Base Card Design -
The Black Diamond base cards have a lot going for them. The white background with the old Black Diamond like foil in the background is really sweet. I do believe that these base cards are a worthy upgrade from what Black Diamond used to be with its thin foil stock. The side edge of the base card might be my favorite part with its white/black/white layered wafer aesthetic. My only gripe about the standard base cards is the team logo at the bottom. This portion of the card is obviously a placeholder for a relic on a higher-level format. I just wish it wasn't so apparently so. Base cards are limited to just 249 each, same as The Cup!
The back of the base card is in full color with some good looking designs. It's elegant, but not too flashy. I actually expected a little more from the back of the card as the product is Black Diamond. To me there should be just a bit more 'bling' to these backs.
The rookie cards in Black Diamond have been the Rookie Gems. Because Black Diamond doesn't have real numbering (the entire set is designated by letters), it can be hard to distinguish which cards are part of the main set and which ones aren't. To me, this Nolan Patrick Rookie Gem card isn't the true RC I want out of Black Diamond. Those would be the actual cards embedded with diamonds. Unfortunately, those cards are very difficult pulls. You only get a couple per case and they are numbered to only 99.
Base Card Design Score:
8.5/10
Black Diamond comes with one fat Black Diamond pack and one Exquisite pack. This product is completely high-end now, so collectors should expect to find nicer hits when buying it.
What an awesome patch piece!!! Too bad it's just a manufactured one. Sadly, these fake patches are back in high dollar Upper Deck products. When I'm paying a couple hundred dollars for a box, I want everything to be authentic. It's already bad enough there are photoshoot pieces on cards rather than game-worn. But these completely made-up patches are just too much... I personally don't like them and wish they were out of the product.
The Rookie Booklet Relic at least had some player-worn jersey pieces in it. Seeing that the booklet was numbered to 199 I knew it would just be a couple of jersey pieces. Booklets have been around for a while now so pulling one isn't that exciting unless you hit some great patches or autographs. I for one thing a book card is too much card for some regular jersey swatches. The tier above these standard jersey books feature and autograph and a patch with numbering to 99.
The lone autographed card in my box was this Signature Placard (Group C) of Derek Sanderson - certainly not the most excited player to pull. The signature is in silver ink on a black placard embedded in the card. I guess even these aren't technically considered 'on-card' autos, but at least they look nice. I just wish I had a better player to pull. Sadly these cards have no serial numbering.
My Exquisite pack yielded a nice looking player-worn patch of Haydn Fleury. The Exquisite brand is on par with The Cup and the cards look great. I love the foil used on it as it gives the card a very elegant feel to them. These patches do have a rather high numbering to them. This particular card was numbered to 299.
My box/pack of Black Diamond didn't feature anything that really stood out - especially not for the price. There are, however, some really sweet pulls available to be found. I'm sure they are few and far between though - which shouldn't be that case when it comes to a premium product such as this.
Inserts/Game-Used/Autos Score:
4/10
Overall Rating -
I really like the fact that Black Diamond switched to a premium format. It was a brand that needed to be different as the original product was getting stale. The one-pack per box format is a good idea, but it isn't implemented well. I think it would have been much better to provide less cards and have the price of the product be in the $100 dollar range - similar to some of the very popular Topps baseball products on the market today.
I definitely felt that I had bad value for the amount I paid for this box of Black Diamond. Upper Deck has some serious tweaks it needs to consider when thinking about this product next year.
As it stands now, I cannot recommend Black Diamond to many collectors. This is a high-risk, high-reward product that leans much to the high-risk side of things. Some of the cards in the product are outstanding looking, but there are too many cards (like the manufactured patch cards) that get in the way. The only way I can see getting more of this would be if it took a very serious nose dive in terms of price. Only then I'd begin thinking about it.
Overall Score -
4.5/10
Check out my break of 17/18 Black Diamond:
Love the look of the cards!!!
ReplyDeleteYt:Bostonbruinsfan4
how much is box or pack of the cards
DeleteThe better than last year I like it
ReplyDeleteYT MG Cards
Nice looking Haden Fleury patch. Card look pretty, but that high price tag I would have to pass.
