BEIJING, November 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Poly 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the “Oriental Jade Purity – Hetian Jade Seed Material Special Session” performing exceptionally well. This session once again confirmed the strong resilience of the high-end jade market and collectors' continued pursuit of scarce resources. A total of 128 meticulously selected Hetian jade seed material lots were presented, achieving a remarkable total transaction value of RMB 235 million, with an impressive sell-through rate of 88.3%, significantly exceeding market expectations.
The special session was full of highlights, with multiple lots selling at high prices, setting new market records for similar items in recent years. Among them, a “Hetian Jade Seed Material Rough Stone · Great Fortune” weighing 285 grams was hammered at an astonishing RMB 36.8 million, with a premium rate of 55%, becoming the highest-priced lot of the session. This seed material, praised by several experts as a rare top-grade rough stone in the past decade, boasts fine and warm jade quality, natural skin color, and a full shape. Another piece, “Hetian Jade Seed Material Handpiece · Longevity and Prosperity” (weighing 120 grams, a work by master carver Zhang Mou), also fetched RMB 18.5 million, an increase of 48% from its estimate. Furthermore, several exquisite seed material handpieces and pendants weighing between 50 and 100 grams saw their per-gram prices exceed RMB 200,000, indicating collectors' preference for small, exquisite, and superbly carved seed material works.
From the data, the average transaction price for this session was RMB 2.07 million, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year. Notably, exquisite seed materials weighing over 100 grams accounted for 65% of the total transaction value, demonstrating that large, high-quality seed materials remain the dominant force in the market. Seed materials with unique skin colors or those carved by renowned artists also showed significantly higher premium capabilities, with an average premium rate exceeding 35%.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The success of this Poly Autumn Auction's Hetian Jade Seed Material special session sends several key signals. Firstly, despite macroeconomic uncertainties, top-tier Hetian jade seed material, as a scarce hard currency, continues to be highly recognized for its value preservation and appreciation attributes. Secondly, collectors' professional appreciation for jade quality, skin color, shape, and carving is continuously improving, with less blind bidding and a growing trend towards rational investment and collection. Finally, the value of works by renowned carvers continues to climb, with artistic added value becoming a significant factor influencing transaction prices.”
Ms. Wang, Head of Poly Auction's Jade Department, stated in an interview: “We are very pleased with the performance of this session. This is not only due to our rigorous selection of lots and precise market positioning but also reflects the strong vitality of the Hetian jade seed material market, which is gradually returning to rationality after a period of adjustment. We observe that new collector groups are increasingly interested in Hetian jade, focusing more on the cultural connotations and artistic value of the collections. In the future, we expect the market to continue developing towards refinement and artistic value, with scarce, culturally rich, and exquisitely crafted Hetian jade seed materials continuing to be sought after.”
Looking ahead, industry consensus suggests that as Hetian jade resources become increasingly depleted and market demands for quality continue to rise, the value of high-end Hetian jade seed material will continue to grow steadily. However, for ordinary investors, discerning ability and understanding market trends will become particularly crucial. Experts advise prioritizing seed materials with pure jade quality, natural skin color, no cracks or flaws, and unique aesthetic appeal, and paying attention to works by famous carving masters to ensure stable investment and collection value.
The success of this Poly Autumn Auction's Hetian Jade Seed Material special session undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the entire jade market, signaling a broader development space for high-end jade collection.