On paper, a CGC Pristine 10 to PSA 10 crossover is the easiest one there is: CGC’s Pristine 10 requires 50/50 centering, while PSA’s 10 allows up to about 55/45. On every one of the nine cards we checked, the Pristine slice of CGC’s population ranks inside PSA’s 10 share. The real question is the label you give up. In one Goldin auction on 8/09/26 an Obsidian Flames Charizard ex sold for $610 as a CGC Pristine 10 and $1,220 as a PSA 10; on CGC’s own ladder, Pristine 10s of one Japanese card sold above Gem Mint 10s. Neither PSA nor CGC releases figures on how often crossovers succeed, so every odds figure on this page is our own estimate, labelled as one.
As of October 23, 2026: PSA’s scale tops out at 10 with no Pristine tier, so a crossed Pristine becomes a plain PSA 10. PSA charges the full fee even if the card is returned below your minimum grade.
What a CGC Pristine 10 is
CGC introduced Pristine 10 as the top of its merged scale in 2023: “CGC Cards uses an industry-standard 10-point grading scale topped by a Gem Mint 10 and, for the best of the best, a Pristine 10.” The definition is short and strict: “A Pristine 10 is a virtually flawless card to the naked eye. The centering is 50/50”. CGC also describes the label as being for cards “flawless under 10-times magnification”.
There is also an older label above it in the population report. Perfect 10 is no longer assigned. CGC’s grading scale page lists it as a “Retired grade; retains Perfect 10 status”, while its 2023 launch notice said “Cards graded Perfect 10 will be reholdered to Pristine 10.” Our population counts below add the few Perfect 10s to the Pristine figures, since both sit above Gem Mint 10.
Gem Mint 10, one step down, is a 10 that misses at least one Pristine requirement and has the same 55/45 centering ceiling as PSA’s 10. That grade has its own page: CGC Gem Mint 10 to PSA 10.
50/50 against 55/45: the top labels compared
Every other major grader puts a Pristine label at the top of its scale; PSA does not. Here is what each top label asks for on front centering, from the companies’ own scale pages.
| Grader | Top label | Front centering for that label | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC | Pristine 10 | 50/50 | read October 23, 2026 |
| Beckett (BGS) | Pristine 10 | 50/50 all around | Wayback copy, May 2026 |
| SGC | 10 Pristine | 50/50 | read October 23, 2026 |
| TAG | Pristine 10 | no worse than 51/49 | read October 23, 2026 |
| PSA | Gem Mint 10 (no higher grade) | about 55/45, back 75/25 | read October 23, 2026 |
A Pristine 10 has therefore cleared a centering bar that PSA does not set. PSA’s standards even allow a little give at its own limit, “At the grader’s sole discretion”, for strong eye appeal. Centering is not where a Pristine fails at PSA. Our centering guide explains how the ratios are measured.
How CGC Pristine 10 to PSA 10 looks in the population reports
The test is simple for this grade. If the share of CGC’s numeric slabs graded Pristine (or Perfect) is smaller than the share of PSA’s numeric slabs graded 10, the whole Pristine slice ranks inside PSA’s 10s. We read CGC’s numbers on October 23, 2026. PSA’s came from Wayback Machine copies of its price pages, the oldest from April 2025 and the newest from March 2026.
| Card | CGC Perfect + Pristine 10s | Share of CGC numeric slabs | PSA 10 share of numeric slabs | Pristine slice vs PSA 10 share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX (215/203) | 457 | 14.6% | 72.5% | entirely inside |
| Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat (SVP #085) | 799 | 10.7% | 44.9% | entirely inside |
| 151 Charizard ex (199/165) | 236 | 3.8% | 32.9% | entirely inside |
| Eevee Heroes Umbreon VMAX (095/069) | 79 | 32.6% | 87.0% | entirely inside |
| Japanese Base Set Charizard (1996) | 20 | 0.6% | 6.0% | entirely inside |
| Base Set Charizard, Unlimited | 12 | 0.1% | 0.5% | entirely inside |
| Base Set Mewtwo, Unlimited | 5 | 0.1% | 2.6% | entirely inside |
| Base Set Blastoise, 1st Edition | 2 | 0.4% | 2.8% | entirely inside |
| Base Set Venusaur, 1st Edition | 1 | 0.2% | 4.4% | entirely inside |
The modern cards hold the big Pristine counts: 799 on the Van Gogh Pikachu and 457 on the Evolving Skies Umbreon (422 Pristine plus 35 Perfect). Vintage Pristines are a handful, 11 on Unlimited Charizard out of 14,977 total slabs. In every row the Pristine share is well under PSA’s 10 share, often by several times.
