96-97 Topps Chrome refractors all turn green eventually?

[Hdpooh34]

I kept all of mine in a safe. They were kept the same way for 17 years. I would look at them maybe once a month just to check on them. One day last year I noticed them all turning green. Some more than others but it was definitely there amongst all 5. Maybe I was just unlucky

[estebahn73]

Originally Posted by Hdpooh34

I kept all of mine in a safe. They were kept the same way for 17 years. I would look at them maybe once a month just to check on them. One day last year I noticed them all turning green. Some more than others but it was definitely there amongst all 5. Maybe I was just unlucky

Do you have pictures of your 5 refractors greening? I have never seen refractors greening before and I would like to see what that looks like

[Andy5]

Originally Posted by estebahn73

Do you have pictures of your 5 refractors greening? I have never seen refractors greening before and I would like to see what that looks like

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...cAAOSw9hdaBgQF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...0AAOSw-FZXj8fu

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...gAAOSwcRNZp6A6

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-97-TOP...cAAOSwmQBZi2sF

[estebahn73]

That's interesting. Your third one seems to still have that vibrant colors but your first one looks as if it caught ebola. It looks very sick. I thought it was just your camera but I guess not.

Originally Posted by Andy5

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...cAAOSw9hdaBgQF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...0AAOSw-FZXj8fu

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...gAAOSwcRNZp6A6

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-97-TOP...cAAOSwmQBZi2sF

[Andy5]

Originally Posted by estebahn73

That's interesting. Your third one seems to still have that vibrant colors but your first one looks as if it caught ebola. It looks very sick. I thought it was just your camera but I guess not.

haha, not mine man, just pointing out some examples of the greening.

[Hdpooh34]

Originally Posted by estebahn73

Do you have pictures of your 5 refractors greening? I have never seen refractors greening before and I would like to see what that looks like

No i sold them last year after they turned green to a dealer. Sold them for a pretty big loss compared to going rates for non-green ones but it is what it is. There are several examples online on these forums or on eBay. These all seem to have the same greening effect

[Starman101]

Originally Posted by Andy5

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...cAAOSw9hdaBgQF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...0AAOSw-FZXj8fu

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-KOBE-B...gAAOSwcRNZp6A6

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-97-TOP...cAAOSwmQBZi2sF

The most interesting thing is that 3 of these 4 are in older BGS slabs (older BGS serial numbers) with high surface grades indicating they WERE NOT GREEN WHEN BGS GRADED THEM

This would imply the cards turned green WHILE in BGS slabs and that the BGS slabs DID NOT PREVENT ANY OF THE 3 refractors from actually turning green

Hypothesis: After these 3 were slabbed they were....

1) still left in a humid storage environment?
2) possibly greened from sun damage while being displayed?
3) the penny sleeve used by BGS itself caused the greening?

I would think it has to be 1 of these 3 causes for all 3 I would think....

The greening on the top example is so extreme (with a BGS 9.5 surface when graded), leading me to believe the severe greening on that refractor was likely caused from sun damage while being displayed

If we can pinpoint the causes of greening on these cards, it will help ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE

Any thoughts anyone on solving this riddle????

[daxwills]

Originally Posted by Starman101

The most interesting thing is that 3 of these 4 are in older BGS slabs (older BGS serial numbers) with high surface grades indicating they WERE NOT GREEN WHEN BGS GRADED THEM

This would imply the cards turned green WHILE in BGS slabs and that the BGS slabs DID NOT PREVENT ANY OF THE 3 refractors from actually turning green

Hypothesis: After these 3 were slabbed they were....

1) still left in a humid storage environment?
2) possibly greened from sun damage while being displayed?
3) the penny sleeve used by BGS itself caused the greening?

I would think it has to be 1 of these 3 causes for all 3 I would think....

The greening on the top example is so extreme (with a BGS 9.5 surface when graded), leading me to believe the severe greening on that refractor was likely caused from sun damage while being displayed

If we can pinpoint the causes of greening on these cards, it will help ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE

Any thoughts anyone on solving this riddle????

Yeah but it’s going to be a pain in the butt. Get a control group, say 5 copies in regular and refractor variants. Then get 5 more copies of for every variant you want to try. Psa graded, bgs graded, regular card holders. Then leave the 5 control copies like you would any cards. To up the humidity, toss them in a cigar humidor, to decrease put them on top of a dehumidifier, put some on the dash of your car, then whatever else we think and you have a semi-scientific approach to determining greening of chrome cards. Thoughts?

