Forget gold, stocks or art: Build your investments in Lego to get the best returns

If you thought being interested in Lego was a child's play, a new study claims that you would be terribly wrong.

Researchers from the Higher School of Economics in Russia say that investing in Lego sets will give you a better bang for your buck compared to gold, art or even wine.

The prompt for their research is based on the fact that investing in ‘more unusual goods whose purchase might seem less serious’ can give you lucrative gains. This includes Lego sets, Barbie dolls, superhero mini-figures, model cars and even toy trains.

SEE MORE LEGO bricks may survive for as long as 1300 years in the ocean!

Lego: Building an investment

Assessing the prices of 2,322 Lego sets from 1987 to 2015, the team found that collectable toys are a massive investment opportunity where second-hand Lego rise in value by 11 per cent annually.

Look before you leap

If you’re thinking of diverting your cash from stocks to toy sets, here’s a word of caution. Publishing in the journal Research in International Business and Finance, the team explains that not all sets offer high returns. It will take a ‘real Lego fan’ to sort out the nuances of the market. Some examples of valuable sets are the Millennium Falcon, Death Star II and Imperial Star Destroyer from Star Wars, and the Taj Mahal.

So if you don't have the expertise to dive into the details then better stick with the 'regular' bets. Because this collection is no child's play.

SEE MORE Get paid to play with Legos at the new Legoland centre in California