【Beijing, May 15, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total transaction volume of RMB 2.85 billion, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period last year, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 82.3%. This indicates a significant recovery in the art market, especially in the high-end collection sector. Among them, the Jadeite Jewelry special session performed exceptionally well, becoming the highlight of this spring auction.
Jadeite Jewelry Special Session: High-Quality Treasures Highly Sought After
This spring auction's "Brilliant Condensation – Important Jadeite Jewelry and Rare Gemstones" special session featured 120 lots, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 90% and a total transaction volume of RMB 580 million. This figure not only set a new historical record for China Guardian's Jadeite Jewelry special session but also increased by 35% compared to the same session last year.
Notably, the highly anticipated "Imperial Green Jadeite Bead Necklace" was hammered down at an astonishing RMB 120 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate (RMB 80 million - 100 million), becoming the highest-priced lot of this spring auction. This necklace consists of 36 uniformly sized, intensely colored Imperial Green jadeite beads, all exhibiting excellent clarity and luster, truly a rare treasure seen once in a century. Another "Icy Green Jadeite Bangle" also sold for RMB 45 million, 20% higher than its estimate. In addition, several high-quality icy-type and glass-type jadeite pendants and earrings were also sold at significant premiums, demonstrating strong market demand for high-quality jadeite.
Market Analysis: Driven by Scarcity and Investment Value
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The outstanding performance of jadeite jewelry at this China Guardian spring auction is not accidental. Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, high-quality, scarce art and jewelry, especially jadeite, are becoming important choices for high-net-worth individuals' asset allocation due to their unique cultural attributes, non-renewability, and stable investment value."
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: "In recent years, the mining volume of high-quality jadeite has continued to decrease, while market demand has grown daily, leading to increasingly prominent supply-demand contradictions. This has driven the value of top-grade jadeite to continuously climb. At the same time, the aesthetic appreciation of jadeite among younger generations of collectors is also improving, and they are more inclined to collect exquisite pieces that combine both artistic and wearable value."
Expert Commentary: Future Market Outlook
Ms. Zhang Hua, Vice President of the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China, stated: "Judging from the results of this auction, market confidence in jadeite is gradually recovering, showing a trend of polarization. Even under economic downturn pressure, the prices of top-grade jadeite remain strong, even repeatedly setting new highs, while the liquidity of mid-to-low-end jadeite is relatively weaker. This reminds collectors to pay close attention to the clarity, color, craftsmanship, and rarity when investing in jadeite, rather than blindly pursuing it."
Ms. Zhang Hua predicted: "In the next few years, high-quality jadeite treasures with heirloom value will continue to be the focus of market pursuit. With the continuous development of China's economy and the strengthening of cultural confidence, jadeite, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, still has enormous market potential. However, the market will also pay more attention to professional appraisal and rational investment, and the crackdown on fakes and inferior products will also be more stringent."
The success of this China Guardian spring auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the 2026 art market, especially the strong performance in the jadeite jewelry sector, signaling the arrival of a vibrant and opportunity-filled new era of collecting.