ReplyDeleteJediJackLuther
Such bad hits, not at all worth it for the price!
ReplyDeleteYt:Jian Wang
As all high-end products it's a hit or miss products and this box missed a lot. You probably would have had more value in a regular josh ho-sang routine than the booklet but it is still very cool. Thanks for your review and break.
ReplyDeleteYouTube: thecardmule115
I think upper deck should avoid using manufactured patches. It lessens the product in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteYT:jonathanwarden
i like the exclusive pack
ReplyDeleteYT: David's NHL Goal Horns And Soccer Songs
Love the look of it this year wish it wasn’t as expensive tho!! Nice hits! Love the Ovechkin card!
ReplyDeleteYT: Hockey22
I couldn't agree more about the value for this along with the high rish high reward. Definitely not worth the price they are going for.
ReplyDeleteI really wish the would just stop making the manufactured patch cards, theyre pointless and are worth nothing.
I think the base design looks really good, but for the price and anythhing over 150, you shouldnt get base cards.
YT: freshestemo
always hated black diamond since they changed to a premium product, too expensive for what you get in a box on average.
ReplyDeleteYt: JoelBautistaa
Nice ho sang
ReplyDeleteYT Jayden 30
The bonus exquisite pack is very cool.Expensive for the cards(6) you get.
ReplyDeleteYt:Hockey Mtg
I really like the look of the cards, but the non-authentic jersey patches are definetly disappointing.
ReplyDeleteYT- vancouver bears
I really hope they would stop making manufactured patch cards for such expensive product...
ReplyDeleteYT: Edward Chan
Way to expensive for only one auto. Cheaper products are out there where you can get multiple.
ReplyDeleteYouTube- Seagull Halo
I liked Black diamond better how it was before but still it is a nice product. Nice break!
ReplyDeleteYouTube: Josh Bittner
nice leafs pull...
ReplyDeletemahudh aslam
not a buy from me!
ReplyDeleteyt: thesens8
Great break as always, you need to upload more hockey.
ReplyDeleteWOW NICE one
ReplyDeleteYT: RH LP
Honestly dont like the product
ReplyDeleteYt codiachobby
Ouch. Not worth the gamble.
ReplyDeleteYt: ryannturnaa
I said it last year and I will continue to say it I am not a fan of the new one pack expensive product. For the price they are asking it is not worth to buy when you can buy a few other products instead. Manufactured patches are bad but the rest of the cards look alright. Great Video!
ReplyDeleteYoutube: Brayden Morgan
I think that the cards definitely do need more of a ‘bling’ to them because they do look pretty basic. Also, they should never even have fake patches in these higher end products because that’s just isn’t right. For the money you’re paying you should be getting authentic materials and autographs. Probably won’t be picking up a box.
ReplyDeleteYT- MasonJar7
The Black Diamond cards look really slick, but aren't to special. I feel that you don't get your money's worth anymore. I'm not really a fan of it becoming a "higher end product." I also don't feel that the manufactured patches are that cool, the teams name written in it throws me off. I most likely will not be purchasing it this year, which kind of sucks because I was gonna pick one up for Christmas. Thanks for the break!
ReplyDeleteCards look really great! But I feel that box wasn't all that great. Plus they really gotta stop with the manufactured patch cards..
ReplyDeleteYouTube: Brennan Osinski
Thanks for sharing your break Luke. It's unfortunate that they have the manufactured patches in the product to serve as "a hit" to some degree. I would understand their inclusion if it was at a similar price point (or a tad higher) to O-Pee-Chee which has their fair share of manufactured content. It's a little sad that their promo Exquisite pack yielded a better patch pull (albeit from a promo jersey) than the box itself.
ReplyDeleteYT/SCF: McBones
Why would anyone want a manufactured patch?
ReplyDeleteYt: Justin Lee
Very nice
ReplyDeleteYT-Steven5161
I preferred old Black Diamond. I liked the aesthetic and I tended to collect it more than Series 1/2. Can't say I'm a big fan of that huge dead space at the bottom of those base cards. Manufactured patches, and dud autos remind me why I got out.
