Is Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2022 Topps Chrome Black · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 8.5× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 sells for $179 against $21.09 raw: a $158 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($30.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $21.09
- PSA 10
- $179
- PSA 9
- $30.00
- Gem premium
- 8.5×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $179 | +$133 | +$108 | +$7.99 |
| PSA 9 | $30.00 | −$16.09 | −$41.09 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $21.09 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% | $67.27 | −$3.82 |
| 50% | $105 | +$33.45 |
| 75% | $142 | +$70.72 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 28%. 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 | $233 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $179 | −$53.92 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $107 | −$126 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $107 | −$126 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $179 | $107 | $233 | $107 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $30.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 2022 Topps Chrome Black cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 sells for $179 against $21.09 raw: a $158 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($30.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 (Star Wars 2022 Topps Chrome Black) sells for about $179 versus $21.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.5× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Darth Vader [Refractor] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $233, ahead of PSA 10 at $179. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 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 Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Darth Vader [Refractor] #1 breaks even when it gems about 28% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.00).
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.
Check my card free