Our estimate, and why PSA can still say 9
Our estimate, labelled as one: by population rank, a CGC Pristine 10 lines up with a PSA 10 on all nine cards we tested, which makes it the strongest crossover candidate in CGC’s range. That is not a promise, and it should not be read as one. What can still go wrong:
- Two graders, two looks. PSA’s 10 forbids “staining of any kind” and judges surface and edges by its own eye. A holo scratch one grader calls invisible another may see under a different light.
- Rank is a population fact, not a grade. The table says where Pristines sit among CGC’s slabs; PSA grades the single card in front of it.
- Judged through plastic. PSA’s page says the card is removed from its holder only once PSA decides it meets your minimum, so the first look happens through CGC’s case.
- Different pools. Who sends what to which grader is not measured, and the PSA snapshots are older than the CGC count.
Pre-screening helps here less than for lower grades, because a Pristine has already been pre-screened by CGC’s own top label.
The price question: what the Pristine label is worth
Crossing a Pristine swaps CGC’s top label for PSA’s ordinary top grade. Whether that is an upgrade depends on how buyers price each slab on your card, and the Goldin sales we have point both ways. Goldin’s 22% buyer’s premium (minimum $19) is already in each price, and each line is a single sale.
| Auction end | Card | Holder and grade | Goldin price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/09/26 | Obsidian Flames Charizard ex SIR #223 | CGC Pristine 10 | $610 |
| 8/09/26 | Obsidian Flames Charizard ex SIR #223 | PSA 10 (one bid) | $1,220 |
| 8/03/26 | Obsidian Flames Charizard ex SIR #223 | PSA 9 | $214 |
| 6/21/26 | Mega Charizard X ex #223, Japanese Mega Dream ex | CGC Pristine 10, two lots | $149 and $171 |
| 9/27/26 | Mega Charizard X ex #223, Japanese Mega Dream ex | CGC Gem Mint 10 | $94 |
On the Obsidian Flames card the PSA 10 brought double the CGC Pristine 10 the same evening, though the PSA lot drew a single bid, which makes it a thin data point. The same card as a PSA 9 sold for $214, so a PSA 10 there stood $1,006 above a PSA 9. On the Japanese Mega Charizard X, buyers paid more for CGC’s Pristine label than for its Gem Mint 10, but we have no PSA sale of that card to compare. Nothing published says how a Pristine compares with a PSA 10 across the market, so check recent sales for your exact card before deciding.
Fees, minimum grade and the break-even
PSA’s rule is the same for every crossover. You set a minimum, and “If your item doesn’t meet the minimum grade, it is returned to you in the original holder.” The grading price is charged regardless. For a Pristine the only minimum that makes sense is 10: PSA has nothing above it, and anything below it would trade CGC’s top label for a lower grade.
The tier follows the card’s value. A card worth about $1,220 as a PSA 10 is above Standard’s $1,000 Max Insured Value, so it belongs in Priority at $79.99; PSA’s FAQ says it moves items up a level when the graded value exceeds the tier’s limit. Using the Obsidian Flames pair as our worked example:
| Step | Figure |
|---|---|
| CGC Pristine 10 sale (what you keep if PSA says no) | $610 |
| PSA 10 sale | $1,220 |
| Gain if it crosses | $610 |
| PSA Priority fee, read October 23, 2026 | $79.99 |
| Chance needed to break even (fee divided by gain) | 13.1% |
That excludes shipping both ways, insurance and selling fees, and it rests on one sale of each slab. Against a population picture that puts the Pristine slice wholly inside PSA’s 10s, a 13.1% hurdle is low. On a card where the Pristine label already sells above a PSA 10, the gain is negative and there is no hurdle to clear. How the crossover order itself works, step by step, is in our PSA crossover service explainer.
Reasons to cross a Pristine, and reasons to keep it
Because the grading risk is low, the decision on a CGC Pristine 10 to PSA 10 crossover is mostly about the market for your card. Reasons a collector might send one to PSA:
- Recent sales of your exact card show PSA 10s clearly above CGC Pristine 10s, as on the Obsidian Flames pair above.
- You want every card in a run or set in one company’s holders, for display or for selling as a group.
- Buyers for your card search mostly by PSA grade, so a PSA 10 is easier to sell quickly even at a similar price.
Reasons to leave it in the CGC slab:
- On your card, Pristine sells above CGC Gem Mint 10 and near or above PSA 10, as CGC’s own ladder did on the Japanese Mega Charizard X.
- The fee is large next to the price gap. On cards worth a few hundred dollars, a $59.99 or $79.99 fee plus shipping can take most of the gain.
- The 50/50 centering is itself the selling point. A PSA 10 label cannot tell a buyer that the card was perfectly centered; the Pristine label does.
None of these is a reason on its own. Check a handful of recent sales in both holders for the exact card number and print before deciding.
