Diamond Cuts or "Slants" Question

scottsusor

In another thread, a poster commented that he was surprised a particular card crossed to a PSA 8 because of its "extreme diamond cut." I have been hesitant to send in 8 or 9 level cards for grading because of either a slight diamond cut or a "slant" with regard to the picture being slightly tilted (i.e. you can see the borders gradually narrow down the sides). What is PSA's real tolerance for these cards? I know that undersized cards get rejected for "miscut" but what about these?

Scott

gemint

I believe they just measure the card at the spot where the centering is the worst. So a card could theoretically be 60-40 to 65-35 at one point and 40-60 to 35-65 at the other end of the card and it would still qualify as an 8.

wolfbear

Centering is measured from the worst point on the card,
so if a card is badly diamond cut, the centering factor will kick in.

Hopefully, the "eye-appeal" factor kicks in as well ...

CON40

Scott;

My experience with diamond cuts (like 69 Topps) has taught me three things:

1) Centering... if the diamond cut affects the centering tolerance for the grade, it'll get a qualifier...

2) Eye appeal... if the design of the issue doesn't reveal the diamond cut drastically, then it'll probably get a good grade. Example would be 75 Topps with the wide borders and rounded picture box is more kind to diamond cuts, while a 67 Topps with small borders and a box shape design will reveal the diamond cut prominently...

3) Card shape... if the card is too out of squre, it'll get rejected due to the miscut... this has happened to me with, ironically, 75s...

That's my 3 cents from personal experience!
Keith

Skycap

Scott,

I would go ahead and submit them if the worst part of the card still meets PSA 8 or 9 centering.

I too was hesitant about sumbitting some raw cards for my Red Sox collection that seemed to be sure 8's or even 9's based on every other aspect but the tilt factor. I went ahead and submitted them and did very well, actually better than I expected. I say go for it, otherwise you'll never know for sure.

Skycap

Fuzz

The crowd is right. If the picture is not centered properly, measure the worst spots and let 'er rip.
I best FB card I own is a 1/1 PSA 9 NQ that has a diamond cut that is quite noticeable. It is a card that is well known for being poorly centered to the point the majority I believe are MC when graded.
Take a shot, the upside is large, the downside is cost of grading.
Fuzz

purelyPSA

I've seen diamond cut 10s. I think there should be a rule against that.

marz

<< <i>I believe they just measure the card at the spot where the centering is the worst. So a card could theoretically be 60-40 to 65-35 at one point and 40-60 to 35-65 at the other end of the card and it would still qualify as an 8. >>



if it is oversized due o this cut they do not put it in a holder.

jaybyrd

Just my opinion, but I would rather have a card off-center (as long as it is not 90/10 or worse), before I would pick the 'diamond cut' card. I avoid these like the plague.

peterredshoes

Minor diamond cuts don't bother me much, especially if the overall centering is good. I definitely appreciate its absence, however; it can separate a really good card from a truly exceptional one.

Those interested in reference pictures for tolerance on diamond cuts may be interested to take a peek at the pictures on my Trammell basic set of my '79 Topps and '85 Topps Trammells (both 9s) that each exhibit some tilt but have solid all-around centering.

Peter G.