2024-25 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey aims to be the company’s gem of the early card season. The first truly high-end release of the campaign, autographs, memorabilia cards, premium inserts and, of course, diamonds, are all part of the checklist. Hobby boxes have just six cards. The primary hit is either an autograph or diamond-embedded card. There are also three total memorabilia cards or inserts plus one card falling under the Exquisite Collection banner. A standard base card or parallel round things out. On the one hand, at 100 cards, the base set is modest in size. But when you factor in the price tag and the fact that not every box has a standard card, specific cards won’t be plentiful. The numbering shows that as well, with each coming numbered to 349. The checklist for these break down to 60 veterans, 10 legends and 30 rookies. Green (/10) and Gold (1/1) are the only standard parallels. That said, base cards have some premium upgrades as well. These start with Diamond Relics, which have been one and four clear diamonds in them depending on the player. These have five copies each as well as one-of-one Pure Black versions with black diamonds. Select base cards also have numbered autograph and premium relic parallels. Diamond Relic Rookies remain one of Black Diamond’s cornerstones. Like the base set’s Diamond Relics, these have one, two, three or four clear diamonds on display. The idea is that the better the prospect, the more diamonds they have. Base versions are numbered to 99 with additional Emerald (/10) and Pure Black (1/1) parallels also on the checklist. 2024-25 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey has more bling in some familiar places. Band of Color run through the rainbow with six gems, all a different shade. These have just 24 copies each for vets and 25 for rookies, and no parallels outside of Pure Black one-of-ones.