Beijing, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Poly 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully today. The 'Jade Radiance – Hetian Jade Seed Material Boutique Sale' was particularly outstanding, with multiple key lots selling for prices significantly exceeding their estimates, once again affirming the strong resilience and continuous growth in investment value of the high-end Hetian jade seed material market.
This Hetian jade seed material sale featured 120 carefully selected lots, achieving a total transaction value of RMB 285 million, with an astonishing sell-through rate of 92.5%. Compared to the same period last year, the total transaction value of this sale increased by 18%, demonstrating robust market demand for high-quality Hetian jade seed material. Among them, a 'Mutton-fat Jade Seed Material Rough Stone' weighing 280 grams became the highlight of the entire sale due to its delicate texture, warm luster, and perfect skin color. After several rounds of fierce bidding, it was finally hammered at RMB 38 million, with a premium rate of 65%, far exceeding its pre-sale highest estimate of RMB 23 million, setting a new auction record for mutton-fat jade seed material of comparable weight in recent years.
Another highly anticipated lot was the 'White Jade Seed Material Carved Auspicious Beast Handle Piece,' meticulously crafted by contemporary jade carving master Mr. Zhang Hua. Weighing 120 grams, its exquisite craftsmanship and unique artistic style led to a final transaction price of RMB 12.5 million, an increase of 40% over its estimate. In addition, several other exquisite seed materials weighing between 50 and 150 grams, such as the 'Sprinkled-gold Skin White Jade Seed Material Handle Piece' and the 'Red Skin White Jade Seed Material Pendant,' also sold for prices 20% to 35% above their estimates, further highlighting the market's pursuit of small and medium-sized premium seed materials.
Mr. Wang, General Manager of Poly Auction's Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy and Ancient Art Department, stated in an interview: “The success of this Hetian jade seed material sale once again proves the scarcity and artistic value of top-tier Hetian jade seed material. Amid increasing global economic uncertainties, Hetian jade seed material, as a hard currency with both cultural and investment attributes, increasingly highlights its role in hedging and preserving value. We have observed that the buyer base not only includes traditional collectors but also many emerging young investors and corporate institutions, who have great confidence in the cultural connotations and future appreciation potential of jade.”
Senior jade market analyst Mr. Li Ming pointed out: “From the auction data, the Hetian jade seed material market shows a 'two-tier' trend. On one hand, top-tier mutton-fat jade seed material and masterpieces by renowned carvers remain the focus of market pursuit, with prices repeatedly reaching new highs and significant increases. On the other hand, ordinary seed materials with average appearance or minor flaws have shown relatively stable market performance, or even some adjustments. This indicates that buyers are more rational in their choices, with stricter considerations for jade quality, skin color, craftsmanship, and provenance. In the future, we expect the price of premium Hetian jade seed material to maintain steady growth, while ordinary seed material may face greater market competition.”
Looking ahead, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the continuous growth of national wealth, the craze for collecting and investing in Hetian jade seed material is expected to continue to heat up. Auction houses and jade dealers should pay more attention to the selection and quality control of lots, while strengthening cultural promotion and market education to attract more potential buyers and jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of the Hetian jade seed material market.