2025-26 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey Checklist Overview

As has been the case for many years, the base set has a production run of /349, though the 95-card checklist of veterans, rookies, and legends is the smallest for the product since the 2020-21 edition.

Collectors can find colored base parallels in Green (/10) and Gold (/1).

But the Diamond Relic parallels are where collectors get most excited about the base set.

Parallels include the Clear Diamond (/5) parallel with between one and four diamonds embedded into the card, and Upper Deck repeats the trick with black diamonds on rare 1/1s.

Select base cards will also have Premium Relic and/or Autograph versions.

Gem Cards

As the first high-end hockey release of the new calendar year, the rookie card chase will be on for collectors – especially for cards from the Diamond Relic Rookies collection.

A cornerstone of Black Diamond, these rookie offerings (/99) include between one and four diamonds embedded into the card and also include Emerald (/10) and Pure Black (1/1) parallels.

Other returning gemstone sets include Band of Color (/25 for veterans and /26 for rookies) and Gemography (/25).

In the Band of Color set, collectors experience a rainbow of colored gems and can also find a 1/1 Pure Black parallel.

Gemography cards are autographed and feature an embedded diamond. Parallels include Emerald (/5) and Pure Black (1/1).

The gems continue in Diamond Stars, Diamond Legends, and Diamond Futures, a trio of /10 offerings that all have a 1/1 Pure Black parallel.

Autographs, Memorabilia, and Relic Cards

Collectors will search for autographs from Rookie Gems Signatures, Sparkling Scripts (1:8 packs), Sparkling Rookie Scripts (1:12), and Signature Clarity (1:40).

As for memorabilia offerings, Black Diamond also delivers.

Diamond Mine Relics fall 1:4 packs and have Dual (1:10) and Triple (1:20) Relic versions and Premium parallels of each. Diamond Debut Relics also fall 1:4 packs.

Manufactured Hockey History Patches are back at 1:12 packs, as are Rookie Team Logo Jumbo Patches (1:3) and Team Logo Jumbo Patches (1:15).

Autographed memorabilia cards play a sizable role in Black Diamond, including a pair of sets focused on rookies in Auto Rookie Team Logo Jumbo Patches and Jewels of the Draft.

There is a new memorabilia set – the manufactured Captains Patches (/99), which will also have an autographed version.

Additional Inserts

The insert themes continue to play on the idea of diamonds, though without having the stones embedded into the cards.

Rookie Gems (/399) return with Red (/100) and Green (/10) parallels, and also back are Diamond Facet (1:10), Diamond Gallery (1:10), and Diamond Stars, Legends, and Futures (all /249).

Three other inserts include Diamonation, Diamond Might, and Rookie Diamond Cutters, which are all /99.

2025-26 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Hockey

Though Upper Deck no longer carries the sports licenses that made Exquisite Collection the must-own high-end brand among collectors, it has not gone away. In hockey, Upper Deck’s highest-end product is The Cup, but the company releases Exquisite Collection cards throughout some of its other releases during the year.

Like in years past, that process starts with Black Diamond.

Standard Exquisite Collection inserts begin with Veterans and Rookies (both at /399), and both versions have Gold (/99) and Gold Spectrum (/25) parallels.

Other Exquisite concepts include:

• Rookie Day Draft (/349) – Rookies in this set have two parallels, a Gold (/75) and a Gold Spectrum numbered to their draft position.
• Stanley Cup Heroes (/299) – This is a new set, which has Gold (/99), Silver Spectrum (/25), and Gold Spectrum (/5) parallels.
• Moments (/99) – Memorable moments stand out here, as do the Gold (/49) and Gold Spectrum (/25) parallels.

Memorabilia also finds its way onto Exquisite cards in sets like these, which all have a variety of parallels:

• Extra Exquisite Jersey Rookies (/349)
• Rookie Patches (/99)
• Dual Swatch Rookies (/75)
• Rookie Jumbo Materials (/10)
• Extra Exquisite Jersey Vets/Legends (various numbering)
• Veteran Materials (various numbering)

Jumbo patches, NHL Shields, and rare Gold Spectrum 1/1s all weave their way throughout sets in the Exquisite memorabilia collection.

 

PACKAGING:    

6 Premium Cards per Pack

1 Pack per Box

5 Boxes per Inner Shipper

2 Inner Shippers per Case

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS

•    2025-26 Black Diamond will be the first high-end product to release in the upcoming season. Let the chase begin for the big hits from the 2025-26 rookie class.

•    2025-26 Black Diamond dawns a 95-card Base Set, featuring a healthy selection of top Veterans, Legends, and new rookies. Look for the two numbered parallels of the base set, Green and Gold.

•    As always, collectors can look for the Base Set – Diamond Relics! These numbered parallels of the base set feature up to 4 diamonds within each card. Collect the Pure Black parallel (#’d 1-of-1) featuring Black Diamonds.

•    The Band of Color insert remains a staple in Black Diamond, featuring veterans (#’d to 25) and rookies (#’d to 26)! These flashy cards bring a unique accessorized design that adds flavor to any collection!

•    Keep an eye out for Gemography This classic insert has become well known to collectors and features and autograph that pops off the cards! Look for a mix of current stars and top rookies while keeping an eye out for the low-#’d parallel lineup that includes the Emerald (#’d to 5) and Pure Black (#’d 1-of-1)!

•    Collect a variety of Diamond Stars, Diamond Legends and Diamond Futures insert cards. In addition to the regular cards #’d to 249, collectors can chase the sought-after Auto (Varied #’ing), Premium Relic Auto (Varied #’ing), Purple Diamond Relic Auto (#’d to 10) and Pure Black Diamond Relic Auto (#’d 1-of-1) parallels!

•    After the Four Nations Face-OffTM took the hockey world by storm, look for the first high-end 4NFO content drizzled into 2025-26 Black Diamond! The Team Logo Jumbo Patches give collectors a chance to have their nation represented in their collection! Keep an eye out for both Auto and low #’d parallels!

•    After a debut within 2024-25 Black Diamond, the Hockey History Patches return! Look for a new collection of memorable NHL moments captured on detailed patches! Look for parallels like the Gold (#’d to 25) and Gold Auto (Varied #’ing).

•    New! A new Patch insert commemorating the top leaders in the NHL! The Captains Patches brings an elite checklist of captains from around the league featuring a large manufactured “C” Patch. Collect the base version (#’d to 99) and look for the Gold and Gold Auto that are numbered to the year the player became their team captain!