【Hong Kong, November 15, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully, achieving a new record total of HK$1.25 billion, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates. The Jewels and Jadeite section, in particular, performed exceptionally well, with a total sale value of HK$480 million and a remarkable sell-through rate of 89%, once again demonstrating the strong purchasing power in the high-end jadeite market.
The highlight of this autumn sale was undoubtedly several rare jadeite cabochons. Among them, an exquisite natural Burmese imperial green jadeite cabochon ring, named 'Imperial Green,' fetched an astonishing HK$120 million, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of HK$80 million, representing a premium of 50%. This cabochon boasts a rich color, fine texture, and excellent translucency and clarity, meeting the highest standards for collector-grade imperial green jadeite. Another set of three icy-green jadeite cabochons forming a necklace sold for HK$65 million, a 44% increase from its pre-sale estimate of HK$45 million. Overall, the average premium for high-quality jadeite cabochons in this auction exceeded 35%, indicating sustained strong demand for top-tier jadeite.
Ms. Anna Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview: “The success of the 2026 Autumn Sale once again confirms the continuous passion of Asian collectors for rare, high-quality jewelry, especially top-grade jadeite. Particularly, exceptional jadeite cabochons like 'Imperial Green,' due to their scarcity and investment value, have become a focal point for collectors. We observe that buyers' aesthetic appreciation and connoisseurship for jadeite are constantly improving; they are more inclined to invest in treasures with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and perfect condition.”
From a market analysis perspective, despite global economic uncertainties, the high-end art and luxury goods market, especially top-tier jadeite with its value preservation and appreciation attributes, has shown strong resilience. In recent years, with the growth of global wealth and the expansion of the Asian collector base, demand for rare jadeite has remained robust. Untreated natural jadeite with excellent translucency, clarity, and color, in particular, has seen a steady upward trend in price. According to market data, over the past five years, the compound annual growth rate for top-grade jadeite cabochons has remained between 10% and 15%, significantly outperforming inflation during the same period.
Mr. Li Ming, a jadeite market analyst, pointed out: “The results of this Christie's autumn sale once again confirmed the '80/20 rule' in the high-end jadeite market, where 20% of the top lots contribute 80% of the total sales. While market acceptance for ordinary jadeite tends to be rational, the price of rare jadeite with historical provenance or unique aesthetic value, especially classic forms like cabochons and bangles, still has significant room for appreciation. Furthermore, the entry of a younger generation of collectors has injected new vitality into the market; they prioritize the design and wearability of jadeite, but their demands for quality remain stringent.”
Looking ahead, industry consensus suggests that under the dual influence of scarce supply and strong demand, prices for top-tier jadeite will continue to remain firm. As the mining of Burmese jadeite rough becomes increasingly depleted, the scarcity of high-quality jadeite will be further highlighted, and its investment value will continue to rise. It is expected that in the coming years, the high-end jadeite market will remain a major highlight in the art investment sector, with rare pieces possessing unique stories and heritage backgrounds being particularly favored by collectors.