【Beijing, November 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Jade Radiance – Hetian Jade Boutique Special Session' particularly standing out. This session once again confirmed the sustained strong demand and steady growth trend in the high-end Hetian jade pendant market. A total of 120 exquisite Hetian jade pendants were offered in this special session, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 285 million, marking a 12.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
The highlight of this auction was undoubtedly several rare and exquisitely crafted Hetian jade pendants. Among them, a 'Qianlong Period White Jade Seed Pendant Carved with Auspicious Beasts', featuring delicate and oily texture, flawless white color, and superb craftsmanship depicting vivid auspicious beasts, ultimately sold for a high price of RMB 38 million. This significantly exceeded its pre-auction estimate of RMB 25 million, achieving a premium rate of 52%. Another piece, a 'Ming Dynasty Hetian Biyu Carved Pendant with Immortal Celebrating Longevity', attracted numerous collectors with its unique greenish-blue hue and antique, elegant carving style, finally hammering at RMB 15.8 million, a 31.7% increase from its estimate. Furthermore, several innovative works by contemporary jade carving masters also performed well, such as the 'Ink Jade Landscape Pendant' created by renowned jade artist Wang Ping, which, with its unique ink jade material and freehand landscape composition, fetched RMB 8.5 million, demonstrating the market's recognition of contemporary jade carvings that combine artistry and rarity.
Overall, the average unit price for Hetian jade pendants in this Council autumn auction reached RMB 2.638 million, an increase of approximately 12.2% compared to RMB 2.35 million in the 2025 autumn auction. This indicates a continuous increase in the market's perception of high-quality Hetian jade value and strong collector willingness to invest in fine pieces. White jade seed material remains the absolute mainstream sought after by the market, accounting for over 70% of the total transaction value. The transaction prices for high-quality Biyu (greenish-blue jade) and ink jade also showed a steady upward trend, especially for pieces with unique designs or those attributed to famous carvers.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The outstanding performance of Hetian jade pendants in this Council autumn auction once again solidified their status as a hard currency in the art market. Amidst increasing global economic uncertainties, Hetian jade, as a scarce natural resource and cultural carrier, increasingly highlights its value preservation and appreciation characteristics. Collectors are more inclined to invest in fine pieces with clear origins, superior jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and cultural connotations. In the coming years, we expect the high-end Hetian jade market to maintain steady growth, but market differentiation will become more pronounced. Ordinary materials and mediocre craftsmanship will face greater challenges, while truly rare and exquisite pieces with artistic and collection value will continue to be highly sought after."
Ms. Zhang Hua, Head of the Jade Department at Beijing Council Auction Co., Ltd., also stated: "We are very satisfied with the results of this Hetian jade special session. This not only reflects the market's recognition of Council's discerning eye for selecting auction items but also demonstrates the strong vitality of traditional Chinese jade culture in contemporary collecting. In the future, we will continue to deepen our efforts in the Hetian jade market, discover more exquisite pieces with historical, cultural, and artistic value, and provide a wider range of high-quality collection options for collectors."
The success of the Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm into the Hetian jade market, signaling that this segment will remain a hot spot for art investment in the foreseeable future.