Genuine Diamonds, Emeralds Add Luster to 2012-13 Flawless Basketball Base Set
If you missed our world-premiere unveiling of the 2012-13 Flawless Basketball trailer earlier today, do yourself a favor and watch it — either now or after you’ve checked out the first of our must-see preview galleries below. To be sure, there’s an air of mystery surrounding the exact makeup of the most expensive trading card product in Panini America history and over the course of the next few days, we’ll begin replacing the intrigue with cold, hard facts and countless breathtaking images.
If you’ve seen the 2012-13 Flawless Basketball trailer, you know by now that the product comes packaged in 10-card metal briefcases. What you might not know, however, is that every one of those briefcases includes either a diamond-embedded base card numbered to 20, an emerald-embedded parallel numbered to five or a diamond-embedded parallel numbered to only one. Real diamonds. real emeralds. For real.
In the gallery that follows, we profile just some of the precious gems that make 2012-13 Flawless Basketball’s base set perhaps the most extravagant ever produced. Every diamond- or emerald-embedded base card is secured in a protective case before pack out.
Enjoy the gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance in the days ahead as we unveil details regarding the other nine cards in each 2012-13 Flawless Basketball briefcase.
Trackbacks
- These Basketball Cards Come in a Metal Briefcase and Are Embedded with Real Jewels | Extra Mustard - SI.com
- Inside Flawless: Jumbo Patches Pack ‘Wow!’ Factor for 2012-13 Flawless Basketball | The Official Panini America Blog
- Inside Flawless: The Spectacular Autograph Lineup for 2012-13 Flawless Basketball | The Official Panini America Blog
- Inside Flawless: Signed-Patch Masterpieces Dazzle in 2012-13 Flawless Basketball | The Official Panini America Blog
- Panini Flawless, Addictive Cardboard at $1,250 per pack | jmoney34sports
The Knight's Lance 
Sick
Finally a real update! Anyways, they do like nice, except why does the 1 of 1 look just like the #/20? A different gem would have been nice.
Maybe the #1/1 are Flawless Diamonds! That would be sick and crazy!
Absolutely Gorgeous Cards!!! WOW!
How big are the stones?
So the /20 and the 1/1 both have diamond? Than the 1/1’s diamond should be a little bigger! 🙂
Wow. Interesting idea for a the big product! A little hint of all the big products of the year with an added extra. Love that Payton especially!
the /20 are diamonds with a lower grade.. probably G/ the /1 are diamonds of higher grade probably D-E?
anyways, im more excited in immaculate now…
The good: precious gems, finally some new photos of the players.
The boring: All players are either dribbling, holding the ball, or in a defensive stance. Pistol Pete is just standing. No real action shots or dunks to be seen here…
The really really boring: the white dull background that we’ve already seen on NT, Momentum, Signatures, etc…
Disappointing…
will they be selling the product in the case that Tracy was holding in the trailer? I think that would be awesome.
Yes, sir. That’s the product packaging. I think we’re going to send the actual briefcase from the video to the Smithsonian. 🙂
It is to bad that the RPA rookies are not a part of the set with the RC logo. The rookie patch auto’s are like the veterans and are a subset.
these cards were invented in 1996 by zenith…they were gimmicky then and are even more gimmicky now
Holy Cowabunga, Dude! Putting RC’s in the base set was a flawless move. You guys are absolutely bonkers with Flawless and Immaculate. Totally Bonkers. It’s like you took a double shot of adrenaline late in the NBA card season and decided to just go nuts. In a good way. I love it!
Wow Diamond cards /20, that’s amazing! The effort and money put into this set is unbelievable!
wow..! ohhhh.. i want that payton card badly.!!
Panini always comes through with something that tops there own stuff I bet this is gonna be expensive though 2-3X national treasures box but it makes exquisite collection look like 87 topps plus you know they are gonna have autos and patches stuffed in there too I hope we get a chance to win one of these beauties.
beyond awesome
These don’t look good at all, I’ll be waiting for the RPA previews instead.
Holy Negative Nancey!
Truly exceptional set idea, these cards should receive a tremendous response from collectors everywhere. Thanks Tracy!
holy msrp batman!!!!!!
Are you guys keeping track or size/weight/color/carity of the gems insert in each specific card? The hobby already has people that change jersey cards to patches, add inscriptions to cards without, etc… What did you do to prevent scammers from ripping out gems and putting in fakes? For $2500 I think collectors need to know that they won’t be scammed in the secondary market, and that starts with you as the manufacturer!
All of the diamond and emerald cards are packaged in a one-touch with a tamper-evident seal.
Tracy, please tell me that these diamond/ruby cards are NOT one of the “few tricks up the sleeves” as we all KNEW about these cards. On behalf of all Panini BKB collectors out there, I am confident that they are all in agreement with me when I say this – we are STILL waiting for a GOOD surprises from Flawless, the MOST EXPENSIVE PRODUCT EVER made. If you go to Blowoutcards forum (probably the most visited trading cards forum out there), BKB section is nothing but the speculation about Flawless. I believe in your products and I have been defending Flawless all along and I am truly hoping that you will come through for me and other Panini believers.
Think my wife would want a diamond encrusted card for our anniversary coming up?
Absolutely!
I do wish Panini luck and hope Flawless kills it. Thank god a card company is putting forth an effort to try and provide high end basketball cards. Without Panini there would be no basketball market!
Love it!! Great job Panini. You just made base cards collectible again! Great job!
Looks great! Really eye catching
Tracy, i had to come back and take a second look. Seattle also known as the “Emerald city”. it’s fitting to see a Gary Payton card with a real emerald. kudos to panini…!