【Hong Kong, October 28, 2026】Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales figure of HK$2.85 billion, exceeding its pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a sell-through rate of 88%. This once again confirms the strong purchasing power in the global art and jewelry markets, especially in high-end rare categories. Among them, the highly anticipated 'Imperial Jadeite' special session performed particularly well, becoming the highlight of this auction.
The centerpiece of this autumn sale, the 'Imperial Jadeite' special session, presented a total of 35 exquisite pieces, with 32 ultimately sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 91.4%. Notably, an Imperial Green Jadeite bead necklace named 'Dewdrop Jade' was hammered down for an astonishing HK$320 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of HK$180 million, becoming the highest-priced lot of the sale. This necklace comprises 42 exquisite Imperial Green Jadeite beads, each exceeding 12mm in diameter, boasting rich and even color, and a delicate, warm texture, truly a rare treasure seen once in a century. According to Sotheby's Head of Jewelry, Asia, after fierce multi-party bidding, it was ultimately acquired by an Asian private collector, with a premium rate as high as 77.7%.
Furthermore, another Imperial Green Jadeite bangle named 'Vast Green Waves' also fetched HK$150 million, a 50% increase compared to its HK$100 million estimate. This bangle exhibits excellent translucency and texture, with a strong gelatinous effect and flawless perfection, making it a rare top-grade piece in the market in recent years. Overall, the 'Imperial Jadeite' special session achieved a total sales figure of HK$980 million, accounting for nearly 35% of the total autumn sale, fully demonstrating its core position and collectible value in the high-end jewelry market.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The success of Sotheby's Autumn Sale 2026, especially the strong performance of Imperial Jadeite, clearly sends a signal: against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, the attributes of top-tier art and rare gemstones as hard currency and stores of value are becoming increasingly prominent. High-net-worth individuals' demand for collectibles with scarcity, historical heritage, and artistic value remains robust, even showing a counter-cyclical growth trend. Imperial Jadeite, as the pinnacle representative of oriental jewelry, is scarce in production and difficult to mine. Coupled with its unique cultural connotations, it consistently maintains extremely high premium capabilities in the market. In the coming years, we expect the high-end jadeite market to continue its steady growth, especially for those rare pieces that meet 'museum-grade' standards, whose prices will continue to rise.”
Ms. Zhang Hua, a jade market commentator, also stated: “The results of this auction indicate that buyers' appraisal standards for jadeite are increasingly sophisticated, no longer merely pursuing 'size,' but focusing more on 'refinement.' Translucency, color, craftsmanship, and rarity have become key factors in determining price. The transaction prices of 'Dewdrop Jade' and 'Vast Green Waves' fully illustrate the market's recognition and pursuit of ultimate quality. At the same time, we observe that a younger generation of collectors is also entering the high-end jadeite field. Their participation injects new vitality into the market and also indicates that the future of jadeite collection will be more diversified and internationalized.”
Expert Commentary:
Sotheby's Chairman, Asia, commented: “We are very pleased with the results of this autumn sale. The outstanding performance of Imperial Jadeite once again proves its supreme status in the global collecting world. We see that both traditional collectors and emerging buyers have great enthusiasm for truly rare and exceptionally high-quality treasures. Sotheby's will continue to be dedicated to presenting the finest art and jewelry to collectors worldwide, satisfying their ultimate pursuit of beauty.”
Looking ahead, with the continuous accumulation of global wealth and the increasing demand for rare asset allocation, the high-end art and jewelry market, especially categories like Imperial Jadeite with unique cultural value and scarcity, will further highlight its investment and collection value. This Sotheby's autumn sale undoubtedly brought a successful close to the global auction market in 2026 and set an optimistic tone for the market trend in 2027.