Hong Kong, October 28, 2026 – Sotheby's Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales value of HK$2.58 billion, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a sell-through rate of 88%. This once again demonstrates the strong resilience of the global art market, particularly the high-end jewelry and jadeite sector. Among them, the highly anticipated “Imperial Jadeite” series of lots performed exceptionally well, becoming the highlight of this auction.
The star lot of this auction, an Imperial Green jadeite bead necklace named “Emerald Radiance,” was hammered at an astonishing HK$420 million, significantly surpassing its pre-sale estimate of HK$280 million, with a premium rate of 50%. This necklace consists of 38 exquisite Imperial Green jadeite beads, each with a diameter exceeding 15mm, boasting rich and even color, and a delicate, warm texture, truly a rare treasure seen once in a century. Another piece, an Imperial Green jadeite bangle named “Jadeite Brilliance,” also fetched a high price of HK$180 million, representing a 50% increase from its estimated value of HK$120 million. Overall, the average selling price of Imperial Jadeite lots in this auction increased by approximately 35% compared to their pre-sale estimates, with a sell-through rate as high as 95%, indicating collectors' undiminished enthusiasm for top-tier jadeite.
Ms. Wenfen Ye, Head of Jewellery, Sotheby's Asia, stated in an interview: “The success of this autumn sale, especially the outstanding performance of the Imperial Jadeite series, once again confirms the unique position of top-tier jadeite in the hearts of global collectors. Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, rare and high-quality artworks and jewelry, especially categories like Imperial Jadeite that possess cultural value, scarcity, and investment attributes, are increasingly becoming an important component of asset allocation for high-net-worth individuals. We have observed that buyers from Asia, particularly Greater China and Southeast Asia, remain the main driving force behind the growth of the high-end jadeite market.”
Market analyst Mr. Li Ming pointed out: “Judging from the data of this Sotheby's autumn sale, the high-end jadeite market shows a 'two-tier' trend. On the one hand, the prices of museum-grade Imperial Green jadeite continue to climb, with huge premium potential, demonstrating its strong resilience and scarcity premium. On the other hand, the mid-to-low-end jadeite market performed flatly, with some categories even experiencing price corrections. This indicates that collectors are increasingly pursuing ultimate quality, preferring to invest in truly rare, historically significant, or artistically valuable top-tier collections. It is expected that this trend will further intensify in the coming years, with prices for top-tier jadeite still having room for appreciation, but for ordinary quality jadeite, the market will be more rational.”
This auction also included a series of other rare jewels and artworks, such as a 10-carat cushion-cut pink diamond, which sold for HK$150 million; and a splash-ink landscape painting by Zhang Daqian, which fetched HK$80 million. The success of these lots collectively contributed to the brilliant results of this Sotheby's autumn sale. Looking ahead, Sotheby's will continue to deepen its presence in the Asian market, presenting more treasures with both artistic value and investment potential to global collectors.