Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Finest Embossed · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 sells for $231 against $64.57 raw: a $167 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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)
- $64.57
- PSA 10
- $231
- PSA 9
- $100
- Gem premium
- 3.6×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $231 | +$142 | +$117 | +$16.88 |
| PSA 9 | $100 | +$10.43 | −$14.57 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $26.00 | −$63.57 | −$88.57 | −$189 |
Net = sale price − $64.57 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% | $133 | +$18.29 |
| 50% | $166 | +$51.16 |
| 75% | $199 | +$84.02 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 | $301 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $231 | −$69.55 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $139 | −$162 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $139 | −$162 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Finest Embossed cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Gold Refractor Die Cut] #154 1997 Finest Embossed card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eu8AAeSwS6Jqm6Nu/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #137 1997 Finest Embossed card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/aQQAAeSwxxdqff-Y/s-l500.jpg)
![Allen Iverson [Refractor] #320 1997 Finest Embossed card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hIcAAOSwHGZinQH1/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 sells for $231 against $64.57 raw: a $167 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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 Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 (Basketball Cards 1997 Finest Embossed) sells for about $231 versus $64.57 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.6× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $301, ahead of PSA 10 at $231. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 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 Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #137 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $100).
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