What makes a Topps card a refractor?

A Refractor Card is a trading card that has a reflective coating and displays a rainbow when held at a specific angle. They are parallels of base set issues and were introduced with the release of the 1993 Topps Finest Baseball set.

How do I know if my Topps card is a refractor?

To tell if a card is a refractor, hold the card in your hand and move it back and forth in good lighting. If it’s a refractor, you should see a rainbow-like reflection, where a base chrome card will simply shine without the rainbow.

Are Topps chrome refractors numbered?

X-fractors return as Mega Box exclusives. To get Wave Refractors, you have to look to hobby and hobby jumbo. Rarity varies for the 2020 Topps Chrome Baseball Refractors. The majority of types are serial numbered, though.

When did Topps start refractors?

1993
When 1993 Topps Finest Baseball debuted, it set off a storm. It was short in supply, used relatively new technology and introduced these things called Refractors.

What refractor means?

telescope
Definition of refractor : a telescope whose principal focusing element is a lens.

What does parallel mean in sports cards?

Parallel – A card that is a serial numbered version of another non-serial numbered card. For instance, a base card would be unnumbered, but a parallel of that base card would have a serial number. Parallels typically have the same design and photo, but offer different color schemes.

What is a Topps Chrome Refractor?

Share: The 2021 Topps Chrome Baseball variations are sticking with Refractors. While the SP and SSP cards still switch the photos around from the regular ones, all are done as Refractors. This has been the case for the brand for a few years now. It makes the inserts stealth, but a little less so than other brands.

What is a Topps parallel?

Parallels are essentially different versions of the main card. They bring in slightly different looks, sometimes different card stock and, of course, something that’s more rare. The 2020 Topps Baseball rainbow has more than a dozen parallels. Some are obvious due to their shiny backdrop or patterned approach.