【Beijing, May 15, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite' special session performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value reached an impressive RMB 320 million, with a sell-through rate of 88.5%, significantly exceeding market expectations. The success of this auction not only injected a strong dose of confidence into the long-sluggish jewelry market but also signaled the return of the high-end jadeite jewelry collecting trend.
The highlight of this auction was undoubtedly several top-tier jadeite pieces. Among them, a rare 'Imperial Green Jadeite Bead Necklace,' composed of 38 imperial green jadeite beads with diameters ranging from 12-14 mm, boasting rich and even color and delicate, warm texture, ultimately sold for a staggering RMB 88 million, exceeding its upper estimate by 20%, becoming the highest-priced lot of the session. Another 'Icy Green Jadeite Bangle,' with its translucent texture and vibrant green hue, attracted fierce bidding from multiple collectors and finally hammered at RMB 35 million, an increase of 15% over its estimate. In addition, a 'Fu Lu Shou' jadeite set, consisting of jadeite earrings, a ring, and a pendant, also sold for RMB 18 million, demonstrating the market's preference for jadeite that combines cultural significance with collection value.
Beyond top-tier jadeite, colored gemstones also performed remarkably well. A 10-carat 'Pigeon's Blood' Burmese ruby ring sold for RMB 22 million, with the transaction price increasing by 10% over its estimate. A 5-carat 'Cornflower Blue' Sri Lankan sapphire ring was also successfully sold for RMB 15 million.
Ms. Li Ming, Head of the Jewelry Department at China Guardian Auction House, stated in an interview: "The excellent performance of the jadeite jewelry special session in this spring auction fully demonstrates the strong market demand for high-quality, rare jewelry. Especially top-tier jadeite, with its non-renewable nature and unique Oriental charm, has always occupied an irreplaceable position in the art market. The success of this auction also reflects that after a period of adjustment, the high-end collecting market is gradually recovering, and collector confidence has been restored."
Professor Wang, a senior jewelry market analyst, pointed out: "The data from the 2026 spring auction is encouraging. The high sell-through rate and multiple lots selling above their estimates indicate that market liquidity is strengthening, and buyers' value perception of fine jewelry is converging. It is particularly noteworthy that in this auction, not only traditionally sought-after imperial green and icy jadeite were popular, but some uniquely designed jadeite pieces with both fashion sense and cultural connotations also performed well. This suggests that the future jadeite market will become more diversified, and the influence of younger collector groups is gradually emerging. It is expected that the high-end jadeite jewelry market will maintain steady growth in the next two years, and its investment value will be further highlighted."
The success of China Guardian's spring auction undoubtedly injected new vitality into the global art market, especially bringing positive signals to collectors and investors who have long focused on the jadeite jewelry sector. With the gradual recovery of the global economy and the continuous growth of Asian wealth, it is expected that the high-end jewelry art market will usher in broader development space in the future.