Finger Skeleton

Type 1 — Standard Fingers

This finger type is simply wire threaded through each finger of the doll's hand.

This is an outdated skeleton type, barely used in silicone dolls today. That said, brands still offer it as an option for the model's hand construction.

Features

  • No way to set a clear position for the fingers.
  • High risk of finger damage, the wire often tears through the material.
  • Unrealistic finger positioning.

Type 2 — Articulated Fingers

These fingers have a full internal skeleton, which makes it easy to change their position. It also lets the doll hold objects more effectively.

On top of that, a doll with these fingers is less prone to accidental hand damage, since a common type of doll damage is the internal wire tearing through the finger material.

We recommend adding this upgrade when ordering your doll. It significantly increases the doll's realism. What's more, this upgrade has already become free with most brands.

What this gives you in practice

  • The hand can be posed into any natural gesture: relaxed palm, closed fingers, a pointing gesture.
  • The doll can hold light objects: a glass, a phone, a cigarette. This greatly expands your photography options, and also boosts how realistic the doll feels.
  • The fingers hold their set position, rather than "twitching" when the doll is moved.

The construction and functionality of Articulated Fingers can vary from brand to brand. For some brands it's just a finger skeleton. For others it also includes an improved wrist joint. Either way, the basis is always the same, a skeleton inside every finger joint.

IMPORTANT: Some brands also offer additional Articulated Fingers types. For example, Ball Joint Skeleton from Irontech Doll. We've covered all these points in the customisation, you can read about it in the description.

Rules for handling the fingers

Even with a full skeleton, the fingers remain a delicate area. Follow three rules:

  • Only bend the fingers in natural directions and to natural limits, as with a human hand.
  • Don't put heavy objects in the doll's hand, and don't pull the doll by the fingers when moving her.
  • Put on narrow sleeved clothing carefully. Fingers often catch on fabric, and that's when damage most often occurs.