![VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4-EAAeSwW6dqhK7V/s-l1600.jpg)
Is VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 sells for $6,160 against $5,498 raw: a $662 spread, 1.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,600) 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)
- $5,498
- Grade 9.5
- $6,160
- PSA 9
- $5,600
- Gem premium
- 1.1×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $6,160 | +$637 | +$612 | +$512 |
| PSA 9 | $5,600 | +$77.00 | +$52.00 | −$48.00 |
Net = sale price − $5,498 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% | $5,740 | +$192 |
| 50% | $5,880 | +$332 |
| 75% | $6,020 | +$472 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 2025 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Cooper Flagg [RayWave Red Refractor] #251 2025 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GAIAAeSw5NJqkYcz/s-l500.jpg)
Grading VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 — FAQ
Is VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 VJ Edgecombe [Black Refractor] #253 sells for $6,160 against $5,498 raw: a $662 spread, 1.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,600) 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.
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