【Beijing, November 28, 2026】The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached RMB 1.28 billion, with a transaction rate of 82.5%. Compared to the total transaction value of RMB 1.15 billion in the 2025 autumn auction, it achieved a steady growth of 11.3%, demonstrating the resilience of the art market during a period of macroeconomic adjustment. Among them, the Southern Red Agate special session, a highlight of this auction, performed particularly well, with several exquisite pieces setting new transaction records for similar items, attracting widespread market attention to the future trend of Southern Red Agate.
This autumn auction featured a total of 68 Southern Red Agate lots, with 59 pieces finally sold, achieving a high transaction rate of 86.8%. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, with an average transaction price of approximately RMB 3.13 million per piece. Among them, a Southern Red Agate carving named “Splendid Mountains and Rivers,” with its rare persimmon red color, delicate and warm texture, and exquisite carving craftsmanship, soared from an estimated price of RMB 18 million to a final hammer price of RMB 35 million, with a premium rate as high as 94.4%, becoming the 'top lot' of the Southern Red Agate session. Another “Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious” Southern Red Agate bracelet, composed of 108 full-flesh persimmon red beads with a diameter of 12mm, sold for RMB 12.8 million, far exceeding its estimated price of RMB 6 million, an increase of over 113%. In addition, many Southern Red Agate ornaments, pendants, and cabochons were also sold at prices 20% to 50% higher than their estimates.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The outstanding performance of Southern Red Agate in this Council International autumn auction is not accidental. In recent years, with the increasing interest of collectors in traditional culture and natural gemstones, Southern Red Agate, with its unique red symbolism, scarce resources, and warm texture, has gradually become another highly sought-after jade category after jadeite and Hetian jade. Especially high-quality persimmon red, cherry red, and other colors, as well as full-flesh, crack-free exquisite pieces, their market value is in a rapid upward channel.”
Ms. Wang Li, Head of the Jewelry and Jade Department at Beijing Council International Auction House, stated: “We have observed that the collector base for Southern Red Agate is becoming younger and more professional. They not only focus on the rarity of the material itself but also pay more attention to carving craftsmanship, cultural connotations, and artistic value. The success of this auction also confirms our judgment on the market potential of Southern Red Agate. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate this field and bring more high-quality Southern Red Agate artworks to collectors.”
From a market trend perspective, the price of Southern Red Agate has shown a steady upward trend in the past five years, with an average annual increase of 15% to 20%. Especially in 2024 and 2025, due to the dual impact of increasingly depleted resources and strong market demand, the price increase of some exquisite Southern Red Agate even exceeded 30%. The data from this autumn auction further consolidates this trend, indicating that the Southern Red Agate market still has significant room for appreciation. However, experts also remind collectors that when investing in Southern Red Agate, they need to carefully distinguish between genuine and fake, be wary of imitations and optimized treated products on the market, and at the same time, pay attention to its appearance, craftsmanship, and cultural value to avoid blindly following trends.
Looking ahead, with the further scarcity of Southern Red Agate resources and the continuous increase in collecting enthusiasm, its market value is expected to continue to maintain strong growth. This Beijing Council International autumn auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the Southern Red Agate market and provided an important market barometer for collectors and investors.