Is Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Autograph · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK sells for $251 against $53.00 raw: a $198 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($90.28) 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)
- $53.00
- PSA 10
- $251
- PSA 9
- $90.28
- Gem premium
- 4.7×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $251 | +$173 | +$148 | +$48.40 |
| PSA 9 | $90.28 | +$12.28 | −$12.72 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $51.98 | −$26.02 | −$51.02 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $53.00 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% | $131 | +$27.56 |
| 50% | $171 | +$67.84 |
| 75% | $211 | +$108 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $327 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $251 | −$75.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $151 | −$176 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $151 | −$176 | 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.
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Other 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Autograph cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK — FAQ
Is Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK worth grading?
A PSA 10 Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK sells for $251 against $53.00 raw: a $198 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($90.28) 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 Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK (Racing Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Autograph) sells for about $251 versus $53.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.7× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $327, ahead of PSA 10 at $251. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Laurent Mekies [Gold Refractor] #CAC-MEK breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $90.28).
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