Ranked two ways
Screening spread is the money figure - cash left after costs. Premium ratio shows how many times the raw price a gem copy fetches. They rank differently.
The widest premium on the board
Blaziken VMAX
Blaziken VMAX from SWSH06: Chilling Reign stands out across this screening list for combining a raw price already well into three figures with a PSA 10 probability that is comfortably the highest in the group, making it the candidate where a top grade is a realistic rather than optimistic expectation. The alternate art Secret Rare treatment fills the card with kinetic energy: Blaziken dominates the frame in warm oranges and reds, claws spread wide against a vibrant, painterly background of greens and purples, while a tiny Rapid Strike Urshifu and Galarian Slowbro provide scale on a rooftop below. A clean PSA 10 copy commands a notably strong premium over raw, and with no flagged risk factors attached to this card, it is the most straightforward case on the table for collectors weighing a submission.
All eight, card by card
Each screened card in its own dossier: raw and graded prices, the premium multiple, the estimated spread, why it's here and what could go wrong.
The whole screen in one table
Every candidate, one row each - built to be screenshotted. Sorted by screening spread.
What could go wrong
Grading is a bet on condition. The risks below apply to every card here - plus the sharper downside on the cards where a PSA 9 leaves little over raw.
- Condition cannot be judged from a catalogue image.
- Most raw cards will not grade 10.
- Grading fees, timelines and premiums all move.
- PSA 10 comps reflect recent last-sold prices; future realisations may differ.
What just missed the cut
Runner-ups from the pool that cleared the ratio bar but landed below the eight widest spreads.
Grading, premiums & how we screen
The questions readers ask most about PSA grading and how Grading Watch is put together.
01What is PSA grading?⌄
PSA grading is a professional authentication and condition assessment service provided by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Cards are examined for centering, corners, edges and surface before being assigned a grade from 1 to 10, with PSA 10 Gem Mint representing the highest standard.
02Is PSA grading worth it?⌄
Grading can be worthwhile when the graded premium outweighs the cost of grading and selling the card. Not every card benefits, and even valuable cards may not justify grading if they are unlikely to reach a high grade. Grading Watch highlights cards with strong PSA 10 premiums, but it is not a prediction that any given copy will grade a 10.
03How does Grading Watch choose cards?⌄
Each issue we screen the catalogue on price, era and rarity, then verify the shortlist against recent graded and raw comparables from live market data. We rank the survivors by screening spread and feature the eight widest. It is a screening list, not a submission recommendation.
04What is the “screening spread”?⌄
Screening spread is the PSA 10 price minus the raw price, minus estimated grading, shipping, selling and transaction costs. It is labelled as an estimate before tax and condition risk - the exact cost assumptions are printed in the methodology box and are placeholders pending confirmation.
05Does a big premium mean I will make money?⌄
No. The premium only pays out on a genuine PSA 10. Most raw cards will not grade 10, condition cannot be judged from a catalogue image, and premiums move with the market. Treat every figure as a screen, not a promise.
06How often is Grading Watch updated?⌄
Grading Watch runs fortnightly, with a fresh screen of raw cards and their graded premiums each issue.
Last updated 22 Jul 2026
