Hyderabad earned the name through craft, not cultivation. Pearls have never grown in Hyderabad's waters — raw pearls have been imported here since the Qutb Shahi era and drilled, bleached, graded and hand-knotted by local artisans around Charminar, making the city the world's leading pearl-processing and stringing centre.

Three checks work at the counter. Real pearls feel slightly gritty when rubbed lightly against the edge of a tooth, while imitation pearls feel glassy and smooth. Natural and cultured pearls are never perfectly identical — look for small variations in shape, size and surface across the strand. Real pearls also stay cool to the touch for a moment before warming to skin temperature. For certainty, ask for a certificate of authenticity, which we include with every Krishna Pearls order.

Price depends mainly on pearl type, size and lustre rather than on strand length. Freshwater pearl sets are the most accessible starting point, South Sea and Tahitian pearls sit considerably higher because of their size and rarity, and price rises steeply with diameter — a 9mm strand can cost several times a 7mm strand of identical quality. Browse this collection for current pricing across all four pearl types, or visit our Pathragatti showroom for pieces made to order.