies. Dumbledore’s Army is about the children resisting Umbridge’s tyrannical regime and is a powerful symbol of standing up for yourself. That makes it the perfect decoration, and it’s great that this product is created to hang on a wall. You can put it up in your bedroom as a reminder of the courage that the kids in the DA showed.
The six wands in this collection belong to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood. Whilst there were plenty of other students in the DA, I believe that whoever selected the wands for this collection did a wonderful job. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are collectively known by the fanbase as the Golden Trio, whereas Ginny, Neville, and Luna are known as the Silver Trio. Together, they’re the most important students in the series, as most of the storylines revolve around those six. They have beautiful wands, as those characters had a lot of screen time and so the prop team needed to make sure that the wands were interesting to look at. They’re not too fancy or stylistic as they had to be practical for regular use in classes, but they have elegance to them. They also look stunning when presented together, and there’s a definition of cohesion to the aesthetic. Overall, this collection is a perfect addition to any Harry Potter fan’s room.
Best Harry Potter Horcruxes
Horcruxes play a vital role in the Harry Potter series. Even though their existence is only revealed in the later books/ movies, there were subtle hints threaded through the series. Horcruxes are an item of pure dark magic, and contain the soul of an evil wizard, in this case, Lord Voldemort. To create one, a wizard must commit an act of unspeakable evil and then use that dark energy to split their soul and bond it into an item. Lord Voldemort creates six deliberate Horcruxes, and then accidentally imparts part of his soul into baby Harry after killing his parents. The plot of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows involves Harry and his friends seeking out and destroying the Horcruxes so that they can finally make Voldemort mortal.
Just as the Noble Collection is the place to go for wands, they’ve also released a stunning series of Horcruxes which blow their competitors out the water. Whilst there are a few different officially licensed products depicting various Horcruxes, none of them is a patch on the Noble Collection. The level of care and detail that’s gone into designing each one is extraordinary. As this article is about the best replicas, I would be remiss to not include these products. Whilst all of their Horcruxes are impeccable, I have chosen to write about the two that I feel showcase the talents of the Noble Collection designers.
Ravenclaw’s Diadem
To call this Diadem beautiful would be the understatement of the century. Whilst it’s technically intended as a display piece, it also works as an elegant and distinguished item of jewelry. Every care has been put into this item to ensure it has all the little details that make it stand out. Carved neatly into the metal are the words ‘Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure’, which of course is Ravenclaw’s motto.
The diadem originally belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, who valued wisdom and intelligence above all other traits. She passed the diadem on to her daughter Helena, who was cruelly murdered by the Bloody Baron in a fit of jealous rage. After that, the diadem was lost, until Harry discovered it in the Room of Requirement. In the books, Crabbe cast a spell to produce fieldfare in the room, but due to casting issues, in the movies, it was Goyle who cast this spell. Fiendfyre is one of the few ways to destroy a Horcrux, and so Harry threw the diadem in to be consumed.
This replica is of the diadem before it met its fiery end. It’s made from silver-plated brass, and as such requires a delicate hand when cleaning it. It contains a host of crystal stones that give the appearance of diamonds, and the center is set with a large blue crystal which represents a sapphire. The diadem is presented in a plush brown box with silver embossing around the outside edges. This is a pristine replica, and in my opinion, easily the best out of all the Horcruxes.
Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring
If you’re looking for a more affordable Horcrux, then Marvolo Gaunt’s ring could be ideal for you. Whilst it’s not the cheapest of the Horcruxes (that would be Tom Riddle’s Diary), it’s an impressive display piece at just a fraction of the price of the Diadem.
As fans will remember, the ring is doubly important to the series, because not only is it one of the seven Horcruxes, but it also contains the Resurrection Stone, which is one of the three Deathly Hallows. It also proved to be the death of Albus Dumbledore. Although Snape was technically the one to kill him, Dumbledore was already dying anyway because of a curse that had been put on the ring. However, Dumbledore was still able to destroy the Horcrux using the sword of Godric Gryffindor.
This replica is very true to the movie prop, and although it’s small, it’s instantly recognizable. The ring itself is recreated in stunning gold plating which gives the item a beautiful metallic shimmer. There’s an intricate pattern along the sides to make the ring stand out from any other jewelry you may own. The resurrection stone itself contains an image of the Deathly Hallows, a clever touch. The ring is presented in an elegant wooden box in the shape of a triangle, with a golden hoop at the top. The triangle is yet another nod to the Deathly Hallows, and this replica leans into that theme heavily, along with simply recreating the Horcrux ring.
Best Harry Potter Magical Items
Rowling created a fully fleshed-out world with the Harry Potter series and magically presents it in several ways. Whilst we see characters use plenty of spells throughout the series, there are also loads of items that contain their magic. They serve a variety of purposes, and each one has a unique design. Trying to decide which ones to include in this list was a difficult challenge as there have been so many delightful replicas created. However, I have chosen the ones which I think would look best on display, and have stayed true to the authentic movie props which they were based on. Have a look and see what takes your fancy!
