How a polished finish is made
After a slab is sawn from the block, its face is ground with a series of diamond abrasives, each finer than the last. A honed surface stops partway through that sequence. A polished one keeps going until the face is flat enough at a microscopic level to reflect light like glass.
Because the shine comes from the flatness of the stone, it does not peel or wear off the way a coating would. It can dull where the surface is etched or scratched, and it can be restored by the same grinding process. A few slabs in the range are sold as Extra Polished, Absolute Black granite and Calacatta Gold marble among them, where the grinding is taken a step further for a deeper gloss.
Polished marble, quartzite and granite
Marble is the largest polished group, with the Calacatta family far ahead of any other name, then Bianco, Crema Marfil, Palissandro and the black Nero and Negro Marquina stones. Quartzite is the second group, led by Taj Mahal and the blue and green exotic stones. Granite is third, from Absolute Black to Nero Oceano.
Polish changes each of these differently. On white marble it sharpens the contrast between the vein and the ground. On quartzite it brings out the crystal depth that makes those stones look almost translucent. On black granite it produces the near-mirror surface the stone is usually bought for.
Etching and water spots
Marble, limestone, travertine and onyx are calcium carbonate stones, and acids such as lemon juice, vinegar or wine dissolve a thin layer of the surface. On a polished face that leaves a dull patch the size of the spill, easy to see against the gloss. The same etch on a honed face is much harder to spot.
Granite and true quartzite are silicate stones and do not react to kitchen acids in that way, which is why polished granite and quartzite are common on busy kitchen counters. Some stones sold as quartzite contain dolomite and can etch, so the behavior of a specific slab is best confirmed with the fabricator.
Onyx and sintered stone panels
Two smaller groups sit alongside the natural stone. Onyx is almost always polished, because the gloss lets light travel into its translucent bands, and it is used for feature walls and backlit panels. Sintered stone is an engineered slab made by fusing mineral powders under heat and pressure, and the polished versions here are thin 12 mm panels, some sized 125x63 inches.
Sintered stone does not etch the way marble does and it tolerates heat well, which makes a polished marble look possible on a busy counter. Its pattern is made at the factory, so it stays consistent from one slab to the next, where every quarried slab is one of a kind; the two suit different priorities. The engineered range is in sintered stone slabs.
Colors in polished slabs
White is the largest color group, followed by gray, then green, blue and black. Polish deepens most colors by a shade or two, because a matte surface scatters light and lightens what is under it. A polished green quartzite or a blue granite looks darker and more saturated than the same stone honed.
Kitchens, walls and floors
Kitchen counters, islands, vanity tops, backsplashes and wall cladding are the main uses. On a floor, a polished stone surface becomes slippery when wet, and polished slabs are used underfoot mostly in dry, formal spaces such as entries and living rooms.
On a wall the gloss works differently. A polished slab catches light from windows and fixtures and throws it back into the room, which is why polished marble is the usual choice for a book-matched feature wall or a fireplace surround, where two slabs opened side by side mirror each other's veins.
Polished slabs come in both thicknesses, with 3 cm the larger group for kitchen tops and 2 cm for walls and vanities, compared in 3 cm slabs and 2 cm slabs.
Polished or honed
The two finishes serve different priorities. Polished gives the deepest color, the sharpest veining and a surface that wipes clean easily, and it shows etching and water spots. Honed gives a softer, lighter look that hides those marks. Many kitchens use a polished granite or quartzite on the counter and keep honed stone for floors and bathroom walls. The matte side is in honed slabs.
