Diamond Service Grading (DSG) Grading Review (2025): Pricing, Turnaround, Slab, Trust, and Resale
DSG (Diamond Service Grading) explained for collectors: pricing, turnaround times, grading scale details, slab features, verification tools, and how the market treats DSG slabs vs mainstream graders.
Diamond Service Grading (DSG): Complete Guide
In trading cards, DSG most commonly refers to Diamond Service Grading, a US-based grading and authentication company operating at dsggrading.com (DSG official site). “DSG” can also refer to unrelated acronyms (for example Direct-Shift Gearbox in the automotive world), but those meanings do not match the card-grading services, grading scale, and submission flow published on dsggrading.com (Submit cards, Grading scale).
Quick facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name + official website | Diamond Service Grading (DSG): dsggrading.com (DSG official site) |
| Founded (year) + founders (if known) | Founded in 2021 (as stated by DSG). Founder(s) are Unknown from primary sources reviewed; the site publishes a named president: Michael Joseph Clarke (About DSG). |
| Headquarters + operating countries | United States focus. DSG lists shipping addresses in Rohnert Park, California and uses USPS for domestic shipments (with signature confirmation) (Submission guide, FAQ). |
| Ownership / parent company (if any) | Unknown (no parent company or ownership disclosure was found on the official pages verified for this write-up) (About DSG, Service terms). |
| What they grade (sports, TCG, non-sports, memorabilia) | DSG publishes grading criteria for sports cards and for TCG & non-sports cards, and its submission page lists services for those categories (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale, Submit cards). |
| Grading scale + top grade label | DSG publishes a 10-point scale and includes a top designation “Flawless Diamond 10” plus “Gem Mint 10” definitions with centering tolerances (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale). |
| Subgrades (Y/N) + how many categories | Yes: DSG’s grade report is described as 32 sub-grades across corners/surface/edges across 8 zones (delivered digitally) (Grade report, Submit cards). |
| Pop report (Y/N) + link | Yes (tool exists): DSG hosts a population report page with a search UI (DSG population report). |
| Registry (Y/N) + link | Unknown (no public registry product was found on official pages verified for this write-up) (DSG official site, FAQ). |
| Certification verification / lookup (Y/N) + link | Yes: “Card ID Search” tool for verifying DSG certification by Card ID number (Card ID search). |
| Notable differentiator (1 sentence) | DSG’s main product differentiator is a published rubric (including centering tolerances) paired with a digital report (32 sub-grades + imaging) and a flat-fee, no-upcharge policy (Sports grading scale, Grade report, FAQ (no upcharges)). |
Where Diamond Service Grading fits in the grading market
DSG is a newer grading company (founded 2021 per DSG) and should be evaluated differently than long-established incumbents: the product is built around transparency (published grading criteria and a detailed report), but market acceptance depends on how many buyers recognize the slab and trust the grading consistency (About DSG, Grade report, Sports grading scale).
Practical collector takeaway:
- If you grade mainly to sell: expect more buyer questions and potentially a bigger “trust discount” versus mainstream slabs; this theme shows up repeatedly in community discussions where buyers ask whether DSG is “legit” and compare it against more widely known graders (PokeInvesting thread, pokemoncards thread).
- If you grade mainly to keep: DSG’s published centering tolerances and digital defect breakdown can be a strong fit, because it gives you more detail than a plain label grade (Sports grading scale, Grade report).
Services offered
DSG’s official “Submit cards” page lists these service categories and features (prices and TATs shown are as of last_verified) (Submit cards):
- Card grading tiers: Standard, Express, Expedited (Submit cards).
- Authentication-only: “Authentication (No Grade)” (authenticity check only, no final number grade) (Submit cards).
- Reholder / reslab: “Reslab” service (convert older DSG labels to a new label; no grading performed) (Submit cards).
- Special categories: “Vintage” (cards 1887–1975) and “Oversized / Undersized” (size/thickness rules) (Submit cards).
- Dealer/partner program: dealer program entry point is published (details vary by application) (Dealer program).
- On-site grading: DSG markets a mobile/on-site grading unit with time-based turnaround options (Mobile grading unit).
