In spite of the global economic gloom that had forced consumers to hold off on spending, demand for high-end jadeite, after gemstones, remains red-hot in the Asian region. At a Myanmar jadeite auction held in Yangon from June 22 to July 4 of last year, high-end rough jadeite transactions reached an all-time high with overall sales growing 1.5 times. Jadeite sales amounted to 210 million euros (roughly US$288 million) or 4.5 times the reserve price.