Is Illumise worth grading?
Pokémon · Emerald · 32/106 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Illumise sells for $34.99 against $2.35 raw: a $32.64 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($199) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.35
- PSA 10
- $34.99
- PSA 9
- $199
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $34.99 | +$7.64 | −$17.36 | −$117 |
| PSA 9 | $199 | +$172 | +$147 | +$46.65 |
| PSA 8 | $39.99 | +$12.64 | −$12.36 | −$112 |
Net = sale price − $2.35 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $158 | +$106 |
| 50% | $117 | +$64.65 |
| 75% | $75.99 | +$23.64 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 89%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $99.99 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $34.99 | −$65.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | SGC | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $34.99 | $99.99 | — | — |
| 9 | $199 | $52.00 | — | — |
| 8 | $39.99 | — | $10.00 | — |
| 7 | $11.99 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $45.00 | — | — | $6.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Emerald cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Illumise — FAQ
Is Illumise worth grading?
A PSA 10 Illumise sells for $34.99 against $2.35 raw: a $32.64 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($199) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Illumise worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Illumise (Emerald 32/106) sells for about $34.99 versus $2.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Illumise?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $99.99, ahead of PSA 10 at $34.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Illumise need for a CGC 10?
CGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Illumise break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Illumise breaks even when it gems about 89% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $199).
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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