![Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 (Racing Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5I0AAOSwwftnQNC4/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 3.0× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 sells for $150 against $49.91 raw: a $100 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $49.91
- PSA 10
- $150
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 3.0×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $150 | +$75.09 | +$50.09 | −$49.91 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | −$24.92 | −$49.92 | −$150 |
| PSA 8 | $33.99 | −$40.92 | −$65.92 | −$166 |
Net = sale price − $49.91 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% | $74.99 | −$24.92 |
| 50% | $100.00 | +$0.09 |
| 75% | $125 | +$25.09 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 50%. 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 | $195 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $150 | −$45.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $90.00 | −$105 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $90.00 | −$105 | 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 | $150 | $90.00 | $195 | $90.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $148 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $49.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $33.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 — FAQ
Is Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 sells for $150 against $49.91 raw: a $100 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($49.99) 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 Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 (Racing Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1) sells for about $150 versus $49.91 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.0× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $195, ahead of PSA 10 at $150. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar 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 Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Max Verstappen [Aqua Sonar Refractor] #1 breaks even when it gems about 50% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
Is your racing 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.
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