Welcome to our Pokemon Card Grading service!

​​​​​​​Below you will find the comprehensive summary of the services we provide and how we maintain elite standards of practice in line with the best the industry has to offer.

​

Take a few moments to read through our services summary that explains all aspects of what to expect. 

​

Preparing your cards for submission 

• Once you have selected a service we would like you to prepare your cards for submission, this will require you to take clear, unfiltered photos of each individual card both front and back, photos must be clear and should you be aware of any imperfections these should be close up photographed/highlighted.

• Once photographed we ask that you place each card individually into a penny sleeve (one card per sleeve) and then placed in a nine card binder page (we can provide all of the items you require and will calculate the price accordingly). 

• Now that all of your cards are safe and ready, you will need to make a video showing each of the cards.

• If any of these steps pose a problem we are able to assist you in the preparation of your cards.

Card Handover

• Payment for your grading service will need to be made prior to handover, this is in order to protect all parties but also ensures you have as little as possible time spent carrying your valuable and much loved collection in public or away from the safety of their home. in order to provide the level of security that we do, our overheads begin the moment we accept your submission as such we do require payment to be made, we know you wont be disappointed in the finished product and we are able to negotiate a format that suits individuals case by case. 

• You will at this point be provided our terms and conditions service user agreement to read and complete the appropriate parts of the form itemising your order and any fine details, we will cross reference the submissions with all of the corresponding paperwork and let you know once this has been completed (time frame dependant on the package you have selected). 

• Once the cards are with our graders in a secure location the grading process will begin, we will be in contact with you regularly during this time as you will need to approve designs on some packages we offer amongst various other elements of our tier one service. 

• For security of your cards we do not publish specifics of our handover process to reduce any potential thefts. we also rotate our handover protocol and will provide all the relevant information required and answer any questions once we have confirmed your booking. we offer both in person handover (secure) and via delivery this will also be explained fully with your assigned member of the team who will be your first point of contact throughout the service. we aim to have all cards booked for grading in our possession within 48 hours of confirmation. 

Artwork, Slabs and Banners

• Your selected package will decide specifically what you will receive, however all of our custom artwork is approved by you before completion and return of the graded cards. Once graded each card will have a unique QR code that pulls up the corresponding cards grading details, this includes certificate of authenticity (digital) and the grading paperwork completed by each of our graders and any other relevant information about your card, this service is included as part of the independent peer grading service we offer and ensures total confidence in your graded cards.

How your cards are graded

• All cards that we grade are assessed and examined to the highest industry standards by experienced and knowledgeable members of the Crown Team. Our criteria for grading is as follows: 

 

We set the standards as high as possible to make sure that your card gets the grading it deserves. This also guarantees that you, as a now graded card holder have the best results possible in every aspect.

 

At Crown we check specific things to certify the grading of each individual card. You should expect the surface, edges, corners, centring and other factors all to be checked and considered when grading to the highest of standards. Below is how we at Crown do this.

​

Surface:

• Imperfections – We look for scratches, scruffs, indents and any other marks that could affect the cards grading.

• Consistency – We check to make sure the consistency is the same throughout, identifying things such as dull spots, variations in gloss and so on.

• Magnification – We check the card under magnification to spot imperfections that may or may not be visible to the naked eye.

​Edges and Corners:

• Whitening and Fraying – We make sure to check the edges for any whitening, fraying or chipping.

• Edge Wear – We specifically identify irregularities in the edges of the cards by checking them under a shining light.

• Rounded Corners – We examine the corners for any rounding or softening to make sure we take wear into consideration.

Centring:

• Precise Measurements – We use a ruler or centring tool to determine the size of the borders and asses the degree of centring making sure we have the precise measurements as this will drastically affect the cards grade.

• Symmetry – We make sure to check the cards image and to be certain that it’s aligned within its borders on all four sides giving it the respected grading it deserves.

Other Factors:

• Print Lines – We make sure to notice any print lines and defects that could affect the cards final grade.

• Creases and Wrinkles – We inspect the card thoroughly for any creases, wrinkles and bending marks that could significantly impact the final grade.

• Stains or Discoloration – We make sure to identify fading, discolour or any stains that could lower the cards overall grading.

​