Christie’s Hong Kong is preparing to offer one of the most important jadeite jewels seen at auction in more than a decade — and it could come surprisingly close to breaking a long-standing world record.
Headlining the May 26 Magnificent Jewels sale is "The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace," a breathtaking strand of 61 perfectly matched jadeite beads carrying a pre-sale estimate of HK$110 million to HK$200 million (approximately $15 million to $26 million). If bidding exceeds expectations and pushes beyond the high estimate, the necklace would inch close to the all-time auction record for jadeite jewelry: the famed Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, which sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2014 for $27.44 million.
Christie’s has billed The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace as the most valuable jadeite jewel to appear on the market in more than 10 years. The necklace features 61 vivid green jadeite beads measuring approximately 13.7 mm to 8.8 mm in diameter, each displaying remarkable translucency, rich color saturation and exceptional consistency.
Matching jadeite beads of this caliber is extraordinarily difficult. Jadeite is prized for its natural color, texture and translucency. Finding dozens of beads that appear visually identical is considered one of the greatest challenges in high jewelry craftsmanship.
The comparison to the legendary Hutton-Mdivani Necklace is inevitable. That celebrated Cartier creation featured only 27 beads, but they were significantly larger, ranging from 19.2 mm to 15.4 mm in diameter. Formerly owned by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton and Georgian Princess Nina Mdivani, the necklace sparked a 20-minute bidding battle before ultimately joining the Cartier Collection in 2014.
While the Hutton-Mdivani Necklace remains the benchmark for jadeite jewelry, Christie’s experts believe The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace belongs in the same elite category because of its extraordinary harmony, color and rarity.
High-quality jadeite is among the world’s rarest gemstones. The finest examples — often called “Imperial Jade” — display an intense emerald-like green color combined with glassy translucency. Only a tiny percentage of jadeite mined worldwide possesses the qualities necessary for high jewelry.
Its value extends far beyond rarity alone. In Chinese culture, jadeite has long symbolized purity, wisdom, protection and prosperity. Often referred to as the “stone of heaven,” jade has been treasured in Asia for thousands of years and remains one of the region’s most culturally significant gemstones.
Vickie Sek, chairman of jewelry for Christie’s Asia Pacific, described The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace as “the pinnacle of jadeite craftsmanship,” noting that bead necklaces have long been treasured for both their cultural significance and enduring beauty.
With Christie’s celebrating its 40th anniversary in Asia this year, the appearance of such a remarkable necklace adds even greater significance to an already highly anticipated sale.
Credits: Photos courtesy of Christie’s Ltd. 2026.