Grading scale and standards (deep dive)
DSG publishes separate grading-scale pages for sports and for TCG & non-sports, both using a 10-point scale with centering tolerances and grade descriptions (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
The scale (what “10” means at DSG)
DSG publishes two “10” labels:
- Flawless Diamond 10: described as “a truly perfect card” with 50/50 front centering, 52/48 or better back centering, and no visible flaws (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
- Gem Mint 10: described with looser centering thresholds than “Flawless Diamond 10” (different back tolerances depending on sports vs TCG/non-sports) plus “four sharp corners” and no visible wear (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
DSG also publishes a note about centering impact:
- “The maximum amount that centering can reduce a card’s grade is 2 points.” (Sports grading scale, Grading scale overview).
Corners / edges / surface (published definitions)
DSG’s scale pages include narrative definitions for condition categories (corners, edges, surface) at each grade level. For example, at Mint 9, DSG allows “one very slight hit to a corner or two very minor flaws to the surface or edges” and mentions printer marks as an example (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
Human vs hybrid vs tech-first (what DSG claims)
DSG positions itself around transparency (published criteria + report). The company describes a “proprietary grade report” and does not clearly publish a “fully automated” or “AI-only” process claim on the pages verified here, so the safest characterization is human grading with a digital reporting layer (Unverified beyond what is explicitly written on the grade-report pages) (Grade report, Service terms).
How to interpret the label (example)
DSG’s verification flow is built around a Card ID and a digital report. A practical interpretation pattern:
- Example: “DSG Gem Mint 10” on a Pokémon card means the card met DSG’s published Gem Mint centering tolerance for TCG/non-sports plus the condition expectations stated on their scale page; the digital report is accessed via the Card ID lookup workflow (TCG & non-sports grading scale, Card ID search, Grade report).
Slab, label, and security features
DSG emphasizes polycarbonate and UV protection:
- Material: “All are UV protected & 25x stronger polycarbonate” (as stated on their encapsulation page) (Card encapsulation).
- Sizing options: DSG states it offers “non-standard sized encapsulations and frames” for certain items (useful if you grade items outside standard 35pt dimensions) (Card encapsulation, Submit cards (oversized/undersized rules)).
- Label changes: DSG states it introduced a “New Standardized Label” in May 2023 as part of a rebrand roadmap (About DSG roadmap).
Anti-counterfeit/security features:
- Verification mechanism: DSG verification is implemented through a Card ID lookup tool tied to the company database (not a publicly described hologram/NFC system on the pages verified here) (Card ID search, Grade report).
- Other slab security features: Unknown (no NFC/QR/hologram/tamper-weld description was found on the official pages verified here beyond the verification tools and polycarbonate/UV claims) (Card encapsulation, Service terms).
Verification and data tools
Cert lookup workflow (step-by-step)
DSG’s public-facing verification workflow is:
- Go to the Card ID Search page (Card ID search).
- Enter the Card ID Number from the slab label (“Verify validity of your DSG Card Certification by entering the Card ID Number”) (Card ID search).
- Review the returned record/report (what fields appear may vary) (Card ID search, Grade report).
Pop report limitations
DSG hosts a population report page with search UI, but the public page does not clearly document dataset completeness, update frequency, or the exact query semantics. Treat it as a useful discovery tool, not a definitive market-wide pop report (Unverified details) (DSG population report, FAQ).
Registry mechanics
Unknown (no official public registry documentation was found on the verified pages) (DSG official site, FAQ).
Grader notes / reports
DSG’s core product claim is a digital grade report with “32 sub-grades” and imaging; this functions similarly to grader notes/reporting even if the slab itself only shows an overall grade (label details are Unverified) (Grade report, Submit cards).
Pricing and turnaround (how it works, not just numbers)
DSG publishes a flat-fee pricing model with no declared-value upcharges:
- No upcharges: DSG explicitly says it does not issue upcharges based on card value (“We do not nor would we ever issue an upcharge…”) (FAQ).
- Declared value still required for insurance purposes: DSG states it requires a declared value for each card “for insurance purposes” and tells users to reference pricing guides/sold listings (example: eBay solds) (FAQ).