ReplyDeletei really liked it:
ReplyDeleteyt:nick brady
email: nickbrady2005@gmail.com
I like the inserts, but cost too much and I want Black Diamond to go back like they were in the past.
ReplyDeleteYT: Hawksfan 50
Good looking product but too expensive 🤷♂️
ReplyDeleteYt: cardcapitals 29
Yes I want to participate so much !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBlack diamond has and still is my least favorite high end... still. some nice hits
ReplyDeleteYT: EmKayBe
I would say the Exquisite card out shines the actual Black Diamond you pulled. Manufactured patches are of no value to me. How many different sets have to have old retired players in it. I want to open a pack and look forward to the price of the card change as the player goes through their career
ReplyDeleteYT:Michael Martin
Nice break and video!I like the Sanderson card, dont know if thats a subset or not, but its cool. Personally, I'm waiting for Christmas time to buy artifacts 17/18. Solid review overall as always and good luck on future breaks:)
ReplyDeleteYT: OilersHobby123
BD Card are cool but really expensive. Great video!
ReplyDeleteYT : Julien Bouchard
I like the card designs but you definitely didnt get your moneys worth.
ReplyDeleteYT: TDOTRTZ
Ahoy there, great review of Black Diamond 17-18. The designs like slick but the price hurts this brand so much. Being in Canada doesn't help. If they added one more auto and cut the price to a third then for sure it would get at least 8.5/10.
ReplyDeleteYoutube user name: sapphirecore
dang i didnt know they change ud black diamond to a single pack i remeber collecting the base sets of it been awhile since i check out some the higher stuff since mainly get retail anymore, also seem like a nice box,
ReplyDeletemy yt is ironjeep58
Exquisite can do no wrong for me, I love those cards! The actual Black Diamond set is really hit-and-miss, especially considering what you pay and end up getting. And "Black" is just around the corner....
ReplyDeleteYT name: dboutic617
This product is soo overpriced for what you get. Its really a hit or miss... with a 90% of missing.
ReplyDeleteYouTube: Paul Courcelles
Love the look of the cards! Nice Ho-Sang pull too!
ReplyDeleteYoutube: Mike Gallagher
It is very disappointing when you get ripped of on boxes like that. I am not huge on card value, and what my collection is worth, but if you make an investment you should get some decent hits. I will stick to lower end sets.
ReplyDeleteSCF: Adams64
Box should be $125
ReplyDeleteYT: Jeeparooooo
Love that nolan patrick
ReplyDeleteice Nolan Patrick love it
ReplyDeleteyoutube bunbunli
solid box for what ive seen lol
ReplyDeleteyoutube bunbunli
Thanks for the break
ReplyDeleteYT - Flames Fan14
Looks better than the years before. Especially with that exquisite stuff but i guess thats what they have to do when its a weaker rc class.
ReplyDeleteSCF: 22canucksfan33
Yt: 22canucksfan33
You got some nice names there! Great review.
ReplyDeleteYT-Skroeker24
Unfortunately the cards were a little disappointing... prefer last year's, the championship rings this year are not as well designed, for one.
ReplyDeleteNice break, thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYT: CY Lam
Nicest black diamond card designs up to date,unfortunately their is a lack of good hits for the the price of a box also manufactured is dissapointing
ReplyDeleteYT:polskiipanic
I honestly for sorry for you... you were clearly ripped off here by upper deck.
ReplyDeleteYT: Matt Gauthier
Like the look, but not as much bang for your buck as it should be.
ReplyDeleteInstagram - @fuelledbypassioncollectibles
Black Diamond is a lot less loaded this year compared to other 1-pack products (Ultimate, Black, Cup, etc.). In my opinion, this is definitely not worth its price.
ReplyDeleteYT: ZeroWolfGiven
+ Nice Exquisite design.
ReplyDelete+ Cool to include real diamonds.
- Manufactured patches... Sure, do it in OPC, but not in a high-end product.
- Of all the high-end breaks I have watched over the years, Black Diamond is probably the product with the least exciting hits.
Youtube: Majlfp
the ho-sang booklet is so cool, same its just single jersey color inside
ReplyDeleteyoutube is hahamansr
Solid review. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYT - Mark Siuda
Awesome box and amazing review!
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