【Hong Kong, November 18, 2026】Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales figure of HKD 2.85 billion, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates. The highly anticipated 'Imperial Jadeite' series performed exceptionally well, becoming the highlight of the auction and once again affirming the strong purchasing power in the high-end jewelry market.
The auction presented over 300 rare jewelry and jadeite lots, achieving an impressive overall sell-through rate of 89.5%, with a sell-through rate by lot reaching 92.3%. Notably, more than 20% of the lots sold for more than double their estimated prices, demonstrating collectors' strong pursuit of rare treasures.
Regarding the core lots, an Imperial Green Jadeite bead necklace named 'Emerald Delicacy' fetched an astonishing HKD 280 million, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of HKD 150 million, an impressive premium of 86.7%. This necklace comprises 42 exquisite Imperial Green Jadeite beads, each exceeding 12mm in diameter, boasting rich and even color, and fine, translucent texture. It is hailed as one of the finest jadeite bead necklaces to appear on the auction market in the past decade. Another focal lot, a pair of Imperial Green Jadeite earrings named 'Jadeite Ripple', also sold for a high price of HKD 120 million, a 50% increase from its estimate. Furthermore, multiple high-quality jadeite bangles, rings, and pendants also sold for prices well above their estimates, driving the total sales of the jadeite section to exceed HKD 1 billion.
Ms. Wenhao Ye, Head of Jewelry, Sotheby's Asia, stated in an interview: "The success of this autumn sale, particularly the outstanding performance of the Imperial Jadeite series, once again proves the unique position and continuously growing value of top-tier jadeite in the global collecting market. Amid increasing global economic uncertainties, rare, high-quality, and historically significant jewelry, especially 'hard currency' like Imperial Jadeite, increasingly highlights its role as a safe haven and a means of preserving and increasing value."
Market analyst Mr. Li Ming pointed out: "Since 2026, the global high-end jewelry market has shown a polarized trend. On one hand, mass-market, homogenized jewelry products face growth pressure; on the other hand, top-tier jewelry with scarcity and artistic value, such as Imperial Jadeite and colored diamonds, continues to see price increases. The data from this Sotheby's autumn sale further reinforces this judgment. Asia, especially buyers from Greater China, remains the main force in the high-end jadeite market, and their aesthetic preferences and purchasing power play a decisive role in market trends."
From a macro perspective, global inflation expectations and the demand for wealth preservation have led investors to turn their attention to alternative assets such as art and rare jewelry. Imperial Jadeite, as a treasure in Chinese culture, with its profound cultural heritage and irreplaceable scarcity, makes it an ideal investment target. It is expected that in the coming years, under the dual effects of increasingly scarce supply and continuously strong demand, the price of top-tier Imperial Jadeite will maintain a steady upward trend.
The success of this Sotheby's autumn sale not only injected a strong boost into the global jewelry market but also laid a solid foundation for the upcoming Spring Sale in 2027. Industry insiders generally believe that with the gradual recovery of the global economy and the increasing demand for rare asset allocation among high-net-worth individuals, high-end jewelry, especially Imperial Jadeite, will continue to be a star in the auction market.