【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring 2026 Auctions concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite' sale performing exceptionally well. The high-end jadeite section achieved a staggering HKD 185 million, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 92%. This once again confirms the strong growth momentum in the top-tier jade market.
The highlight of this auction was undoubtedly several museum-quality jadeite treasures. The leading lot, an 'Imperial Green Jadeite Bead Necklace,' composed of 38 perfectly matched imperial green jadeite beads ranging from 12.5mm to 14.8mm in diameter, boasting rich, even color and exquisite texture, was hammered down for HKD 98 million. This far surpassed its estimate of HKD 60 million to HKD 80 million and was acquired by an anonymous Asian private collector. This price not only set a new auction record for similar jadeite bead necklaces in the past two years but also represents an approximately 15% increase compared to items of similar quality auctioned in 2024.
Furthermore, a pair of 'Icy Green Jadeite Earrings' sold for HKD 32 million, achieving a premium of 28% over its estimate of HKD 20 million to HKD 25 million. Another notable piece, a 'Qianlong White Jade Carved 'Dragon and Phoenix' Covered Box' from the Qing Dynasty, also performed excellently, selling for HKD 15 million, 25% higher than its estimate of HKD 10 million to HKD 12 million, demonstrating the robust nature of the antique jade collecting market.
Ms. Shirley Shih, Chairman of Christie's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview: "The outstanding performance of the high-end jadeite section in this spring auction once again proves the continuous pursuit of rare, high-quality jadeite and antique jade by global collectors. Especially Imperial Green jadeite, its rarity, cultural value, and investment attributes make it a hard currency in the market. We observe that demand from Greater China and Southeast Asia buyers remains strong, while Western collectors are also showing increasing interest in antique jade with oriental aesthetics and historical significance."
Market analyst Mr. Li Ming commented: "Despite the complex and volatile global economic environment, the high-end art and rare gemstone markets have demonstrated strong resilience. Jade, especially top-tier jadeite, is considered a stable store of value and an investment due to its non-renewable nature and unique cultural symbolism. The success of this auction indicates that the high-end jade market will continue its upward trajectory in the coming years, especially for museum-quality treasures with perfect condition and clear provenance, which possess immense potential for value appreciation. It is estimated that the average price increase for high-end jadeite could reach 8%-12% in the next year."
The success of this auction not only brought substantial returns to Christie's but also injected new vitality and confidence into the entire jade art market. With continuous global wealth growth and increasing demand for cultural and artistic investments, high-end jadeite will undoubtedly continue to play a significant role in the global art market.