If there’s one thing we get asked again and again—besides "Do you ship to my country?"—it’s why our display frames cost more than others on the market.

Honestly? We get it. We’ve been there too.

Before we started designing our own “Mark's Magic Display Boxes,” we were just like you—LEGO collectors for over a decade, constantly searching for the perfect way to showcase our builds. We've bought everything: from yellowing, warped cases to ones that literally gave off black smoke when we tested them (yes, we burned them—we’ll explain). Some were better—like the jaw-droppingly expensive one we got in London. But the truth is, once you start understanding the material behind the display, you realize most of the options out there are just... not it.

acrylic that turns yellow over time

So, What’s “Real” Acrylic Anyway?

Here’s a trick: 

✅ Look for the letters "PMMA" on the product specs. 

If it doesn’t say PMMA, there’s a high chance it’s not what you think it is. 

PMMA stands for Polymethyl Methacrylate—it’s the only material that deserves to be called “true acrylic.” But sadly, the market is flooded with cheaper substitutes labeled as acrylic. 

You might actually be getting: 

 PC (Polycarbonate) 

 PS (Polystyrene) 

 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) 

 We call these the “fake acrylic crew.” They’re cheaper, easier to process, but they come with a cost—yellowing, distortion, brittle edges, and lower clarity.

Even PMMA Isn’t Always Pure

Let’s say a display case does mention PMMA—are you safe then? Not always. 

The real key is whether it uses virgin (100% new) material. 

Watch for the phrase: “pure virgin PMMA”. This makes all the difference in: Light transmission: over 93% clarity (if someone says more, they’re bluffing) Anti-yellowing: stays crystal-clear for over 10 years Surface hardness: premium texture, more scratch-resistant 

😞 Downsides? Virgin PMMA is more fragile during shipping—we’ve cried a few times when boxes broke in transit. But it’s worth it.

Now Let’s Talk Craftsmanship: Cast vs. Extruded

Material isn’t the whole story. Manufacturing process matters. A lot. 

There are two main types: 

1.Cast Acrylic – like making ice pops, pouring liquid into molds 

2.Extruded Acrylic – think pasta machines, squeezed and formed quickly 

✅ Cast sheets win hands down when it comes to clarity, surface flatness, and detailed laser engraving. It’s what we use exclusively in our displays.

TL;DR – “Overbuilt” 

By Choice When we say we “overbuild,” we mean it. 

Our default specs? 

 👉 100% virgin PMMA 

👉 Cast acrylic sheets only

Why? Because we’re building for clarity, durability, and collector-grade presentation—not just another box to keep dust off. 

 And to be honest, even this is only the beginning. 

Craftsmanship matters just as much: from laser printing to corner fit to frame tension. 

 But we’ll save that for another post. Let’s call it a day here—until next time!