2012 Bowman Platinum review

Product: 2012 Bowman Platinum
Box Price: 100$+
Distribution: 20 Packs/Box  5 Cards/Pack
Hits: 3 per box (2 autographs, 1 autograph relic)

My Grade: A
This is my favorite mid-level set for the 2012 season. up until this point I had been enamored with Topps Heritage but Bowman Platinum has stolen my heart with its great mix of stars, prospects and inserts, and not to mention the resurgence of Die-Cut cards. With the high profile rookie class this year much of the products retail value is going through the roof with the prospect of pulling a high level prospect. i.e. Yu, Harper, Trout, Machado, etc. Bowman Platinum's debut in 2010 opened my eyes to another great product with a very collectable set (100 base cards, and 100 Prospect cards). These cards are Amazing looking this year. definitely an upgrade from last years edition. Check out the pics below as some evidence to support my infatuation with this set.

First picture is the Yu Darvish RC from the base set. The cards have a refractor like surface that have a rainbow finish on them and sleek design.

 Next Picture is The Bryce Harper RC from the base set.

 The picture below shows the gold parallel base cards that fall 1 in every 2 to 3 packs. There are also Emerald color variations that fall 1 in 5 packs and Ruby variations that fall 1 in 10 packs. this makes for fun collecting with all the different color variations.

The picture below shows the 2 different types of Prospect cards. on the left is the standard Platinum Prospect design but it is the regular refractor variation of it. Each prospect card, like the base cards, have color variations. but the prospect color variations are serial numbered. (see next pic)
The card on the right is the Top Prospect insert card. The Top Prospect set have Die Cut Variations that are serial #'d /25

 Pictured below is the Green color variation of the prospect card. these are all Serial #'d /399.

 Pictured below is an example of the Blue variation of the Prospect base card. the blue variations are serial #'d /199. There are also Gold variations that are serial #'d /50 and reds /25.

 Pictured below is an example of the emerald variation of the base cards.

 Pictured here is an example of the standard Platinum Prospect Autograph. These cards look amazing in person and really catch the eye. there are color variations of the autographs as well that are all serial #'d.

 Pictured below is one of my favorite aspects of the 2012 Bowman Platinum set. It is the Cutting Edge Die Cut insert set. These inserts have brought back a card fad that I love in the die cut styling and then taken it to the next level with relic and autograph versions of the cards.

 There is one thing about the Hobby Box of Bowman Platinum that I bought that really rubbed me the wrong way. and that is the fact that I got 2 redemption cards in my box. so that means that 2 of my 3 hits I have to wait 6 months or more before I have them in my hand because the Topps company is NOT exactly timely in distributing these. The reason it rubs me the wrong way is I like to have the hits in my hand... not theirs. Anyways if that is the ONLY thing I have a problem with, that's not a bad box of cards. Bowman Platinum is one of my favorite products of the year from Topps/Bowman and I cannot wait to see what they do with this set next year. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my opinion on new stuff. As always, Peace and Baseball Cards!!