- Shipping: DSG states it ships domestic orders with USPS and requires signature confirmation; shipping is fee-banded by order size (Submission guide, Submit cards).
Current prices (as listed on the official submission page)
Prices and stated turnaround times below are from DSG’s official “Submit cards” page as of last_verified (Submit cards).
| Tier | Price (per card) | Stated TAT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Grading | $15.00 | 10 business days | Includes digital 32-subgrade report + HD imaging + polycarbonate encapsulation (Submit cards, Standard product page) |
| Express | $35.00 | 3 business days | Same core inclusions (Submit cards, Express product page) |
| Expedited | $50.00 | 1 business day (submit page) | DSG has conflicting official statements: submit page lists 1 business day, while the expedited product page states “Orders delivered in 3 business days” (conflict) (Submit cards, Expedited product page) |
| Authentication (No Grade) | $15.00 | 10 business days | Authenticity check only, no final number grade (Submit cards, Authentication product page) |
| Vintage (1887–1975) | $15.00 | 10 business days | Category rules published (Submit cards) |
| Oversized / Undersized | $15.00 | 10 business days | Oversized/undersized dimensional rules published (Submit cards) |
| Reslab | $10.00 | 10 business days | “Convert older DSG labels into our new label; no grading performed” (Submit cards) |
Shipping and insurance expectations
- Domestic shipping: DSG says it uses USPS for domestic shipments and requires signature confirmation (Submission guide, Submit cards).
- Return shipping fees: DSG publishes a tiered shipping fee table by number of cards (example: 1–10 cards: $15; 11–25: $25; 26–50: $35; 51–100: $45; etc.) (Submit cards).
- Optional insurance: DSG product pages list add-on “coverage” options (insurance) tied to declared value ranges (example: coverage up to $500, $1,000, etc.) (Standard product page, FAQ (declared value)).
Submission experience
DSG’s official submission flow uses an account + checkout model (card-entry fields are “optional” per submission page) (Submit cards, Submission guide).
Step-by-step (high level):
- Create a DSG account (Submission guide).
- Choose a service tier and check out; card information entry is optional on the product page (Submit cards).
- Package cards using DSG’s packaging process (inspect, sleeve, rigid holder, cardboard protection by batches of 10, rubber bands) (Submission guide).
- Ship to DSG using the published addresses and your chosen carrier (USPS PO Box; UPS/FedEx street address) (Submission guide).
Common pitfalls collectors report across the hobby (not unique to DSG):
- Under-protecting cards in transit; DSG explicitly instructs rigid holders + cardboard protectors + padding (Submission guide).
Resale liquidity: what happens on the secondary market
DSG slabs can be harder to sell quickly than mainstream slabs because many buyers have to learn the brand first. In collector communities, the most common resale/liquidity friction is simply buyer recognition (“is it legit?”) rather than a specific documented defect in the grading scale itself (PokeInvesting thread, pokemoncards thread).
Typical buyer objections you should anticipate:
- “I don’t recognize this company; I only buy PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC.” (community-reported pattern) (PokeInvesting thread).
- “How do I verify this cert?” (solved by supplying the Card ID lookup link) (Card ID search).
How sellers overcome it:
- Include a screenshot or link to the Card ID verification result in your listing, and highlight the published scale definitions for the grade tier (especially if you’re selling a “10” outcome) (Card ID search, Sports grading scale).
Public opinion: Reddit, X, and hobby communities
This section synthesizes recurring community themes from public posts. It is not an endorsement or condemnation; it’s a “what buyers say repeatedly” summary.
Recurring positive themes (5–10)
- Transparency: collectors like seeing a detailed breakdown beyond a single number grade (DSG markets “32 sub-grades”) (Grade report, YouTube: DSG grading review).
- Published rubric: centering thresholds and definitions are publicly posted (this is unusual among smaller graders) (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
- No upcharge policy: transparent pricing without value-based upcharges is a positive for budget-minded submitters (FAQ).
