We all know that sound, it’s so distinctive…the one you hear when you pour the contents of your LEGO® set on the kitchen table. And let’s not forget the sound of that one piece that fell to the floor as you listen intently to figure out where it will end up because not only will you need it for your build but you also don’t want your mom or dad finding it for you with their bare feet. For most of us, that’s the sound of childhood. You’d build for hours, lose track of time, and unfortunately lose a few bricks along the way…sorry feet!
I received my first building set back in 1977 and even now, almost 50 years later, that sound still does something. As soon as I hear it, I forget about bills, emails or responsibilities in general and I’m right back there, just a kid sitting at the table, absolutely convinced I’m building something legendary.
LEGO® Never Really Left Us
Let’s be honest: LEGO® never went away. We did. We grew up, we got jobs, we started worrying about things like taxes and gas prices, and somehow along the way, the hobby took a backseat to “real life”. When did it all come back…for me and probably a lot of us, it was when I bought my son’s first LEGO®. I knew nothing about Ninjago but what I did know was how anxious I was for him to unwrap his Christmas gift so I could “help” him build it…and in that moment, I knew the magic never really left.
That’s the thing about LEGO®, it’s not just another random toy. It’s therapy you can stack. There’s something weirdly calming about sorting pieces by color, following the steps, and watching a pile of random bricks slowly turn into something recognizable. It’s satisfying in a way that most adult stuff isn’t.
Since starting Baronneau, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I start to see it happen again. People rediscovering that long lost passion for LEGO®. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, maybe it’s that feeling of slowing down, or maybe it’s just that for once, we want to give something that means something.
The Holiday Magic Is Real
Look, I’m a 56-year-old guy from Montreal. I’ve seen enough Christmases to know they’ve changed a bit over the years. Everything moves faster now. No one has time for anyone anymore, people are glued to their phones, and gifts come in boxes that need charging cables when it’s not just a random gift card. But every once in a while, someone opens a LEGO® set…and voilà…time stops.
You can see it on their face. They tilt their head, stare at the box, maybe smile like they just remembered something. “I used to have this one,” they’ll say. Or “I wanted that when I was a kid.” And that right there, that spark, that twinkle in their eyes…that’s nostalgia doing its job. It’s like handing someone a piece of their past, wrapped up in cellophane and possibilities.
The beauty about LEGO® is it doesn’t just sit there; it asks for your time. You can’t rush it, you can’t fast forward or skip to the end. You have to sit down, open the manual, and just…build. One piece at a time, one moment at a time. Then, before you know it, you’re not thinking about deadlines or the news. You’re thinking, “Wow, this is actually fun.”
The Magic Never Retires
At Baronneau, we see this side of LEGO® every single day. People come looking for sets they had in their youth, the pirate ship that terrorized the open seas, the Technic car they dreamed of driving one day, the castle that’s been through a memorable battle.
It’s amazing how often I’ll hear, “I’m getting this for my son, but honestly… I kinda want it for myself.” And believe me, I get it, I was there too. I remember hearing someone say once that LEGO® isn’t just a plastic toy, it’s memory molded into shape. Some sets come to us still sealed after all these years, as if pulled from a newly opened time capsule. Others are open boxes, the kind you can tell were built with care and put away with the quiet hope that one day, they would matter again.
Funny enough, as I’m writing this a couple of days ago, I came across something that proves this gift giving thing isn’t just between a parent and child. Have a look at the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s face as he receives The Great Pyramid of Giza LEGO® set (21058) as a gift from the Danish Foreign Minister…absolutely priceless.
Here are two worldly diplomats who’ve seen more and experienced more than most of us can hope to in a lifetime and we’re reminded that joy doesn’t need translation. LEGO® does what it’s always done and will continue to do…connect people, one brick at a time.
When we find these sets, it feels like we’re peeling back layers of history. They’ve been waiting patiently in attics, closets, basements, little pieces of someone’s childhood, ready for their next adventure.
Building Keeps Us Connected
Seriously, let’s stop pretending. Us adults who collect LEGO®, we aren’t doing it because it’s trendy (except maybe for a couple during Covid-19). We do it because it’s one of the few things that feels real and grounds us. The world’s complicated, LEGO® isn’t...unless you’re having a go at the Motorized Excavator (8043). You don’t need a degree to build something beautiful or amazing. You just need a bit of time and the willingness to make mistakes along the way. But that most satisfying “click” will always be there.
There’s also the display side of it. You finish a set…say the LEGO® Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS (42056) or the LEGO® Ideas Typewriter (21327), you’re not going to just toss it in a bin and move on. You admire it. You find a shelf. You make space. You show it off. And then you catch yourself staring at it in the morning with coffee in hand thinking, yup, that was worth every minute, every dollar.
It’s not about toys anymore; it’s about connection…to who we were, and to the people we love.
The Gift That Actually Means Something
Every Christmas, stores are full of the latest gadgets and gizmos that look cool for about five minutes before they get tossed aside. LEGO® is different. It’s one of the rare gifts that needs something from the person receiving it…a bit of patience, some curiosity, a few hours of their time. But what it gives back… well, that’s the part no other toy can match…and very few other gifts.
When you give someone a LEGO® set, you’re not just giving them something to open. You’re giving them a reason to sit down, relax, completely unplug, and remember what it feels like to make something with their hands. It’s the gift of focus, creativity, and a ton of childhood joy.
It also doesn’t matter if they’re eight or eighty. Everyone builds differently and everyone gets something out of it. That’s the beauty of it, there’s no wrong way to build…unless of course you happen to step on a piece barefoot…then it’s just wrong for everyone involved. Right mom…
A Little Bit About Us
At Baronneau, we built this whole thing around that exact feeling. We’re collectors too. We know the thrill of tracking down that retired set you thought you’d never see again. We know the heartbreak of realizing you had it once and sold it for peanuts. (Hey, we’ve all been there.)
So, we made it our mission to find these sets — sealed, open box, pre-loved — and give them another shot at making someone’s day. Whether it’s a rare Star Wars, a Technic beast, or a long-retired LEGO® Icons set, each one has a story. We just help it find its next chapter.
Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t new — they’re the ones that come back around just when you need them the most.
So, Why LEGO®?
Because it lasts. Because it connects (I love that play on words). Because it still makes us feel like kids. And honestly, because it’s fun and we don’t do enough fun as adults.
So if you’re trying to find a gift that won’t end up forgotten by Boxing Day, maybe skip the latest gadget and go with something simple. Something timeless. Something that clicks — literally.
And hey, if you find yourself buying a “gift” and accidentally keeping it for yourself… don’t worry, we’ve all done it.
At Baronneau, we curate rare and retired LEGO® sets for collectors, dreamers, and anyone who still believes in the joy of building. Every box tells a story — let’s find yours.