Professor Slughorn’s Hourglass
If I could buy any one Harry Potter replica that I don’t already own, it would undoubtedly be Slughorn’s Hourglass. Every time I see it in a store, I’m sorely tempted, but unfortunately, finances have meant I’ve needed to show restraint. Still, I fully intend to one day save up enough to buy this and add it to my collection. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece and is unlike any other Harry Potter replica I’ve seen. It was such a unique item to recreate, and I’m so glad that they did.
As a proud Slytherin, I’m immediately drawn to the green color of this item, but my love for the hourglass goes far beyond that. I think Professor Slughorn is such an intriguing character, and although he comes across as bumbling a lot of the time, he’s an exceptionally smart man. He owns a variety of peculiar magical items, but the hourglass is such a fascinating concept. For those of you who’ve forgotten, the idea is that the rate at which the sand transfers to the lower half is based purely on how interesting the nearby conversation is. When a conversation is boring, the sand will slip by slowly, or not move at all. However, if the conversation is engaging and enlightening, the sane will trickle down quickly.
The replica is beautifully crafted and is certainly a striking piece. The elegant silver of the top, bottom, and middle is beautifully offset by vibrant emerald green. The handles of the hourglass are carved into snakes, the symbol of the Slytherin house to which Slughorn belongs to. The snakes have little crystals for the eyes which give the appearance of precious gemstones. Inside, the sand is a similarly vibrant green, and altogether, this is a wonderfully eye-catching replica.
Time Turner
I know I’m including a lot of Noble Collection items on this list, but that’s because they’re the best of the best, and their time-turner is no exception. Plated with 24 karat gold, the stunning detail in an item this tiny is difficult to comprehend. It twists on three different axes and is based on the prop from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
We’re introduced to the concept of the time turner when Hermione Granger uses it to attend all her classes. She was over-zealous when picking her subjects, and several of them clashed with one another. As such, she was given special dispensation to be allowed to use a time turner so she could be in two places at once. It’s a time travel device that takes you back by several hours (however many times you twist the hourglass over) so that you can exist at that moment simultaneously with your past self.
This replica contains a mini hourglass in the middle, and several golden bands which are fully functional (minus the magical time travel aspects). There is engraved writing around the outside and a golden chain so that an owner could wear it around their neck. However, Noble does stress that this is not a toy, and is intended for use as a display replica.
Nimbus 2000
This stunning broomstick by Cinereplicas will set you back a pretty penny, but it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for an authentic replica that will truly stand out from anything else you own, then this is it. This life-size model of the Nimbus 2000 is designed to look just like the one from the movies. Do you recall that special moment in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where some wizard boys gazed longingly through the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies and Harry saw a broom for the very first time? Now you can recreate that wonder in your very own home! Carved from high-quality mahogany and with a weeping willow bristle, Cinereplicas have outdone themselves when it comes to materials. It’s also surprisingly light, given the size, and weighs just above 5 kilograms.
The handle is engraved with a metallic golden Nimbus 2000 logo for the full authentic touch. It also has a kickstand that has been painted gold, which allows the broom to stand and keeps it perfectly balanced. If you participate in Harry Potter cosplay, this broom would be fantastic for photo shoots. It honestly looks just like it’s a prop in the movies. Best of all, it’s limited to just 10,000 copies, so you know that you’re buying something unique which hardly anyone else in the world will own. If you’ve got the money for it, this is possibly the best replica that it’s possible to own.
Best Harry Potter Locations
Whilst the characters and the plot are integral to the success of the Harry Potter series, you can’t overlook the effect of the locations. These magical backdrops sparked wonder and excitement in readers and movie-goers alike and gave the world of Harry Potter its vibrancy. They were the settings for the iconic scenes that have fuelled the fandom for decades. Each one is a catalyst for a wave of nostalgia, and there are a whole host of officially licensed replicas of magical locations. It’s hard narrowing it down to the best ones, but I feel confident that these replicas would be a welcome addition to any collection. Even if you’re only looking to own one replica, any of these would stand perfectly on their merit.
Lego Diagon Alley
I recently had the pleasure of building Lego’s version of Diagon Alley, and it was such an exhilarating experience. Available exclusively from the Lego Store (online and physical), it’s arguably the best Harry Potter set Lego has ever come out with. It’s a lengthy build and will take you approximately 30 hours to complete. If you’re a Lego fan, you’ll know more time spent building means more time spent having fun. If you’re not yet a Lego fan, I can almost guarantee that this set would make you one. Putting the pieces together is an absolute joy, and it’s an experience I heartily recommend.
