Ot: $50k

[E93]

Am I the only one here who does not know what a refractor is?
JimB

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by E93

Am I the only one here who does not know what a refractor is?
JimB

Jim,

Beginning with a handful of Topps products released in the early 1990's, certain cards have been available which had a step added to the printing process that causes them to reflect light back to the observer and refract it (hence the name) into the various wavelengths of visible light. Think of a prism bending white light into a rainbow of colors.

In my opinion, it is tough to accurately capture the effect with a still photo. Two fairly common things I have seen which come close to replicating it are oil spots on asphalt and dish soap floating on water. Light reflects back to you; however, changes color depending on the angle from which you are viewing it. Diamond rings and crystals will also do similar things...tilt them one way and you eventually see red, tilt them in another direction and you eventually see violet. Along the way, you see all the colors in between. Tilt the “refractors” and you get the same results.

So, anyway...because the refractor cards are different, and produced in relatively smaller quantities; they tend to carry higher values. In a way, the collectors of modern material likely view these variations in a way similar to T206 collectors viewing the various backs available. I am not comparing the cards here...just floating an idea regarding the mindset that goes into paying extra money for the refractors. As for the $50,000 asking price for the particular refractor in question, I personally think the seller is being breathtakingly optimistic...at best.

Hope the explanation was adequate. Sorry if I wandered into the weeds a bit on the reply.

Best Regards,

Eric

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Jim,

Beginning with a handful of Topps products released in the early 1990's, certain cards have been available which had a step added to the printing process that causes them to reflect light back to the observer and refract it (hence the name) into the various wavelengths of visible light. Think of a prism bending white light into a rainbow of colors.

In my opinion, it is tough to accurately capture the effect with a still photo. Two fairly common things I have seen which come close to replicating it are oil spots on asphalt and dish soap floating on water. Light reflects back to you; however, changes color depending on the angle from which you are viewing it. Diamond rings and crystals will also do similar things...tilt them one way and you eventually see red, tilt them in another direction and you eventually see violet. Along the way, you see all the colors in between. Tilt the “refractors” and you get the same results.

So, anyway...because the refractor cards are different, and produced in relatively smaller quantities; they tend to carry higher values. In a way, the collectors of modern material likely view these variations in a way similar to T206 collectors viewing the various backs available. I am not comparing the cards here...just floating an idea regarding the mindset that goes into paying extra money for the refractors. As for the $50,000 asking price for the particular refractor in question, I personally think the seller is being breathtakingly optimistic...at best.

Hope the explanation was adequate. Sorry if I wandered into the weeds a bit on the reply.

Best Regards,

Eric

Jim wasn't the only one that didn't really know. Thanks for the explanation. It is a good one.

[esd10]

well i think its foolish to spend that type of scratch on a player who had one good year and it reminds me of stephen strasburg card that sold on ebay for over 100k. These are unproven players who had one good year and people pay crazy for whats hot right now on ebay and think its a investment and when these players fall flat on there faces and you now have a card worth $100 maybe they will have a sour taste in there mouth.

[rjackson44]

What about the other angel he's good too omg,,,,mark troumbo