【Hong Kong, April 28, 2026】Sotheby's Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales figure of HK$2.85 billion, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a sell-through rate of 88%. This demonstrates the strong demand for rare jewelry and high-end artworks in the global art market, particularly from Asian collectors. Among the highlights, a natural jadeite bead necklace named “Light of Imperial Green” fetched an astonishing HK$850 million, becoming the star of the auction and setting a new auction record for jadeite jewelry in Asia.
The centerpiece of this auction, the “Light of Imperial Green” jadeite bead necklace, comprises 36 imperial green jadeite beads, each exceeding 15mm in diameter, with rich color, fine texture, and exceptional translucency, making it a rarity of a century. The final hammer price of HK$850 million significantly surpassed its pre-sale estimate of HK$500 million to HK$700 million, representing a 21.4% increase (based on the high estimate). It was acquired by an anonymous Asian private collector via telephone bid. This transaction not only reaffirms the scarcity and investment value of top-tier jadeite but also injects strong confidence into the entire jewelry market.
Besides “Light of Imperial Green,” other jewelry lots also performed well. A 10.02-carat D-color flawless pear-shaped diamond ring sold for HK$120 million, and an imperial white jade 'Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl' snuff bottle from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty fetched HK$75 million, both indicating a robust high-end collectibles market.
Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:
Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia, stated after the auction: “The success of this spring sale, particularly the record-breaking sale of the 'Light of Imperial Green' jadeite necklace, clearly sends a signal: under current macroeconomic uncertainties, the safe-haven and value-preserving functions of top-tier rare assets are becoming increasingly prominent. High-net-worth collectors continue to show strong demand for jewelry and artworks with historical provenance, exceptional quality, and uniqueness.”
From the data, both the sell-through rate and premium rate of this spring sale were high, indicating general buyer acceptance of the lots' quality and estimates. Jadeite, as a highly revered gemstone in Eastern culture, has maintained its strong value for top-grade pieces. In recent years, with global wealth growth, especially the rise of new affluent groups in Asia, the demand for top-tier jadeite has only increased. The scarcity of supply combined with continuous demand growth has collectively pushed up the prices of top-grade jadeite. We anticipate that in the coming years, high-quality, large-sized, and uniformly colored imperial green jadeite will remain a hot commodity in the market, with its prices expected to continue a steady upward trend, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 8%-12%.
Expert Commentary:
Professor Li Ming, a renowned jewelry appraiser and market analyst, commented: “The sale of 'Light of Imperial Green' is a landmark event. It not only showcases the artistic value and rarity of top-tier jadeite but, more importantly, reflects global collectors' strong preference for hard assets. Amidst inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks, non-standardized, non-renewable resources like top-tier jadeite are highly recognized by the market for their investment attributes and risk resistance. This auction also further solidified Hong Kong's position as a leading hub for top-tier jewelry auctions in Asia and globally.”
Looking ahead, Sotheby's will continue to deepen its presence in the Asian market, selecting more valuable and artistically compelling treasures to meet the growing demands of collectors and contributing to the healthy development of the global art market.