Other top labels heading to PSA
The same logic applies to other graders’ Pristine labels with one difference: who will take the slab. TAG says it does not crack other graders’ slabs for orders, and a TAG Pristine heading to PSA has its own page, TAG 10 to PSA 10. Beckett’s Pristine 10 and SGC’s 10 Pristine share CGC’s 50/50 front requirement. Side-by-side scales for all five graders are in CGC vs PSA grading scale, and every pair is indexed from the crossover grading hub, which also lists each grader’s fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a CGC Pristine 10 cross over to a PSA 10?
Not guaranteed. Neither company publishes crossover rates. On nine cards we checked, the Pristine slice of CGC’s population always ranked inside PSA’s 10 share, which makes it the strongest CGC grade to try, but PSA grades each card on its own.
Is a CGC Pristine 10 better than a PSA 10?
On centering, yes: CGC requires 50/50 for Pristine and PSA allows about 55/45 for a 10. In price, it depends on the card. One Goldin auction sold an Obsidian Flames Charizard ex for $610 as a CGC Pristine 10 and $1,220 as a PSA 10.
What minimum grade should I set for a CGC Pristine 10?
Ten. Anything lower risks swapping the top CGC label for a PSA 9, while a 10 minimum means the worst case is the fee and a return trip in the original Pristine slab.
Does PSA have a Pristine grade?
No. PSA’s highest grade is Gem Mint 10. CGC, Beckett, SGC and TAG all put a Pristine label at the top of their scales.
What is a CGC Perfect 10?
A retired CGC grade that ranked above Pristine. CGC no longer assigns it; its scale page says Perfect 10 slabs keep their status, and its 2023 launch notice said Perfect 10 cards sent for reholder go into Pristine 10 holders.
How much does PSA charge to cross a Pristine 10?
Whatever PSA tier matches the graded card’s worth, billed even when it does not cross. On October 23, 2026 the cheapest tier taking orders was Standard ($59.99, insurance cap $1,000).
Sources
- CGC Cards Grading Scale — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards launch (services and grading scale) — CGC Cards, 2023, read October 23, 2026
- PSA Grading Standards — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- Beckett Grading Scale — Beckett, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of May 3, 2026
- SGC Grading Scale — SGC, read October 23, 2026
- How do I get a Pristine 10 grade? — TAG Grading, read October 23, 2026
- TAG Grading Scale — TAG Grading, read October 23, 2026
- Does TAG offer a crossover regrading service for other third-party slabs? — TAG Grading, March 31, 2026, read October 23, 2026
- Crossover Service — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- Trading Card Grading: service levels and prices — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- PSA FAQ — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- About Goldin (buyer’s premium table) — Goldin, read October 23, 2026
- 2023 Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames SIR #223 Charizard ex – CGC PRISTINE 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 8/09/26, read October 23, 2026
- 2023 Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames SIR #223 Charizard ex – PSA GEM MT 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 8/09/26, read October 23, 2026
- 2023 Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames Special Illustration Rare #223 Charizard ex – PSA MINT 9 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 8/03/26, read October 23, 2026
- 2025 Pokemon Japanese Mega Evolution Mega Dream ex Mega Attack Rare #223 Mega Charizard X ex – CGC PRISTINE 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 6/21/26, read October 23, 2026
- 2025 Pokemon Japanese Mega Evolution Mega Dream ex Mega Attack Rare #223 Mega Charizard X ex – CGC PRISTINE 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 6/21/26, read October 23, 2026
- 2025 Pokemon Japanese Mega Evolution Mega Dream ex Mega Attack Rare #223 Mega Charizard X ex – CGC GEM MINT 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 9/27/26, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Base Set Unlimited — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Base Set 1st Edition — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Evolving Skies — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Scarlet & Violet 151 — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Japanese Base Set — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Eevee Heroes — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- 1999 Pokemon Game Charizard-Holo #4 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of March 2, 2026
- 1999 Nintendo Pokemon Game Mewtwo-Holo #10 (CardFacts) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 9, 2025
- 1999 Pokemon Game 1st Edition Blastoise-Holo (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of October 21, 2025
- 1999 Nintendo Pokemon Game Venusaur-Holo 1st Edition (CardFacts) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of July 6, 2025
- 2021 Pokemon Evolving Skies Full Art Umbreon VMAX #215 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 26, 2025
- 2023 Pokemon 151 Charizard ex #199 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of April 7, 2025
- 2023 Pokemon SVP Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat #085 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of January 25, 2026
- 1996 Pokemon Japanese Basic Charizard-Holo #6 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 20, 2025
- 2021 Pokemon Japanese Eevee Heroes Full Art Umbreon VMAX #095 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of July 17, 2025
No grading company publishes crossover pass rates. Any crossover odds on this page are Pokemon Pricing’s estimate, labelled as one, built from the published grading standards and population reports on the dates shown. Fees, populations and sale prices change; check the grading company’s current price list before submitting. This article is collector information, not investment advice. Pokémon and all card names are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc.; Pokemon Pricing is not affiliated with them or with any grading company.