Is Darth Vader #R-3 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2024 Topps Chrome Reflections · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #R-3 sells for $3,750 against $186 raw: a $3,564 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($284) 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)
- $186
- PSA 10
- $3,750
- PSA 9
- $284
- Gem premium
- 20×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $3,750 | +$3,539 | +$3,514 | +$3,414 |
| PSA 9 | $284 | +$72.97 | +$47.97 | −$52.03 |
| PSA 8 | $269 | +$57.96 | +$32.96 | −$67.04 |
Net = sale price − $186 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% | $1,150 | +$915 |
| 50% | $2,017 | +$1,781 |
| 75% | $2,883 | +$2,648 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $4,875 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,750 | −$1,125 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,250 | −$2,625 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $364 | −$4,511 | 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.
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Grading Darth Vader #R-3 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #R-3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #R-3 sells for $3,750 against $186 raw: a $3,564 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($284) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Darth Vader #R-3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #R-3 (Star Wars 2024 Topps Chrome Reflections) sells for about $3,750 versus $186 for a raw near-mint copy — a 20× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Darth Vader #R-3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,875, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,750. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Darth Vader #R-3 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.
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