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
Magikarp
The Magikarp Illustration Rare from SV02: Paldea Evolved carries the widest screening spread of every card on this week's watchlist, driven by a PSA 10 price that sits dramatically above raw. The artwork fills the card edge-to-edge with a dense, almost tapestry-like composition: tropical foliage, cascading water rendered in bold brushwork, and a vivid Magikarp arcing through the centre in red and gold against a black holofoil ground that makes the colours pop intensely. That visual ambition translates directly into collector appetite for pristine copies, and the gap between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 is exceptionally wide here, meaning condition discipline at the point of purchase matters enormously. Population data confirms this is a high-volume card, so competition for gem-mint examples is real, but the raw-to-PSA 10 premium remains one of the most striking on the screening list.
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 25 Sep 2026