[ThoseBackPages]

it ain't easy being green

[27426]

Originally Posted by TheVolta

Isn't Seattle one of the most humid places in the country?

I'm from Seattle but I live in Virginia now. A lot of my friends from the east coast think Seattle is humid because it's near the water, but it's not really humid. When I lived in Seattle, I lived without an AC unit and I was perfectly fine. They have one of the best summers.

[Starman101]

I stand corrected on the 0004 Kobe Refractor with a 9 surface grade. That card is not too badly greened hence the 9 surface grade, so it probably was that color when originally graded with minimal greening since

[Starman101]

Originally Posted by AlabamaSlamma

Amen.

I keep all of my cards in a small safe with at least a half dozen moisture eater packets scattered throughout. Fingers crossed, but so far, so good.

Moisture eater packs is a great idea

Whatever you are doing is working

Beautiful, clean Kobe

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by Starman101

The most interesting thing is that 3 of these 4 are in older BGS slabs (older BGS serial numbers) with high surface grades indicating they WERE NOT GREEN WHEN BGS GRADED THEM

This would imply the cards turned green WHILE in BGS slabs and that the BGS slabs DID NOT PREVENT ANY OF THE 3 refractors from actually turning green

Hypothesis: After these 3 were slabbed they were....

1) still left in a humid storage environment?
2) possibly greened from sun damage while being displayed?
3) the penny sleeve used by BGS itself caused the greening?

I would think it has to be 1 of these 3 causes for all 3 I would think....

The greening on the top example is so extreme (with a BGS 9.5 surface when graded), leading me to believe the severe greening on that refractor was likely caused from sun damage while being displayed

If we can pinpoint the causes of greening on these cards, it will help ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE

Any thoughts anyone on solving this riddle????

Gamma radiation

[StevenTormollan]

These were some of the first Topps Chrome cards ever made. They're over 20 years old at this point. Topps didn't know exactly how they would hold up with the technology they made them with at the time. Knew they looked great at the point of production.

Topps probably doesn't really even care that much how the cards hold up 20 years down the line. Thats the collectors problem.

Which totally sucks, but is probably true. Their bottom line is what matters.

Of course they want their cards technologies to stand the test of time, but they can't be certain and will keep pushing the bar when producing new cards and new products.

[daxwills]

Originally Posted by StevenTormollan

These were some of the first Topps Chrome cards ever made. They're over 20 years old at this point. Topps didn't know exactly how they would hold up with the technology they made them with at the time. Knew they looked great at the point of production.

Topps probably doesn't really even care that much how the cards hold up 20 years down the line. Thats the collectors problem.

Which totally sucks, but is probably true. Their bottom line is what matters.

Of course they want their cards technologies to stand the test of time, but they can't be certain and will keep pushing the bar when producing new cards and new products.

This is reminding me of current foil magic the gathering cards. Once removed from packs the cards will curl all by themselves in a short amount of time. They changed something about the foiling process and it’s caused issues. Whoops?

[RogerGodahell]

Why is the statue of liberty green?

[Hdpooh34]

Originally Posted by Starman101

Moisture eater packs is a great idea

Whatever you are doing is working

Beautiful, clean Kobe

Mine looked the exact same for 17 years...beautiful surface, no sign of greening at all. Kept in safe at all times, only pulled them out once a month to check on surfaces, used gloves at all times while handling. Year 18, started greening in random spots, mild...a few months later, green all over entire surface. Sickening...one of the worst days of my life

[wonderful]

Originally Posted by Hdpooh34

I kept all of mine in a safe. They were kept the same way for 17 years. I would look at them maybe once a month just to check on them. One day last year I noticed them all turning green. Some more than others but it was definitely there amongst all 5. Maybe I was just unlucky

Never in a safe. Ask coin collectors. I had stamps in a safe and one year, separated and stuck to cardboard.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

[mondogenerator]

was it just the refractor tech or are standard cards also going green a bit too?

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by mondogenerator

was it just the refractor tech or are standard cards also going green a bit too?

both will be turning green

[daxwills]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

both will be turning green

See now you make me question wanting topps chrome rc’s... you might also be saving me money... I’m conflicted on my feelings about you.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by daxwills

See now you make me question wanting topps chrome rc’s... you might also be saving me money... I’m conflicted on my feelings about you.

green or not, it's Kobes best RC

i hear ya, but i wouldnt let it stop me from COLLECTING

[gr8t143]

I love mine greening or not

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[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by gr8t143

I love mine greening or not

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looks great! wish i would have gone after refractors!

[RedMikeC]

Any history of this happening to any other cards?