Is Darth Vader [Orange Refractor] #FA-1 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2023 Topps Chrome First Appearance · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Orange Refractor] #FA-1 sells for $193 against $109 raw: a $84.50 spread, 1.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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)
- $109
- Grade 9.5
- $193
- PSA 9
- $175
- Gem premium
- 1.8×
- 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 | $193 | +$59.50 | +$34.50 | −$65.50 |
| PSA 9 | $175 | +$41.50 | +$16.50 | −$83.50 |
Net = sale price − $109 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% | $180 | +$21.00 |
| 50% | $184 | +$25.50 |
| 75% | $189 | +$30.00 |
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 | $193 |
| 9 | $175 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 2023 Topps Chrome First Appearance cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader [Orange Refractor] #FA-1 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader [Orange Refractor] #FA-1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Orange Refractor] #FA-1 sells for $193 against $109 raw: a $84.50 spread, 1.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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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