【Hong Kong, November 20, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Auction 2026 concluded successfully, achieving a total sales figure of US$250 million, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate of US$200 million. The sell-through rate reached 88% by lot and an impressive 95% by value. This auction once again affirmed the resilience and vitality of the high-end art market, with Burmese natural jadeite, due to its exceptional quality and rarity, emerging as the absolute highlight of the sale.
The undisputed focus of this autumn auction was several rare Burmese natural jadeite lots. Among them, a natural jadeite bangle known as “Imperial Green” fetched an astonishing US$35 million, 75% higher than its pre-sale estimate of US$20 million, setting a new auction record for similar items. This bangle, with its rich and even color, fine and warm texture, and excellent transparency and luster, was hailed by many experts as a rare masterpiece seen in the market in the past decade. Another jadeite carving named “Spring in Colors” sold for US$18 million, an increase of 50%, demonstrating the strong market demand for jadeite artworks that combine both color and craftsmanship. Furthermore, several jadeite cabochons and bead necklaces also sold for prices ranging from 20% to 40% above their estimates, indicating strong overall performance.
Ms. Shirley Zhang, Head of Christie's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview: “The success of this autumn auction, especially the outstanding performance of the Burmese jadeite section, once again highlights collectors' relentless pursuit of top quality and rarity. Amid increasing global economic uncertainties, high-quality jadeite, as a hard currency and an asset for value preservation and appreciation, is increasingly demonstrating its investment attributes. We observe that buyers from Asia, particularly Greater China and Southeast Asia, remain the main drivers of growth in the jadeite market.”
Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The performance of jadeite in the 2026 autumn auction continues the upward trend of the high-end jadeite market over the past few years. The record-breaking sale of the ‘Imperial Green’ bangle is not only the success of a single lot but also a reflection of confidence in the entire high-end jadeite market. As the annual output of Burmese jadeite rough decreases, the scarcity of top-grade jadeite will further intensify, and its value is expected to continue to climb. At the same time, we also see increasing attention to jadeite carvings that combine artistic and cultural connotations, which provides new directions for the diversified development of jadeite.”
In addition to jadeite, the Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Ceramics, and Works of Art sections of this auction also performed well. A magnificent Qianlong Famille Rose ‘Nine Dragon’ vase sold for US$12 million, and a Qi Baishi’s ‘Shrimp’ painting fetched US$8 million, both meeting or slightly exceeding their estimates. This indicates that while core categories performed strongly, other traditional art categories also maintained steady growth.
Looking ahead, the market generally believes that with the continuous growth in demand for rare asset allocation among high-net-worth individuals globally, the investment value of top-grade Burmese jadeite will be further highlighted. However, the market also reminds collectors to focus on the quality, transparency, color, and craftsmanship of jadeite, avoid blindly following trends, and invest rationally. It is expected that the high-end jadeite market will remain a key competitive focus for auction houses in the 2027 spring auction.