THE MANGATRAI PEARL ATLAS
Know your pearls.
Inherit the knowledge.
For 120 years, six generations of master craftsmen have studied the pearl in every form it takes — from the rivers of Hyderabad to the lagoons of Tahiti. This is the education we have passed to every patron who walks through our doors.
The pearl family
Every pearl on earth belongs to one of three families. At Mangatrai, we work only with the two that are real — never imitation.
Imitation
WE DON'T DEAL IN THESE
Real Cultured
OUR CRAFT
Real Natural
BASRA · ON REQUEST
Freshwater
RIVER-GROWN
Saltwater
OCEAN-GROWN
Freshwater vs Saltwater
| FRESHWATER | SALTWATER | |
|---|---|---|
| OYSTER | Mussels produce 30+ pearls at a time | Oysters produce 1–2 pearls at a time |
| ORIGIN | Rivers, ponds & lakes | Oceans & bays |
| VALUE | More affordable, excellent value | Higher priced due to scarcity & difficulty |
| MATURATION | 6 months to 3 years | 3 to 5 years |
| COLOUR | White, pink, peach (others dyed) | Varies by saltwater variety |
The four saltwater houses
A vocabulary of rare pearls — each with its own provenance, hue and story.
South Sea
Australia & Indonesia · golden lustre
Japanese Akoya
Japan · mirror-white brilliance
Tahitian
French Polynesia · peacock-black
Keshi
Rare by-product · organic silver shimmer
The four virtues of a fine pearl
Lustre
The deep mirror-like reflection on the surface — the single greatest measure of value.
Surface
The fewer the blemishes, the rarer the pearl. AA grade allows only minor markings.
Shape
Round is rarest; near-round and button shapes offer beautiful value with the same orient.
Nacre
Thicker nacre means a longer-lived pearl. Ours are cultured for 2–3 years minimum.
