【Hong Kong, October 28, 2026】Sotheby's Autumn 2026 auction, which concluded yesterday, once again instilled confidence in the global art market with its exceptional array of lots and strong sales performance. The jewelry sale, in particular, with its highly anticipated top-tier jadeite pieces, performed remarkably well. A natural Burmese Imperial Green jadeite bead necklace, named 'Imperial Green Rhyme,' was hammered down for an astonishing HKD 185 million (approximately USD 23.7 million), significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate of HKD 120 million, achieving a premium rate of 54% and becoming the highlight of this autumn sale.
The total sales of this auction reached HKD 2.53 billion (approximately USD 324 million), with an overall sell-through rate of 88%, demonstrating the market's sustained demand for high-quality artworks. The jewelry sale performed particularly strongly, with total sales reaching HKD 820 million, of which jadeite contributed over 30%.
The 'Imperial Green Rhyme' necklace is composed of 48 perfectly flawless Imperial Green jadeite beads, each with a diameter of 12.5 mm. Its rich and even color, delicate and warm texture, and excellent clarity and translucency make it a rare treasure seen only once in a century. Its high premium sale not only reflects collectors' pursuit of rare top-tier jadeite but also the strong desire of the global affluent class for the preservation and appreciation of hard assets.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The results of this Sotheby's autumn sale once again confirm the resilience of the high-end art market, especially against the backdrop of increasing economic uncertainty. Top-tier jadeite, as a scarce hard asset with cultural heritage, its value preservation and appreciation attributes are becoming increasingly prominent. The successful sale of the 'Imperial Green Rhyme' necklace not only set a new record for a single jadeite necklace in recent years but also indicates that high-quality, large-sized natural Burmese Imperial Green jadeite will remain a 'hard currency' in the international auction market for the next few years."
From the data, the average annual appreciation of top-tier jadeite has maintained between 15% and 20% in the past three years, and the premium rate of the 'Imperial Green Rhyme' necklace far exceeded the average level, indicating that the market's valuation of exquisite jadeite is continuously being adjusted upwards. At the same time, Asian collectors, especially those from Greater China, remain the main driving force behind the growth of the jadeite market, and their purchasing power and aesthetic preferences profoundly influence market trends.
Expert Commentary:
Ms. Yang, Head of Sotheby's Asia Jewelry Department, stated: "We are very pleased with the results of this autumn sale. The success of the 'Imperial Green Rhyme' necklace once again proves that top-tier jewelry, especially natural jadeite with such historical heritage and ultimate beauty, its value transcends market fluctuations. It is not just a piece of jewelry, but an artwork, a cultural symbol, with extremely high collection value and investment potential. We expect that with the gradual recovery of the global economy and the continuous accumulation of wealth in Asia, the high-end jadeite market will continue to maintain steady growth."
Looking ahead, the market generally believes that against the backdrop of increasingly scarce supply and continuously strong demand, the price of natural Burmese Imperial Green jadeite will continue to rise. When selecting, collectors should pay more attention to comprehensive factors such as the jadeite's clarity, color, size, flaws, and overall design to ensure its long-term investment value.