![Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 (Star Wars 2021 Topps Chrome Galaxy) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BMkAAeSwxLNqXOgj/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2021 Topps Chrome Galaxy · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 sells for $229 against $78.88 raw: a $150 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($208) 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)
- $78.88
- Grade 9.5
- $229
- PSA 9
- $208
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $229 | +$125 | +$100 | +$0.12 |
| PSA 9 | $208 | +$104 | +$79.03 | −$20.97 |
Net = sale price − $78.88 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% | $213 | +$84.30 |
| 50% | $218 | +$89.57 |
| 75% | $224 | +$94.85 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGC 10 | $163 | best | 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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Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 sells for $229 against $78.88 raw: a $150 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($208) 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.
What centering does Darth Vader [Purple Refractor] #9 need for a SGC 10?
SGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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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