Everything you need to know about grading.

Grading is the professional inspection and assessment of collectible cards. We verify authenticity and assess the condition against clear criteria (centering, corners, edges, surface) and assign a grade from 1 to 10.

Depending on the service you choose, from same day up to approx. 20 business days. We always work as fast as possible, without compromising on quality.

We grade all common trading card games – including Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Digimon, Gundam and Naruto – as well as sports cards. Japanese and Chinese editions are also possible. Cards in Japanese format (59 mm × 86 mm) require a special acrylic holder, which we provide accordingly. Have a special card? Just get in touch with us.

The grade "A" stands for Authentic. It is awarded when a card has been altered so that an objective condition assessment is not possible – e.g. too damaged, painted over or with concealed flaws. Autographs and signatures also count as such subsequent modifications. Good to know: we can still grade signed cards if you include proof of authenticity – e.g. photo or video evidence of the signing, or other authentication methods. Official autograph cards are of course also possible.

Yes, in the upper range: 9.5, 8.5, 7.5 and 6.5. That is where small details decide the value, so we measure more finely. From 6.0 downwards we award whole grades. If a result sits exactly on a boundary, the lower grade applies – an average of 8.25 therefore yields an 8.0.

The Gold Label is our highest distinction: only cards that achieve grade 10 in all four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) receive this exclusive golden special label – the crown of any collection.

Yes. Throughout their entire stay with us, your cards are fully insured and protected against all common risks.

After your order you'll receive all the information for secure shipping. Alternatively, you can drop off your cards in person at our store: Neusser Straße 487, 50733 Cologne, Monday to Friday 10:00–18:30 (contact).

Our scale ranges from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). The overall grade is based on the analysis of centering, corners, edges and surface. Learn more on our “Grading Scale” page.

A security label visible only under UV light, featuring our logo and a unique serial number. It confirms the authenticity of the seal and protects against forgery.

Yes. You can follow the current status of your order at any time in your customer account (“My account”). Our status page is for certificate verification: enter the certificate number of an already graded card to retrieve its grading data.

Prices depend on the service you choose (e.g. Standard or Express) and are shown transparently in the shop. You see the total price incl. VAT before completing your order – with no hidden costs.

Every sealed card receives a unique certificate number. On our status page you can enter this number and instantly retrieve the stored grading data – so authenticity can be verified at any time.

Every submission is carefully checked for authenticity. If it turns out that the card is a counterfeit, this is how it works:

Processing fee: The examination fee is charged in full – we carried out the assessment regardless of the result.

Retention: We generally retain counterfeit cards and do not return them. This prevents counterfeits from circulating any further.

But: you knew nothing about the counterfeit? It happens – especially when buying through platforms such as eBay. If you send us a proof of purchase (e.g. an eBay order, an invoice or a dealer’s receipt) showing that you bought the card in good faith, we will gladly prepare a written report on the card for you. With it you can turn to the seller or the platform and, for example, claim buyer protection or ask for your money back.

Important: Without such proof, the card remains with us.

Repeat cases: Anyone who submits counterfeits repeatedly must expect that we end the business relationship and take legal action for attempted fraud.

Our tip: Only buy cards from trustworthy sources and keep your proofs of purchase – that way you are covered if the worst happens.

We treat your data confidentially. Your e-mail address is used exclusively for our internal marketing (e.g. status updates and our own offers) and is never passed on to third parties. Details can be found in our privacy policy.