According to the auction house, the representatives of millennials and generation Z provided 44% of all bidders and buyers in the luxury category, writes Fashion Network. In parallel, the influence of female clients has increased: their total spending increased by 20% compared to the previous year, and the total participation in the auction increased by 10%. These figures confirm the ongoing generational shift and transformation of the demand structure.
Jewelry: betting on color and vintage aesthetics
In the jewelry segment, there is still a steady interest in colored gemstones – emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Record demand was recorded for Paraiba tourmalines. Pearls are experiencing a large-scale return to fashion. Expressive designs of the 1960s and 1980s are attracting special attention of buyers.
At the same time, the market of white diamonds demonstrates price stabilization, and demand remains stable, which indicates that the balance has been restored after previous fluctuations.
Watches: growth of private transactions and interest in neo-vintage
The watch segment saw a record volume of private sales, including a number of transactions over $10 million. Collectors actively purchased vintage models and works by independent masters, while there was a stable interest in rare examples of leading brands.
The growth in popularity of neo-vintage models from the 1990s and early 2000s is particularly noticeable, as they are becoming the choice of the younger generation of buyers.
Handbags: Hermès’ stable leadership
Hermès has held the world leadership in the handbags category for the 11th year in a row. The greatest demand was for Kelly Pochette models, rare Birkin Faubourg and products from the period of cooperation with Jean-Paul Gaultier. Chanel’s catwalk models and Louis Vuitton’s historic suitcases also showed strong results.
Financial results and forecast
The overall realization rate in the luxury segment reached 90% and the final prices exceeded the minimum estimates by an average of 129%. These figures confirm the status of luxury goods as one of Christie’s fastest growing businesses.
The auction house enters 2026 expecting to further expand its audience of young collectors worldwide, strengthen private sales and emphasize carefully selected single-owner collections. Current dynamics suggest that the luxury market will continue to transform, driven by a new generation of buyers and more personalized transaction formats.
