The global market for fine art and luxury goods closed out 2024 on a positive note, despite what Christie’s CEO Guillaume Cerutti termed “a challenging environment.” Private sale and auction results surged in the second half of the year, and Christie’s ended 2024 with $5.7 billion in global sales.

In 2025, Christie’s is positioned to lead the industry, with recent expansions in luxury markets in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, the acquisition of a leading car auctioneer, and, as always, a stacked lineup of auctions and private sales that showcase giants in the worlds of art, jewelry, wine, entertainment and more.

Christie’s 2024 highlights included:

• The sale of René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières, which achieved $121.2 million in New York and was the most valuable artwork sold in 2024
• The sale of Vincent van Gogh’s Les canots amarrés, for $32.2 million in Hong Kong
• The sale of Titian’s Rest on the Flight into Egypt, for $21.7 million in London
• The sale of Claude Monet’s Nymphéas, which achieved $30 million in Hong Kong

Last year also saw a number of notable collections come under the hammer at Christie’s, including those from music legend Sir Elton John, celebrated interior designer and philanthropist Mica Ertegun, and influential art dealers Mary and Alan Hobart.

Also in 2024, the Eden Rose, a 10.2-carat flawless pink diamond, sold for $13.3 million at New York’s Magnificent Jewels auction, beating its $12 million high estimate. And in Geneva, the Aga Khan Emerald, which got its name from Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, who gave it to his wife, sold for $8.8 million, setting a record for the most expensive emerald ever sold at auction.

“The market for signed vintage jewels and colored gemstones is as strong as it has ever been,” according to Max Fawcett, Christie’s Head of Jewlery Europe.

Luxury handbags, watches, wines and rarities of historic or scientific significance also remain robust. In December, Christie’s achieved $10.9 million at the Important Watches auction, with a signed Richard Mille, RM UP-01 Ferrari Ultra-Flat No. 37⁄150, leading the sale with a price of $1.4 million. Also in 2024, for the first time ever, Christie’s auctioned three dinosaur skeletons – a Stegosaurus and two Allosaurus fossils – for $15.4 million.

The luxury market is seeing an influx of new buyers, particularly among Gen Z and Millennial high-net-worth individuals, according to Christie’s. In 2024, 30% of Christie’s clientele consisted of millennials or younger generations. And in Asia, Christie’s recorded its strongest second-half sales since 2021, fueled by the rise of younger collectors who comprised 44% of buyers and bidders.

Christie’s remains focused on expanding its footprint in Asia. In September, it opened a new Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson in Hong Kong, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The location has since welcomed over 27,000 visitors. Later that month, Christie’s announced that it has been granted a commercial license in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, becoming the first dedicated international auction house with a presence in the Kingdom, a booming luxury market.

Christie’s also acquired Gooding & Company, the leading international auction house in the car collector market. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Christie’s, establishing its position in the expanding classic and collector car market and further solidifying its leadership in the broader luxury sector.

Christie’s + Christie’s International Real Estate Collaborations

Christie’s International Real Estate works hand in hand with the venerable auction house to service clients through exclusive marketing opportunities, events and referrals around the world. This strong relationship produced several successful sales of real estate, art and luxury items in 2024 including:

• The sale of an exceptional pair of Harry Winston spinel and diamond earrings, referred by Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California
• The sale of a $33.5 million home in Aspen, Colorado, for which Christie’s auction house referred the buyer
• The sale of George Condo’s ‘The Luitanent,’ referred by RIEDEL, the Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in Munich
• The sale of the iconic Aloha Lodge lake home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for $21.85 million. The listing was referred to @properties Christie’s International Real Estate by the auction house.

On Tap for 2025

Several impressive personal collections are set to come under the hammer at Christie’s in the first quarter of the year, including:

• The guitar and amp collection of English rockstar Jeff Beck, who was a member of the Yardbirds
• Comedian Barry Humphries’ collection of books, manuscripts, Australian paintings, Victorian and 19th-century art and Impressionist and modern art

In February, Classic Week is set to return to New York, with auctions for Antiquities, Old Masters, and more.

• Kicking off the week, the Antiquities sale showcases a collection of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Byzantine artifacts, dating from the 3rd millennium BC to the 12th century AD. Highlights include a red-figured kylix, attributed to the Brygos Painter, and ancient jewelry formerly part of the collection of Ernst and Marthe Kofler-Truniger of Lucerne.
• The Old Masters sales bring together paintings, sculptures and drawings from some of the most celebrated names in pre-19th century art. Leading the sales is Saint Sebastian, a late masterpiece by the Spanish Renaissance painter El Greco. Other notable works up for auction include a selection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, a pair of altarpiece wings by Bartholomäus Bruyn and a rare drawing by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Travelers on donkeys approaching a ruined city gate.
• Global Treasury: The collection of Selim and Mary Zilkha will offer rare works ranging from the Renaissance to the 19th century, including the exquisite Zilkha Aldobrandini Tazza.

For more information and a complete schedule of 2025 auctions and sales, visit Christies.com.