【Hong Kong, May 15, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully, setting a new record for total sales of HK$2.53 billion (approximately US$324 million), exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%. The highly anticipated “Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite” specialist sale performed exceptionally well, achieving a total of HK$880 million, with a sell-through rate of 92% by lot and 96% by value, once again demonstrating the strong resilience of the high-end jewelry market and collectors' continued pursuit of rare treasures.
The undisputed focus of this spring sale was several untreated natural Burmese jadeite lots. Among them, a Burmese natural jadeite bead necklace, named “Imperial Green”, fetched an astounding HK$210 million (approximately US$27 million), far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of HK$150 million, representing a remarkable increase of 40%. This necklace comprises 58 exquisite Imperial Green jadeite beads, each over 12mm in diameter, strung together, showcasing rich and even color, and a fine, warm texture, truly a rare treasure seen once in a century. Another piece, an untreated natural Burmese jadeite bangle named “Congealed Verdure”, sold for HK$95 million, an increase of 26%, with its full, vibrant green color and flawless texture attracting fierce bidding from buyers present. In addition, several ice-jade and glass-jade jadeite ornaments also performed well, with average selling prices exceeding pre-sale estimates by over 20%.
Ms. Shirley Shieh, Chairman of Christie's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview: “The success of this season's spring sale once again proves the unique position of top-grade Burmese jadeite in the global collecting world. Its rarity, irreplicability, and the profound cultural heritage endowed by Eastern culture contribute to its continuous value appreciation. We observe that demand for high-quality jadeite remains strong from collectors across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and even Europe and America, with a particular preference for pieces with historical provenance or unique design concepts.”
From a market analysis perspective, the data from the 2026 spring sale further solidifies the status of high-end jewelry, especially top-grade jadeite, as a safe-haven asset in the art market. The uncertainty in the global economic environment has, paradoxically, prompted some high-net-worth individuals to shift their capital towards rare assets with potential for value preservation and appreciation. As a non-renewable resource, the increasing difficulty and cost of mining Burmese jadeite have led to a continuous shrinkage in the supply of high-quality rough stones, which is undoubtedly a core factor supporting its price increase. Furthermore, the aesthetic sensibilities of a younger generation of collectors are maturing; they increasingly value the naturalness of materials, the uniqueness of design, and the cultural stories behind them, injecting new vitality into the jadeite market.
Mr. Zhang Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The performance of jadeite at this Christie's spring sale indicates that the high-end jadeite market will continue to maintain steady growth in the coming years. Especially natural jadeite reaching the 'Imperial Green' level and without any treatment, its scarcity has reached a critical point, and there is still huge room for price appreciation in the future. For investors, choosing reputable auction houses and focusing on the jadeite's 'zhongshui' (translucency), color, craftsmanship, and traceability of origin are key to successful investment. At the same time, we should also be wary of fakes and treated items in the market; professional appraisal is crucial.”
Looking ahead, with the continuous accumulation of global wealth and the expanding influence of Asian culture, Burmese jadeite, as a representative of Eastern aesthetics, is expected to see further growth in market demand. Auction houses will continue to play a vital bridge role connecting global collectors with rare treasures, injecting new vitality into the high-end jewelry market.