LEGO® 33501 Apple Variants
There are at least two versions of the 33051 apple. The earliest version appears in 1997. This version has no identifying marks. A later version appears (as far as I can tell) around 2013-2014. This version has the part number 33051 and ©LEGO on one side of the leaf and a mold number on the opposite side of the leaf.
The unmarked apple with an organic bottom sculpt.
The marked apple with a geometric bottom indentation.
Due to the differences in the bottom sculpt, the apples sit differently. The unmarked apple sits rotated about eight degrees towards the stem side compared to the unmarked apple.
The above superimposed image shows the relative seated position of the two apples.
The above superimposed image shows the marked apple in pink rotated 8 degrees to match the stem positions. Gray areas are more or less identical where pink and green areas indicate sculptural differences.
The top area around the stem has a noticeable difference in sculpt. The unmarked apple displays a more organic sculpt where the marked apple has a geometric concave depression running across the entire top of the apple.
The unmarked apple’s leaf and stem area.
The marked apple’s leaf and stem area.
Leaf grooves also differ to a degree. The unmarked apple’s center groove is less deep and slightly less curved than that on the marked apple. Edge grooves on the unmarked leaf go deeper with some nearly touching the center groove and are wider where the marked leaf’s grooves end just past half way to the center groove.
The unmarked apple’s leaf is narrower and has a slight sway to it where the marked apple’s leaf is thicker and straighter.
The unmarked apple leaf.
The marked apple leaf.
The stem of the unmarked apple is slightly more curved than that of the marked apple. At the point where the leaf meets the stem the sculpt of the unmarked apple favors the leaf, making the stem narrower at the base, where the marked apple favors the stem and diminishes the adjacent section of leaf.
Hole depth in the unmarked apple is 1mm deeper than that of the unmarked apple.
The unmarked apple on the left and the marked apple on the right.
The stem hole shape in the unmarked apple is fairly round where the marked apple has a pronounced octagonal.
The unmarked apple stem hole.
The marked apple stem hole.
The unmarked apple has a slight stipple finish to the plastic where the marked apple is hard gloss.
The unmarked apple’s stipple texture.
The marked apple’s gloss texture.
Last updated 2025-04-04