Is J.J. Watt [Purple Refractor] #86 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2011 Topps Platinum · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 J.J. Watt [Purple Refractor] #86 sells for $72.00 against $29.23 raw: a $42.77 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.52) 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)
- $29.23
- Grade 9.5
- $72.00
- PSA 9
- $65.52
- Gem premium
- 2.5×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $72.00 | +$17.77 | −$7.23 | −$107 |
| PSA 9 | $65.52 | +$11.29 | −$13.71 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $29.23 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% | $67.14 | −$12.09 |
| 50% | $68.76 | −$10.47 |
| 75% | $70.38 | −$8.85 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading J.J. Watt [Purple Refractor] #86 — FAQ
Is J.J. Watt [Purple Refractor] #86 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 J.J. Watt [Purple Refractor] #86 sells for $72.00 against $29.23 raw: a $42.77 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.52) 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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