christies.com

One-line introduction

Christie’s is one of the world’s leading art auction houses. Founded by James Christie in London in 1766, it has a history of more than 250 years. It offers auction services for high-end collectibles ranging from Old Master paintings, modern art, jewelry and watches to rare wines and antique furniture, while also providing professional services such as valuation, authentication, and private sales for participants in the art market. Users choose Christie’s mainly for its authority in art transactions, global buyer network, and transparent public auction process, making it an essential channel for collectors, investors, and art enthusiasts.

Business overview

Christie’s core business is public auctions of art and luxury goods, covering the full process from consignment sourcing, expert authentication, catalogue production, and preview exhibitions to online and offline bidding. As one of the “big two” auction houses alongside Sotheby’s, Christie’s has more than 60 offices worldwide and holds around 350 auctions each year across more than 80 collecting categories. Its client base mainly includes high-net-worth individual collectors, family offices, art funds, museums, and corporate investors. In addition to auctions, Christie’s also offers Private Sales, art finance services such as secured lending, and estate planning advisory to help clients manage art assets. In recent years, Christie’s has actively embraced digital transformation, launching a real-time bidding platform in 2020 and selling Beeple’s NFT artwork for US$69 million in 2021, marking its move into digital art. Its industry position is extremely strong, and it remains a key barometer of the global art market.

Who it is for

Christie’s is best suited to high-net-worth individuals or institutions with a clear interest in art investment. Specifically, this includes:

• Experienced collectors: Those who regularly buy and sell classic artworks, such as Impressionist or modern art, to enrich or adjust their collections.
• Art investors: Those who view art as an alternative asset and hope to achieve appreciation or liquidity through the auction market.
• Corporate clients: Hotels, banks, family offices, and similar organizations that need to purchase high-end decorative artworks or allocate capital to cultural brand assets.
• Art enthusiasts: Even with limited budgets, users can learn by participating in lower-priced auctions, such as entry-level lots in “Classic Week,” or by following market trends.
• Sellers: Those who own inherited or collected artworks, jewelry, luxury watches, and similar items and want professional valuation plus access to global sales channels.

It is not suitable for ordinary consumers or small teams, because the auction threshold is relatively high—usually requiring a deposit—and it primarily serves transactions involving non-standard goods rather than standardized e-commerce products.

Key features and highlights

• Top-tier global auction network: Hundreds of auctions each year cover core art markets such as New York, London, Hong Kong, and Paris, with buyers able to bid online or by phone.
• Expert authentication and valuation: Provides free or paid appraisal services, with authoritative reports issued by senior specialists in fields such as Impressionist art and Chinese porcelain.
• Digital bidding platform: Christie’s Live supports real-time bidding, allowing users to participate remotely and watch livestreams without attending in person.
• Private sales service: Matches buyers and sellers confidentially without public auction, suitable for high-value or sensitive transactions.
• NFT and digital art auctions: One of the first major auction houses to launch dedicated crypto art sales, offering digital collectors a compliant transaction channel.
• Education and research resources: The official website offers extensive art market reports, auction results databases, and free art history courses to help users improve their connoisseurship.

Pricing analysis

Christie’s pricing structure sits at the premium end of the market, but its fees are not charged as fixed monthly or annual subscriptions. Instead, fees are transaction-based. Buyers pay a buyer’s premium, typically 12%–25% of the hammer price, decreasing by price tier. Sellers pay a seller’s commission, usually 10%–20%, as well as insurance fees. In addition, bidders usually need to place a deposit, often 20%–50% of the estimated price, which is refundable if no purchase is made. For lower-priced lots, such as those under US$5,000, the commission rate can be relatively high and overall value for money is average. For million-dollar lots, however, the commission percentage is lower and the seller benefits from global promotional resources. Hidden costs include shipping, customs duties, insurance, and VAT, such as local taxes on auctions held in the UK or Hong Kong. Overall, Christie’s is better suited to users with larger budgets. Ordinary users can try participating through “online auction” sales, where starting bids may be as low as a few hundred dollars, but should understand all costs in advance.

How Chinese users can use it

• Access and connectivity: Christie’s official website, christies.com, can be accessed directly from mainland China without a VPN. However, some features, such as live bidding streams, may be affected by network instability, so a stable VPN can help improve performance.
• Payment methods: Supports international credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, bank wire transfers, and Alipay in some regions, limited to Hong Kong sales. Mainland Chinese users should note that direct RMB payments may be restricted and payments usually need to be converted into USD or HKD. Cross-border bank transfers may also incur fees.
• Whether a VPN is needed: Browsing information does not require a VPN, but using one is recommended when participating in online bidding or watching livestreams to ensure a stable connection.
• Domestic alternatives: China has auction houses such as China Guardian and Poly Auction, but they are weaker than Christie’s in overseas influence, range of collecting categories, and pricing transparency. For users focused on Chinese artworks, domestic auction houses are more convenient; for entry into the global market, Christie’s is the preferred choice.
• Invoice issues: Christie’s can provide auction sale confirmations and payment receipts, but as an overseas company, it cannot issue Chinese VAT invoices. Corporate users need to handle tax reporting themselves.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• ✅ Global authority: A 250-year history, strong brand trust, and robust authenticity assurance for lots.
• ✅ Broad category coverage: From classical to contemporary, and from physical objects to digital assets, meeting diverse needs.
• ✅ Mature digital experience: Smooth online bidding and support for remote participation.
• ✅ Rich educational resources: Free reports and courses lower the entry barrier.
• ✅ High transparency: Auction results are public and historical data is searchable.

Cons:

• ❌ High costs: Buyer’s premiums and deposit requirements are high, making it unsuitable for small transactions.
• ❌ Regional service restrictions: Some auctions are limited to specific regions, such as the US or UK, and Chinese users need to account for time zones and logistics.
• ❌ No Chinese invoice: Cannot meet the reimbursement needs of Chinese companies requiring official VAT invoices.
• ❌ Intense competition: Popular lots attract many bidders, creating a high risk of paying a premium.
• ❌ Difficult refunds: There is no clear refund policy, and completed sales are generally not returnable, so buyers must bear the risk of appraisal or judgment errors.

Comparison with similar platforms

• Sotheby’s: Christie’s direct competitor, with almost the same status, fee structure, and service model. Sotheby’s launched online bidding earlier, while it entered the NFT field slightly later. The choice largely depends on personal preference.
• Phillips: Positioned slightly lower, with a focus on contemporary art and design. Its commissions are relatively lower, making it suitable for younger collectors with more limited budgets.
• China Guardian / Poly Auction: Dominant in the Chinese market, supporting RMB payments and Chinese invoices, but with weaker international influence and lots mainly focused on Chinese art. Suitable for users focused on the domestic market.

Recommendation

Christie’s is best suited to high-net-worth individuals or institutions, especially those who want to enter the global art market and value authority and transparency. If you plan to buy or sell collectibles worth more than US$100,000 and can accept higher transaction costs, Christie’s is a top choice. But if you only occasionally bid on smaller items, such as those under US$5,000, it is better to start with its “online auction” sales or consider more affordable options such as Phillips. For Chinese users, if payment and invoice issues cannot be resolved, domestic auction houses may be a better first option. However, if the target is overseas masterpieces or jewelry, Christie’s global network is hard to replace. It is recommended to register a free account first, browse the auction calendar and results database, and then decide whether to place a deposit and participate in bidding.