A spectacular jadeite necklace achieved a remarkable HKD 200.2 million (approximately $25.6 million) at Christie’s Hong Kong, emerging as one of the most valuable jade jewelry pieces ever sold at auction. Despite the impressive result, the piece narrowly missed becoming the world’s most expensive jadeite necklace sold publicly.
Known as the Ethereal Jadeite Necklace, the masterpiece features 61 exceptionally matched jadeite cabochon beads and reached the upper end of its pre-sale estimate range of HKD 110 million to HKD 200 million. The sale underscored the enduring demand for rare, museum-quality jadeite among elite collectors.
The necklace came close to surpassing the long-standing benchmark set by the legendary Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, which realized HKD 215 million (around $27.4 million) at a Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction in 2014. That iconic Cartier creation, once owned by American heiress Barbara Hutton, attracted global attention when it sold for more than double its estimated value.
Experts regard the Ethereal Jadeite Necklace as an extraordinary achievement in gemstone craftsmanship and rarity. Its 61 beads, ranging from approximately 13.7 mm to 8.8 mm in diameter, display an exceptional level of uniformity in color, texture, translucency, and quality—an increasingly difficult feat given the natural variations found in jadeite.
The necklace was among the highlights of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction held on May 26, which delivered strong results across multiple categories. The auction recorded a 90% sell-through rate by lot, while nearly three-quarters of all lots exceeded their high estimates, reflecting robust collector confidence in the high-end jewelry market.
Overall, the sale generated HKD 581.5 million (about $74.2 million), representing a 55% increase compared with the previous year. The performance reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a leading global marketplace for rare gemstones, exceptional jewelry, and investment-grade collectibles.
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