Recurring negative themes (5–10)
- “Is it legit?” trust friction: repeated threads ask whether DSG is legitimate and compare resale expectations to mainstream slabs (PokeInvesting thread, pokemoncards thread).
- Slab security concerns (anecdotal): some users claim DSG slabs are easy to open; this is not independently verified here and should be treated as a buyer-risk signal until corroborated (PokemonTCG thread).
- Authentication/grading trust concerns (anecdotal): at least one thread alleges DSG graded a fake card. This is a serious claim but is a community allegation, not a verified incident report from a reputable hobby outlet in this research pass (mtgfinance thread, Authentication (No Grade) service).
Most common misconceptions
- Misconception: “DSG doesn’t publish standards.” DSG does publish a grading-scale rubric with centering tolerances (Grading scale overview, Sports grading scale).
- Misconception: “You can’t verify a DSG cert.” DSG publishes a Card ID verification/search page (Card ID search).
Controversies, trust signals, and red flags
What was checked:
- DSG’s official published grading scale, submission flow, verification tool, and terms (Grading scale, Submit cards, Card ID search, Service terms).
- High-signal community reports for problems (counterfeits, slab tamperability) (mtgfinance thread, PokemonTCG thread).
Findings:
- Trust signal: DSG publishes centering tolerances and detailed grade definitions, which helps collectors audit the “why” behind a grade (Sports grading scale).
- Red flag (unverified allegation): an allegation that DSG graded a fake card (treat as a risk signal, not a proven incident in this research pass) (mtgfinance thread).
- Red flag (unverified anecdote): a claim that DSG slabs are easy to open (not independently tested here) (PokemonTCG thread).
Who should use Diamond Service Grading (and who shouldn’t)
Use DSG if:
- You want published centering tolerances and a public rubric you can reference when buying/selling (especially around 10 vs 9) (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
- You value digital reporting (32 sub-grades + imaging) to explain condition to yourself or to buyers (Grade report, Submit cards).
- You’re using on-site grading at events where shipping is the bottleneck (Mobile grading unit).
Avoid DSG if:
- Your goal is to sell quickly into the broadest buyer pool with the least buyer education (community sentiment frequently frames DSG as an “unknown slab” to many buyers) (PokeInvesting thread).
Comparison snapshot
This comparison is qualitative and oriented around collector decision-making. For DSG, the “transparency” advantage is sourced from published standards and a digital report; “market trust/liquidity” is sourced from recurring buyer-recognition questions in community threads.
| Grader | Market trust | Resale liquidity | Pricing posture | Turnaround posture | Transparency | Slab security | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSG | Low (newer brand) | Low | Flat-fee, no upcharges | Fast tiers exist | High (published rubric + report) | Mixed/Unknown | Collectors who want detailed report + published rubric |
| PSA | High (widely recognized) | High | Value-based tiers exist | Variable | Medium | Medium | Maximizing buyer recognition and liquidity |
| BGS | High | High | Premium tiers exist | Variable | Medium–High | Medium | Subgrades on label (brand positioning) |
| SGC | High (especially vintage segments) | High | Competitive | Often positioned as faster | Medium | Medium | Vintage + collectors who like SGC slab aesthetic |
| CGC Cards | Medium–High | Medium | Competitive | Variable | High (published scale + tools) | Medium | TCG and collectors who want published grading scale |
Rationale sources:
- DSG pricing/no-upcharge + transparency: FAQ, Sports grading scale, Grade report.
- DSG market-trust/liquidity friction: PokeInvesting thread, pokemoncards thread.
- PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC are included as common alternatives collectors compare against in grading discussions; consult each grader’s official sites for current service details: PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC Cards.
FAQs
- Is DSG a legitimate grading company?
- DSG operates a public submission portal and publishes grading criteria and a certification lookup tool; that verifies it is a real grading operation. Whether it is “worth it” depends on your resale goals and risk tolerance (Submit cards, Grading scale, Card ID search, PokeInvesting thread).
- How do I verify a DSG-graded card?
- Use DSG’s “Card ID Search” page and enter the Card ID number from the slab label (Card ID search).
- Does DSG have a population report?
