Is Darth Vader [Orange Sapphire] #29 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2025 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Orange Sapphire] #29 sells for $124 against $61.69 raw: a $62.31 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($113) 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)
- $61.69
- Grade 9.5
- $124
- PSA 9
- $113
- Gem premium
- 2.0×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $124 | +$37.31 | +$12.31 | −$87.69 |
| PSA 9 | $113 | +$26.31 | +$1.31 | −$98.69 |
Net = sale price − $61.69 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% | $116 | +$4.06 |
| 50% | $119 | +$6.81 |
| 75% | $121 | +$9.56 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $124 |
| 9 | $113 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader [Orange Sapphire] #29 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader [Orange Sapphire] #29 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Orange Sapphire] #29 sells for $124 against $61.69 raw: a $62.31 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($113) 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.
Is your Star Wars 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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