【Hong Kong, November 20, 2026】Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn 2026 Auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a remarkable total sale of HKD 3.25 billion (approximately USD 417 million), exceeding its pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a strong sell-through rate of 88.5%. This once again affirmed the robust resilience of the high-end art market, particularly the top-tier jewelry and jadeite sector. The highly anticipated highlight lot, an 'Imperial Green' jadeite bangle weighing 128.88 carats, fetched an astonishing HKD 188 million (approximately USD 24.1 million), becoming the top-selling lot of the auction and setting a new auction record for jadeite bangles in the past five years.
The auction featured over 500 rare lots, spanning various categories including Chinese paintings and calligraphy, ceramics and works of art, modern and contemporary art, as well as jewelry and watches. The jewelry sale performed exceptionally well, with a total turnover exceeding HKD 1 billion, of which jadeite lots contributed nearly 40%. In addition to the Imperial Green bangle, an oval-shaped 'Old Mine Glassy Jadeite' ring weighing 20.5 carats sold for HKD 68 million, a 25% increase from its last auction in 2020. Furthermore, a series of high-quality ruby, sapphire, and diamond jewelry also performed strongly, with many lots selling for more than 20% above their estimates.
Ms. Wenny Yeo, Head of Sotheby's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview with our reporter: “The success of this autumn auction, especially the strong performance of Imperial Jadeite, once again proves the continuous pursuit of rare and high-quality jewelry by global collectors. In the context of current macroeconomic uncertainties, top-tier jadeite, as a hard currency with both aesthetic value and investment preservation attributes, its safe-haven function and scarcity make it a preferred asset for capital. We observed fierce competition from buyers across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, indicating strong market demand for top-tier jadeite.”
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jadeite market analyst, pointed out that the transaction price of this Imperial Jadeite bangle not only reflects its exceptional quality and rarity but also signals the market's firm confidence in the value of top-tier jadeite. “In recent years, high-quality jadeite raw materials have become increasingly depleted, leading to continuous market supply shortages. However, with wealth accumulation and aesthetic appreciation, the global demand for top-tier jadeite continues to grow. This supply-demand imbalance is the core driving force behind the continuous rise in jadeite prices. It is expected that the price of high-quality Imperial Green jadeite will maintain a steady growth of 10-15% annually in the next five years,” Mr. Li Ming added.
From an overall market perspective, Sotheby's outstanding performance in this autumn auction injected a strong boost into the global art market for 2026. Despite global economic challenges, the purchasing power of ultra-high-net-worth individuals remains strong, viewing rare art and jewelry as an important component of their wealth allocation. Particularly, lots with historical provenance, unique craftsmanship, or rare materials exhibit stronger value resilience and become the focus of market pursuit. This auction also showed that collectors are increasingly demanding regarding the provenance, condition, and professional certification of lots, which prompts auction houses to invest more resources in lot sourcing and authentication to ensure the healthy development of the market. It is expected that in the Spring 2027 auction, the top-tier jewelry and jadeite sector will continue to be a key focus of the market, with high quality and rarity remaining crucial factors in determining prices.