- DSG hosts a population report page with search UI, but completeness/update details are not clearly documented on the public page (DSG population report).
- Does DSG have a set registry?
- Unknown: no registry documentation was found in the official pages verified for this write-up (DSG official site, FAQ).
- Does DSG provide subgrades?
- Yes, DSG markets a digital grade report with 32 sub-grades (Grade report, Submit cards).
- What does “Flawless Diamond 10” mean?
- DSG defines it as a “truly perfect card” with strict centering requirements and “no visible flaws” (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
- What does “Gem Mint 10” mean at DSG?
- DSG defines “Gem Mint 10” with published centering thresholds plus “four sharp corners” and no visible wear; the back centering tolerance differs for sports vs TCG/non-sports pages (Sports grading scale, TCG & non-sports grading scale).
- Does DSG upcharge based on card value?
- DSG says no (“We do not nor would we ever issue an upcharge…”) (FAQ).
- Do I still need declared value if there are no upcharges?
- DSG says declared value is required “for insurance purposes” (FAQ).
- What shipping carriers does DSG use?
- DSG says it uses USPS for domestic shipments and requires signature confirmation; it also lists a FedEx/UPS street address for inbound shipping (Submission guide).
- Does DSG grade vintage cards?
- Yes; DSG lists a “Vintage” service for cards 1887–1975 (Submit cards).
- Does DSG grade oversized cards?
- Yes; DSG lists “Oversized / Undersized” with size/thickness rules (Submit cards, Card encapsulation).
- What is DSG’s fastest turnaround option?
- DSG lists “Expedited” with a stated TAT of 1 business day on the submit page, but the expedited product page contains conflicting text (3 business days). Confirm at time of submission (Submit cards, Expedited product page).
- Will DSG add value vs PSA on resale?
- Usually Unverified / buyer-dependent: community discussions frequently treat DSG as less recognized than PSA, so sellers may face a discount or slower sell-through compared to PSA slabs, especially for high-end cards (PokeInvesting thread).
- How should I buy a DSG slab safely?
- Verify the Card ID on DSG’s lookup tool, compare the grade to the published rubric for centering/grade definitions, and treat any community allegations as risk signals until independently confirmed (Card ID search, Sports grading scale, mtgfinance thread).
Sources
Official:
https://dsggrading.com/https://dsggrading.com/about-us/https://dsggrading.com/submit-cards/https://dsggrading.com/submission-guide/https://dsggrading.com/faq/https://dsggrading.com/grading-scale/https://dsggrading.com/grading-scale/sports-card-grading-scale/https://dsggrading.com/grading-scale/non-sports-card-grading-scale/https://dsggrading.com/grading-report/https://dsggrading.com/card-search/https://dsggrading.com/population-report/https://dsggrading.com/card-encapsulation/https://dsggrading.com/dealers/https://dsggrading.com/mobile/https://dsggrading.com/service-terms-and-conditions/https://dsggrading.com/product/standard-grading/https://dsggrading.com/product/express-grading/https://dsggrading.com/product/expedited/
Reputable hobby/news:
- Unknown / None found in this research pass (no major hobby-publication coverage was identified and verified for ownership, acquisitions, or policy changes; treat DSG as a smaller operator until better sources emerge). Reference official disclosures above.
Community sentiment (Reddit/X/forums):
https://www.reddit.com/r/PokeInvesting/comments/12zmpw2/is_dsg_grading_service_legit/https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemoncards/comments/12zjmiw/is_dsg_grading_service_legit/https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/uc7e66/dsgdiamond_service_grading_graded_fake_card/https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonTCG/comments/sma0ns/diamond_service_grading_slabs_suck_my_brother/https://www.reddit.com/r/baseballcards/comments/1f659f6/dsg_grading/https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonTCG/comments/13bo38o/thoughts_on_this_dsg_graded_shadowless_machamp/https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonTCG/comments/1g5gy2m/ive_recently_gotten_into_grading_my_cards_and_i/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EncxIN_cSschttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L5HLbUAQhAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol2WcIeax7Y
Directories/reference lists:
https://figoca.com/grading-companies(figoca directory entry; verify against official sources before submitting)