Beijing, November 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. This season's auction continued the strong momentum seen in the jade market in recent years, with the 'Jade Radiance – Hetian Jade Boutique Special Session' performing particularly well. Multiple Hetian jade pendant lots exceeded expectations, once again affirming the solid foundation and immense potential of the high-end jade collecting market.
The 'Jade Radiance' special session featured a total of 120 exquisite Hetian jade pendants, with 108 pieces ultimately sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. Among them, a Hetian jade seed material pendant named 'Auspicious Beast Bringing Good Fortune,' with its delicate jade quality, superb craftsmanship, and unique theme, became the highlight of the auction. The pendant started at an opening bid of RMB 8 million and, after several rounds of intense bidding, was finally hammered at a staggering RMB 18.5 million, an astonishing premium rate of 131.25%. This set a new record for similar Hetian jade pendants in the past three years. Another 'Longevity and Good Fortune' white jade plaque, with its warm luster and auspicious meaning, also sold for RMB 9.2 million, far exceeding its estimated price of RMB 4.5 million.
Overall, the average transaction price per lot in this auction reached RMB 1.713 million, an increase of 17.5% compared to the average price of RMB 1.458 million in the 2025 autumn auction. This fully demonstrates the sustained strong demand for high-quality Hetian jade pendants, and buyers' willingness to pay higher premiums for rarity and artistic merit. It is noteworthy that in this auction, seed material pendants originating from the Hetian region of Xinjiang and accompanied by authoritative appraisal certificates were particularly sought after by collectors, with their transaction prices generally higher than those from other origins or material types.
Mr. Li Ming, a market analyst, pointed out: 'The data from the 2026 autumn auction once again proves the resilience and growth potential of the Hetian jade market. In the context of increasing global economic uncertainty, high-quality Hetian jade, due to its scarcity, cultural value, and ability to maintain and increase value, is regarded as an important safe-haven asset and long-term investment target. Particularly, seed material pendants with warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, auspicious themes, and clear provenance will continue to see their market value rise.'
Professor Wang, a senior jade connoisseur, also stated: 'The success of this auction lies not only in the appearance of high-priced lots but also in the steady increase in the overall sell-through rate and average transaction price. This reflects the continuous improvement in market awareness of Hetian jade and the increasing maturity and professionalism of the collector base. In the next few years, we anticipate that the Hetian jade market will show a polarized trend: prices for exquisite and unique pieces will continue to climb, while ordinary quality jade may face greater competitive pressure. Therefore, for collectors, selecting exquisite pieces with cultural connotations, artistic value, and scarcity is crucial.'
Looking ahead, Beijing Council International Auction House stated that it will continue to delve into the jade market, committed to discovering more Hetian jade treasures with collection value and investment potential, and providing global collectors with better services and a more professional platform. With the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the increasing demand for art investment from the wealthy class, the Hetian jade pendant market is expected to maintain a healthy upward development trend in the coming years.