Imperial Jadeite Reaffirms Its Throne: "The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace" Commands HK$200.2 Million at Christie's Hong Kong

May 27, 2026

Hong Kong — 26 May 2026

At Christie's Hong Kong's Magnificent Jewels live auction, the world was reminded of a truth collectors have long understood: a single piece of fine jadeite outlasts gold. Leading the sale, The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace sold for HK$200,200,000 (US$25,548,143), becoming the highest-selling lot at any Asian auction this spring season.

Strung from 61 perfectly matched jadeite beads ranging from 8.8 to 13.7 millimetres in diameter, the necklace represents the pinnacle of what nature and craftsmanship can achieve together. Each bead carries the vivid, even green and glassy translucency that define imperial-grade jadeite — and matching beads of this caliber, in this quantity, is extraordinarily rare. Christie's billed the piece as the most valuable jadeite jewel it has ever offered, and the most significant to reach the market in over a decade.

The result anchored a triumphant evening. The sale realized a total of HK$581,499,900 (US$74,207,005) — a striking 55% increase over the same sale last year. With a sell-through rate of 90%, a hammer total at 129% of the low estimate, and 72% of lots exceeding their high estimates, the auction underscored a market that is not merely stable but accelerating. Collectors from every corner of the world bid across multiple channels, a clear signal of how broad and how hungry global demand for the finest gems has become.

Beyond the headline necklace, several lots drew intense competition. A 1.78-carat oval Fancy Purplish-Red diamond brooch achieved HK$39,540,000 (US$5,045,822), while a Bulgari "Trombino" ring set with a 3.17-carat rectangular Fancy Vivid Pink diamond realized HK$25,510,000 (US$3,255,410). The breadth of the season — jadeite, coloured and colourless diamonds, coloured gemstones, natural pearls, and signed pieces from the great houses — reflected both the sophistication of Asian collecting taste and the depth of material now moving through the region's salerooms.

Why Jadeite Endures

There is an old saying among Chinese collectors: gold by the thousand taels is worth less than a single piece of fine jade. This sale is its proof in numbers. Fancy-coloured diamonds and signed jewels each have their moment, but top-grade imperial jadeite occupies a category of its own — scarce by geology, revered by culture, and increasingly recognized as a hard store of value rather than mere adornment.

For collectors building a serious jadeite collection, the lesson of The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace is not about chasing a record price. It is about understanding what creates that price in the first place: uniformity of colour, transparency, saturation, and the near-impossible work of matching. These are the same qualities we look for in every piece we select. The auction record is simply the market confirming, in the loudest possible terms, what discerning eyes have always known.

High jadeite is, and remains, hard currency.

At TATHATĀ, we apply museum-grade standards to every piece of Burmese jadeite we offer. If you're considering building or refining a collection, we're always glad to talk through what separates investment-grade jadeite from the rest.