Our Criteria

At Ninja Refinery Grading, we aim to provide robust and strict service. Covering every inch of your cards and giving them the full care and attention they deserve.

As we’re new to the industry, we’re learning, so we keep our prices low to reflect that. As we grow we’ll aim to keep costs down but quality will improve almost exponentially! We care about our cards, so we care about your cards. Let’s get them slabbed and graded so your pride and joy can take centre-stage in your displays.

Here are all the checks and what the results would mean.

1. Centring:

• Definition: Evaluates how well-centred the image is within the borders of the card.
• Grading Scale:
  • 10 (Gem Mint): Perfectly centred. No visible deviation to the naked eye.
  • 9 (Mint): Virtually perfect centring with only the slightest deviation allowed.
  • 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Minor centring imperfections noticeable upon close inspection.
  • 7 (Near Mint): Noticeable off-centring, but the image remains balanced within the borders.
  • 6 (Excellent-Near Mint): Significant off-centring, with one side clearly closer to the border.
  • 5 (Excellent): Further off-centring than 6, but the image still has a reasonable border on all sides.
  • 4 (Very Good-Excellent): One edge may come very close to the border.
  • 3 (Very Good): Significant off-centring, with the image potentially touching a border.
  • 2 (Good): Severe off-centring, with a large portion of the image encroaching on a border.
  • 1 (Poor): Extreme off-centring, with the image possibly extending off the edge of the card.

2. Corners:

• Definition: Assesses the sharpness and condition of the card’s four corners.
• Grading Scale:
  • 10 (Gem Mint): Factory-fresh corners with no signs of wear. Perfectly sharp.
  • 9 (Mint): Minor imperfections may be visible under magnification, but corners appear sharp to the naked eye.
  • 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Slight evidence of wear, such as minor touches of whitening or very slight blunting.
  • 7 (Near Mint): Noticeable wear with slight rounding or blunting of one or more corners.
  • 6 (Excellent-Near Mint): Obvious rounding or blunting on multiple corners.
  • 5 (Excellent): More pronounced rounding, with minor fraying or chipping possible.
  • 4 (Very Good-Excellent): Significant rounding, fraying, or chipping.
  • 3 (Very Good): Heavy corner wear with obvious damage.
  • 2 (Good): Corners may be severely rounded, with substantial fraying, chipping, or bending.
  • 1 (Poor): Corners may be flattened, torn, or missing.

3. Edges:

• Definition: Examines the condition of the card’s edges, looking for wear, chipping, and smoothness.
• Grading Scale:
  • 10 (Gem Mint): Flawless edges with no signs of wear. Perfectly smooth and sharp.
  • 9 (Mint): Minimal wear, potentially visible only under magnification.
  • 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Slight evidence of wear, such as minor touches of whitening or very slight roughness.
  • 7 (Near Mint): Noticeable wear, with some roughness or minor chipping present.
  • 6 (Excellent-Near Mint): Obvious wear along edges, with more pronounced roughness or chipping.
  • 5 (Excellent): Significant wear, with more noticeable chipping and roughness.
  • 4 (Very Good-Excellent): Heavy edge wear with larger chips and noticeable imperfections.
  • 3 (Very Good): Edges may be rough and uneven, with significant chipping or fraying.
  • 2 (Good): Severe edge damage, including large chips, tears, or bending.
  • 1 (Poor): Edges may be severely damaged or have pieces missing.

4. Surface:

• Definition: Evaluates the overall condition of the card’s surface, including print quality, gloss, and the presence of scratches, stains, or print defects.
• Grading Scale:
  • 10 (Gem Mint): Pristine surface with no imperfections. Full original gloss and vibrant colors.
  • 9 (Mint): Virtually flawless surface with only minor imperfections visible under magnification.
  • 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Slight surface imperfections, such as minor scratches or print spots, may be visible.
  • 7 (Near Mint): Noticeable surface wear, including light scratches, minor print defects, or a slight loss of gloss.
  • 6 (Excellent-Near Mint): More obvious surface imperfections, such as more pronounced scratches or noticeable print defects.
  • 5 (Excellent): Significant surface wear, including deeper scratches, more noticeable print flaws, or a dulling of the surface gloss.
  • 4 (Very Good-Excellent): Heavy surface wear, with numerous scratches, significant print defects, or a significant loss of gloss.
  • 3 (Very Good): Surface may have deep scratches, significant staining, or noticeable fading.
  • 2 (Good): Severe surface damage, including heavy scratching, significant staining, or noticeable discoloration.
  • 1 (Poor): Surface may be heavily damaged, with significant discoloration, heavy staining, or substantial portions of the print missing.