In 1996 LEGO released 7 Aquazone sets across 3 subthemes. The largest Aquazone set from 1996 was
6190 Shark's Crystal Cave with a piece count of 258 and a retail price of $49.99. The current estimated value of all these Aquazone sets from this year is about $981.92 which represents a 1082.7% growth.
Aquazone was an underwater theme introduced in 1995 that lasted until 1999 and contained five subthemes all of which took place in the ocean and typically involved two sides fighting each other for valuables such as Hydrolator Crystals. Aquazone was the second new theme after Pirates that was introduced after the initial three classic major themes Town, Castle, and Space from 1978.
1996 LEGO Sets
In 1996, the LEGO Group continued its legacy of innovation, though it was nearing a challenging period in its history. This year saw the company's ventures into digital media, with the establishment of LEGO Media, marking its initial foray into the world of video games and multimedia. Additionally, the Technic line was rebranded to create a more coherent global brand identity. While traditional brick sets remained popular, the mid-90s marked the beginning of a time when the company recognized the need for diversification and modernization to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving toy market.