A beginners guide to Topps F1 trading cards (Part 4/6) – Topps Formula 1 Chrome Sapphire Edition
Following the annual release of its Formula 1 Chrome cards, Topps follow up this with an online only release of a separate variant for that year’s card set with their Formula 1 Chrome Sapphire Edition collection. Sapphire cards are a ‘premium’ version of the standard chromium laminate cards which are recognisable for their holo effect coloured shattered glass background.
Topps have released Sapphire cards every year since the 2020 series. Sapphire cards are sold online by Topps in boxes that contain 8 packs and each pack has 4 cards like Chrome. Out of the 32 cards in each box, Topps guarantees that there will be 4 parallel or short print cards i.e. 1 every 2 Sapphire pack. These are decent odds but keep in mind that Topps retail list price Sapphire boxes are relatively expensive considering they only contain 32 cards.
2020 Chrome Sapphire Edition
2020 Chrome Sapphire box
May 2020 marked the first appearance of these blue holo versions of the 2020 Chrome set cards and are now instantly recognisable.
- Aqua (#/99) – 1 every 7 packs
- 70th Anniversary (#/70) – 1 every 9 packs
- gold (#/50) – 1 every 13 packs
- orange (#/25) -1 every 25 packs
- purple (#/10) – 1 every 61 packs
- red (#/5) -1 every 121 packs
- padparadscha (#1/1) – 1 every 605 packs.
- base image short print variations – insert (1 every 21 packs); aqua (1 every 122 packs); 70th Anniversary (1 every 173 packs); gold (1 every 242 packs); orange (1 every 484 packs); purple (1 every 216 packs); red (1 every 2,407 packs); padparadscha (1 every 11,551 packs)
2020 Chrome Sapphire driver portrait base card for Max
Max’s 2020 Chrome Sapphire driver short print image variation of his base card.
The 2020 image variations all had drivers in an alternate seated pose, which proved to be hugely popular.
Due to their rarity, these Chrome Sapphire short prints were often bid up aggressively in online card sales.
2021 Chrome Sapphire Edition
2021 Chrome Sapphire box
Topps released 2021 Sapphire around mid 2021 and the direct online prices were an eye watering $699 a box.
2021 Pierre Gasly driver base portrait card #13 – Flagship (left) vs Chrome (centre) vs Chrome Sapphire (right). The photo resolution of the flagship card image is much sharper than the Chrome base card. The sapphire background appears a bit more matte compared to mirror gloss of Chrome. The holo effect of Sapphire card is very visible.
2021 Sapphire odds are:
- chartreuse – (#/199) 1 every 6 packs
- negative – (#/100) – unpublished
- aqua – (#/99) – 1 every 11 packs
- green – (#/75) – 1 every 15 packs
- gold – (#/50) -1 every 22 packs
- orange – (#/25) 1 every 43 packs
- black & white – (#/15) (1 every 71 packs)
- purple – (#/10) (1 every 106 packs)
- red – (#/5) (1 every 211 packs)
- padparadscha – (1/1) – (1 every 1,038 packs)
- Image variations: chartreuse (1:106), negative (unpublished), aqua (1:213), green (1:281), gold (1:421), orange (1:839), black & White (1:1,388), purple (1:2,075), red (1:4,108), padparadscha (1:20,125).
2022 Chrome Sapphire Edition
2022 Chrome Sapphire box
2022 Sapphire cards have a changed look from the previous years. The familiar blue base coloured sapphire background only goes the the bottom border and the bottom edge retains a chromium background.
The driver short print variation cards are the same images as in the Chrome set, so no difference here. There are no 2022 Sapphire autograph cards.
Topps’ direct price for 2022 Sapphire box was $US260 priced similar to a 2022 Chrome hobby box (which has double the number of packs and also includes potential autograph cards). Topps also released 2022 Sapphire and Chrome boxes around the same time, possibly explaining why there are so many more 2022 Sapphire cards in circulation and for sale online.
2022 Sapphire parallel card odds are very similar to 2021 Sapphire odds:
- chartreuse (#/199) – 1 every 6 packs
2022 flagship (top row) vs 2022 Chrome Sapphire Chartreuse parallel
- aqua (#/99) -1 every 11 packs
- sepia (#/100) -1 every 11 packs
- green (#/75) – 1 every 15 packs
- gold (#/50) – 1 every 22 packs
- orange (#/25) – 1 every 43 packs
- black & white (#/25) – 1 every 71 packs
- purple (#/10) – 1 every 106 packs
- red – (#/5) 1 every 211 packs
- padparadscha (#/1) – 1 every 1,038 packs
- insert cards variation – 1 every 43 packs
- short print – chartreuse (1 every 106 packs); aqua (1 every 213 packs); sepia (1 every 211 packs); green (1 every 281 packs); gold (1 every 421 packs); orange (1 every ); purple (1 every 2,076 packs); black & white (1 every 1,389 packs; red (1 every 4,109 packs); padparadscha (1 every 20,133 packs)
All parallels except for the inserts are numbered cards.
Given the increasing saturation of trading cards, the past appeal of Sapphire cards is a bit more questionable for the 2022 series.
Chrome Sapphire Cards Snapshot:
Card Size: standard 3.5″ x 2.5″
Thickness: 16pt paper stock with gloss laminate front layer
Texture: Slippery gloss front, matt rear
Finishing/Detail: Base cards have chromium laminate front layer with blue coloured shattered mirror background holo effect. Parallels have a different colour background.
Cost:
- 2020 Chrome Sapphire original list price: US$99
- 2021 Chrome Sapphire box original list price: US$699
- 2022 Chrome Sapphire box original list price: US$260
Comments & Tips for Collecting:
- Similar to Chrome, 2020 Sapphire cards retain more value due to their smaller release population, particularly the driver image variation cards.
- Single Chrome Sapphire base cards are generally considered more pricey than the Chrome base counterpart due to the original Sapphire box price. A Chrome refractor on the other hand, is often priced higher than the Chrome Sapphire base card due to the higher odds and relative rarity.
- Professional card hunters are always after the rarer red and padparadscha parallels.
- The cost of a Sapphire box means that most box buyers are professional card collectors and retail distributors that have the budget. If you’re a beginner or collector on a smaller budget, consider waiting and look for single Sapphire cards in online marketplaces a few months after the initial release – its highly likely you can pick up a base card of your favourite driver (<$5) for less than the individual card cost if you had bought from the original box.
The next instalment of this beginners guide, will be looking at Topps’ other F1 card releases – Lights Out and Topps Now.
To view previous instalments in this guide, click below:
