Jadeite has been treasured across Asia for generations, valued for its colour, translucency, texture and rarity.

What is especially interesting today is seeing fine jadeite appear more often in contemporary high jewellery - not only in traditional forms, but also in bold, modern designs alongside diamonds and other important gemstones.

For us, this does not make jadeite newly desirable. Rather, it shows how a gemstone with such a long history can continue to feel relevant and exciting in very different styles of jewellery.

A Recent High Jewellery Moment

Image credit: BVLGARI

One recent example that caught our attention was Bvlgari’s Eclettica High Jewellery collection in 2026.

During its presentation in Shanghai, global brand ambassador Liu Yifei wore a striking necklace centred on a vivid green jadeite cabochon.

What we found particularly interesting was how confidently the jadeite was placed at the centre of the design.

It was not treated simply as a traditional jade jewel. Instead, the jadeite became the main focus of a highly contemporary high jewellery piece.

For anyone familiar with fine jadeite, this idea is not new. When the material is beautiful enough, the jadeite itself naturally becomes the star of the piece.

Exceptional Jadeite at Auction

Image credit: Christie's

Strong interest in fine jadeite can also be seen at the very top end of the auction market.

In May 2026, Christie’s Hong Kong sold The Ethereal Jadeite Necklace for HK$200.2 million, approximately US$25.5 million.

The necklace is made up of 61 carefully matched jadeite beads, chosen for their harmony in colour, translucency, texture, size and proportion.

A fine jadeite bead necklace can be much more difficult to assemble than it may first appear.

It is not enough for each bead to be beautiful on its own. The entire strand has to feel balanced and consistent when worn together.

And as the bead size and quality increase, finding enough suitable material becomes increasingly challenging.

This is one of the reasons exceptional jadeite can become so rare — several desirable qualities need to come together at the same time.

What Makes Fine Jadeite So Special?

Colour is usually the first thing people notice in jadeite, especially when it comes to vivid green pieces.

But colour alone does not determine quality.

When we look at jadeite, we also pay close attention to other quality factors such as:

Translucency · Texture · Clarity · Proportion · Craftsmanship

Jadeite is also very different from many faceted gemstones.

Cabochons, bangles and beads have relatively simple forms, which means the quality of the jadeite itself is much harder to hide.

A cabochon allows you to appreciate the natural colour, translucency and texture of the material directly.

A bangle requires a sufficiently large section of suitable jadeite rough, while a bead necklace needs enough material of complementary quality to form a harmonious strand.

This is why larger, fine-quality jadeite can become especially difficult to find. As size increases, achieving good colour together with fine texture and translucency becomes more challenging.

Jadeite Through a Contemporary Lens

Jadeite has never been limited to one style of jewellery.

Classic jadeite forms such as cabochons, bangles and bead necklaces remain highly relevant, while designers continue to reinterpret them through contemporary settings and new combinations of materials.

Rather than moving away from these familiar forms, modern high jewellery shows how they can be presented in fresh and unexpected ways.

To us, this versatility is part of what makes jadeite so special.

Our Perspective at ClassicJade

At ClassicJade, our appreciation of jadeite always begins with the material itself. We specialise in high quality natural Type A jadeite, and when selecting pieces, we look closely at qualities such as colour, translucency, texture, proportion and overall character.

From there, the setting should work with the jadeite rather than compete with it. Whether it is a classic cabochon, a bangle, a strand of beads or a more contemporary design, we believe the jadeite should remain at the heart of the piece.

It is exciting to see fine jadeite receiving wider attention in the international jewellery world, while still retaining the qualities that have made it treasured for generations. Styles may change, but the appeal of exceptional jadeite remains.

Explore ClassicJade’s curated collection of natural Type A jadeite jewellery.