【Hong Kong, May 10, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales value of HK$1.85 billion, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates. The highly anticipated 'Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite' special sale performed exceptionally well, with a total turnover of HK$720 million and a sell-through rate of 92%, once again demonstrating the strong resilience of the high-end jewelry market.
The highlight of this auction was undoubtedly several exquisite Burmese natural A-grade jadeite treasures. A piece named 'Imperial Green Jadeite Bead Necklace,' composed of 36 plump Imperial Green jadeite beads ranging from 13.5 mm to 15.2 mm in diameter, with rich and even color and fine, warm texture, finally hammered at an astonishing HK$280 million. This far surpassed its pre-sale estimate of HK$180 million, with a premium rate of 55.5%, setting a new auction record for jadeite bead necklaces in the past five years. Another 'Icy-Type Vibrant Green Jadeite Bangle,' thick, round, and with a vivid, dripping green hue, sold for HK$95 million, an increase of 58.3% from its HK$60 million estimate. In addition, several icy-type and glass-type jadeite cabochon rings and earrings also achieved high premiums, indicating the undiminished enthusiasm of the market for top-tier jadeite.
From the data, the overall transaction value of the Burmese jadeite section in this spring sale increased by 15% compared to the same period last year, with the average unit price rising by approximately 12%. This indicates that in the context of global economic uncertainties, rare, high-quality jadeite, as a hard asset, is increasingly favored by collectors for its value preservation and appreciation characteristics. Especially for perfect-condition 'Old Pit' jadeite with excellent clarity, texture, and color, its scarcity dictates its continuously rising prices.
Mr. David Shi, Chairman of Christie's Asia Jewellery Department, stated in an interview: "The success of this spring sale once again proves the deep passion and strong purchasing power of Asian collectors for top-tier jewelry, especially Burmese jadeite. The record-breaking sale of the 'Imperial Green Jadeite Bead Necklace' not only highlights its dual value as an artwork and an investment but also injects new vitality into the entire high-end jadeite market. We have observed that collectors' aesthetic taste for jadeite is increasingly sophisticated, focusing more on its historical heritage, exquisite craftsmanship, and rarity."
Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "Currently, global inflation expectations are rising, and high-net-worth individuals' confidence in traditional financial assets has wavered, prompting them to seek physical assets with hedging properties. Jadeite, especially Burmese Old Pit jadeite, due to its non-renewable nature, cultural heritage, and unique oriental aesthetics, has become an important investment safe haven. In the coming years, with the increasing depletion of high-quality jadeite resources and the continuous growth of wealth in Asia, we expect the prices in the high-end jadeite market to maintain a steady upward trend, especially for museum-collection-level treasures, whose appreciation potential will be even more significant."
The excellent results of this Christie's spring sale undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the global art market, especially in the high-end jewelry and jadeite sector, where its sustained strong performance heralds the arrival of a vibrant collecting era.