Is VJ Edgecombe [Pulsar 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 [Pulsar Black Refractor] #253 sells for $3,850 against $2,925 raw: a $925 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,500) 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)
- $2,925
- Grade 9.5
- $3,850
- PSA 9
- $3,500
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 | $3,850 | +$900 | +$875 | +$775 |
| PSA 9 | $3,500 | +$550 | +$525 | +$425 |
Net = sale price − $2,925 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% | $3,588 | +$613 |
| 50% | $3,675 | +$700 |
| 75% | $3,763 | +$788 |
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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2025 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
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Grading VJ Edgecombe [Pulsar Black Refractor] #253 — FAQ
Is VJ Edgecombe [Pulsar Black Refractor] #253 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 VJ Edgecombe [Pulsar Black Refractor] #253 sells for $3,850 against $2,925 raw: a $925 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,500) 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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