【Hangzhou, May 28, 2026】Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated “Jade's Virtue and Fragrance – China Hetian Jade Boutique Special Sale” performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, with a sell-through rate of 92.3%, once again confirming the steady growth momentum of the high-end Hetian jade market.
This special sale featured 128 carefully selected Hetian jade lots, covering various categories such as籽料 (seed jade),山料 (mountain jade), and山流水料 (river-washed mountain jade). The forms included hand-held pieces, pendants,擺件 (display pieces), and scholar's objects. Many key lots sold for prices significantly exceeding their estimates, demonstrating collectors' high recognition of scarcity and artistic value.
The leading lot, “Hetian Jade Seed Jade 'Auspicious Beast' Display Piece,” weighing 1.5 kilograms and made of top-grade mutton-fat white jade with exquisite round carving, was finally hammered at RMB 38 million, a premium of 52% over its estimate of RMB 25 million. Another piece, “Mid-Qing Dynasty Hetian White Jade 'Abundance Year After Year' Pendant,” with its delicate jade quality and auspicious meaning, soared from an estimate of RMB 5 million to RMB 12.5 million, an increase of 150%. In addition, a “Contemporary Hetian Jade Seed Jade 'Eighteen Arhats' Bracelet” also sold for a high price of RMB 8.8 million, an increase of 47% over its estimate, showing the strong market appeal of contemporary masterworks.
From the overall data, the average unit price of this Hetian jade special sale reached RMB 1.445 million, an 18.7% increase compared to the same special sale in last year's spring auction. Among them, the sell-through rate of mutton-fat white jade seed jade reached 98%, and the average premium rate exceeded 35%, becoming the focus of market pursuit. Some innovatively designed and exquisitely carved contemporary jade sculptures also performed well, with significant increases in both sell-through rates and prices.
Market Analysis and Trend Judgment:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The success of this Xiling Yinshe Spring Auction Hetian Jade Special Sale once again verifies the resilience and vitality of the high-end Hetian jade market. In the current macroeconomic environment, scarce resources and artworks with cultural connotations have become preferred options for hedging and asset allocation. Especially perfect-quality, top-grade Hetian jade seed jade, its scarcity determines its long-term value. Furthermore, we observe that collectors' aesthetic demands for jade carving art are increasing, and works by renowned masters and those with unique cultural creativity are gradually becoming new growth points in the market.”
Ms. Wang Li, head of the jade department at Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated: “We are very satisfied with the performance of this Hetian jade special sale. This auction not only attracted many seasoned collectors but also saw the emergence of many young collecting forces. This indicates that the collecting group for Hetian jade is expanding, and the market foundation is more solid. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate the Hetian jade market, discover more exquisite pieces with both artistic value and investment potential, and are committed to promoting the integration of jade culture and contemporary art.”
Expert Commentary:
Professor Zhang Hua, Vice President of the China Gem and Jewelry Association, believes: “Hetian jade, as the carrier of Chinese jade culture, its value is not only reflected in the material itself but also in the history, culture, and art it carries. In this auction, the continued strength of high-quality seed jade and the sudden rise of contemporary jade carving works reflect the market's recognition of both tradition and innovation. It is recommended that collectors, when investing in Hetian jade, should not only focus on the jade quality but also pay attention to the artistic quality, cultural connotation, and traceable provenance of the works to obtain more stable investment returns.”
Looking ahead, with the continuous development of the Chinese economy and the enhancement of cultural confidence, the Hetian jade market is expected to continue to maintain steady growth. The value preservation and appreciation attributes of rare seed jade will be further highlighted, and contemporary jade carving works with innovative spirit and exquisite craftsmanship will also occupy an increasingly important market share. The success of Xiling Yinshe's spring auction undoubtedly injects strong confidence into the Hetian jade market for 2026 and the years to come.