The set comes with four separate building stages featuring various shops from Diagon Alley. The locations included are Ollivanders, Scribbulus, Quality Quidditch Supplies, The Daily Prophet, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Flourish & Blotts, Knockturn Alley, and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. Each shop is a lot of fun to create, but my favorite was Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. I love the imaginative use of color and the result is a vibrant facade of orange and purple, with multicolored toys and sweets on the inside. Each building has its color palette, and when you put them all together, they look eclectic and magical.
It also comes with a total of 15 mini-figures, 4 of which are exclusive to this set. All the figures are recognizable as their respective characters. This makes them a great inclusion and provides multiple play opportunities. The buildings also come with several interactive parts, such as the giant man on Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes who tips his hat, or the stairs of Ollivanders which spin around.
Overall, this is a fantastic replica of Diagon Alley. If you’re a fan of the locations used in the movies and want to add a splash of color into your home, this set is worth it. Just be aware that it’s pretty expensive as it costs $399.99.
Lego Hogwarts Castle
Another stellar product from Lego, their Hogwarts castle is a breath-taking example of a high-quality model. Its turrets and bridges are a sight to behold, and the colors are a wonderful choice. It’s a large set, and could easily be used as the centerpiece to a room. Lego has released several Harry Potter sets over the years, and many of them are well worth a purchase. However, this particular one is spectacular and the size makes it one of the best replicas you can buy.
It would be impractical to have too large a replica of Hogwarts Castle, as the building is huge. The great thing about this Lego model of it is that it captures so many of the amazing details without making the finished product any bigger than it needs to be. Since the consumer is putting it together piece by piece, the designer needed to think very carefully about what to include. Every single brick is purposefully chosen, and the overall effect is consistent and beautiful.
It’s also got expansion possibilities, as it uses the same color scheme as several of the other Lego Harry Potter sets. That means that if you have the money (and the space!) then you can buy some of the other modern sets and place them near each other to create a cohesive display. Whilst my personal preference is the Diagon Alley set, the castle is still a gorgeous set, and well worth a purchase. If you love the aesthetic of Hogwarts, then Lego has you covered.
Hagrid’s Hut
Department 56 has launched several beautiful replica buildings from the Harry Potter series, but their light-up version of Hagrid’s Hut is something else entirely. Unfortunately, it’s no longer in stock on their website as it was produced for a limited time only, but many resellers still have it available. If you can find one, this is worth buying, as the level of detail is awe-inspiring.
Hagrid’s Hut is one of the most iconic locations in the movies. It has a very distinctive shape, and the lovable half-giant plays a key role in the series. As such, many memorable scenes take place there, such as Norbert the dragon being hatched, Harry and Ron watching Hagrid get taken to Azkaban, and Ron recovering after his ‘Eat Slugs’ curse backfired. The hut is quaint and cozy, and this replica perfectly captures its charm.
I love the attention to detail with smaller aspects, such as the yellow glow in the windows to reflect that Hagrid is home. You can imagine him sitting by the fire, enjoying an evening meal with Fang. There are pumpkins haphazardly placed outside, which reminds me of his pumpkin garden in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. However, I think the best feature is the tiles on the roof. Each one is so painstakingly crafted, and you can see the time and effort that went into designing this. There’s even moss between some of the tiles to convey a sense of the history of this building. I would heartily recommend this beautiful product.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many delightful replicas across several different categories. I tried to include a range of items and prices to account for personal preferences and budgets. Hopefully, you’ve found at least one thing in this guide that has made your heart go “yay!” and your wallet go “Oh no!”
This list is by no means exhaustive, and whilst I truly believe these are the best replicas on offer at the moment, I’m just one person. Even if you haven’t found a replica that’s quite perfect for you, hopefully, it’s given you a good place to start. Many of the companies that make these items have several other Harry Potter items in their catalogs, and maybe one of those will stand out to you instead.
FAQs
Question: When was the First Harry Potter Movie Released?
Answer: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone outside of the USA) was released on 16th November 2001 in the USA, and on 10th November 2001 in the UK. There was also a preview screening in London on 4th November 2001. It had a budget of $125 million and smashed that amount by taking over a billion dollars in box office revenue.
Question: How Many Wands are Currently in the Noble Collection?
Answer: The Noble collection is the main official producer of Harry Potter wands (other licensed companies do exist, but Noble is the most popular). Excluding sets, and variants of the same wands (they have different listings for the same wand if it comes in a different wand box or if it illuminates), there are currently 60 different wands available to buy individually (as of February 2022). That doesn’t include Hagrid’s Umbrella which technically contains parts of his wand.
Question: Who Owns the Licensing Rights for Harry Potter Lego?
Answer: Even though J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books and does co-own licensing for several items of merch, it’s Warner Bros alone who own the rights for Harry Potter Lego. That’s why all of their sets are based exclusively on the movies. The same is true of the Fantastic Beasts Lego sets.
