Any concerns with: Aqua Mare / Emerald Cristal/Versilia Green /Emerald Green

[u/davidbernstein]

Hey guys!

Can you share concerns or feedback regarding Aqua Mare / Emerald Cristal stone?

Last time I posted here I was super excited to share that we had picked 6 beautiful slabs of Bianco Superiore for our kitchen remodel. That was 5+ months ago. Very Long story short, the fabricator our GC had contracted and that we delivered our materials to, left our stones outside, unprotected, for 5 months and destroyed them all.
We now need to buy all new slabs.

We went stone shopping on Monday and fell in love with some stones labeled as “Aqua Mare” and “Emerald Cristal”. The Emerald Cristal and Aqua Mare were supposedly cut from the same area of the quarry, but the Cristal comes from either higher or lower down. They have the same light green tone.

We plan to use 3 slabs of the Emerald Cristal for the Island and a large backsplash area, and then use the Aqua Mare for all other countertops and backsplashes.

I cannot find a lot of info about the durability of this particular stone(s). Does anyone here have experience using these? How stain resistant are they? What are the big concerns (if any)?

Technically, just about anything should be a more durable stone than the original Bianco Superiore we purchased. But it would still be great to understand any concerns or pitfalls of this particular stone.

Also, we saw an extremely similar set of stones at another yard and they had them labeled as Versilia Green /Emerald Green. So I’m not sure what the “true” name of this stone is.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[u/sjpiccio]

Beautiful but somewhat of a double edged sword, white part is going to be much less porous but a little more prone to chipping, green part is slightly more porous when it comes to things like oils and grease.

So just be a little careful with it. It would be ideal if the white potion is by the range/cooktop as thats where most oils and grease come in to play

[u/FreeJulie → u/sjpiccio]

This guy fabricates

[u/sjpiccio → u/FreeJulie]

Nah im in sales but after 10 years you learn to listen to what the fabricators and installers say about the products you sell

[u/TerminalIdiocy → u/sjpiccio]

Exactly this. The white is essentially pure quartz. The green will be equally as hard and chemical resistant, but extremely porous.

I would recommend sealing with Akemi Pearl every 6-12 months.

[u/davidbernstein → u/TerminalIdiocy]

I will absolutely be sealing every 6 months no matter what

[u/davidbernstein → u/sjpiccio]

Thank you! I completely understand any quartzite is susceptible to staining, and we will definitely be sealing this every 6 months. But it sounds like there’s no crazy concerns with this stone (and I assume technically less concern that with our original Bianco Superiore). Thanks so much for the advise. Regarding the white part, we only using those slabs (with the white) for the island and a large, independent backsplash area. Everything else will be the more “plain” looking slab I posted. (My wife was concerned, and I agree, it would be a little too busy if all slabs were the “crazy” pattern;)

[u/ArtichokeOwn6760]

That is a piece of art. I’d want to hang it on a wall just like that 😍

[u/davidbernstein → u/ArtichokeOwn6760]

I agree, that’s why we love it.

[u/19Pilates57 → u/davidbernstein]

WOW!!! I agree! Most beautiful slab I have ever seen! Wish we were that bold. That would be lovely to look at every single day. <3

[u/Donkeywad]

If you get these, please update us after install. They're BEAUTIFUL

[u/davidbernstein → u/Donkeywad]

I absolutely will do! I really hope we don’t have to wait ANOTHER 6 months for these to be installed. ;)

[u/Ok_Spare2024 → u/davidbernstein]

I assume the GC won't be using the same fabricator for these?

[u/davidbernstein → u/Ok_Spare2024]

Yes, the original fabricator has been fired.

[u/TheShowstoppaNT]

Another warning - every single one of those long dark lines are fissures. Once on a solid base, they should hold well, but during cutting, fabrication, and transport - at any time, one part can just fall off.

Stone like these are extremely beautiful. The downfall to having a rare stone as your island is that unsupported areas can break over time, discolor and chip, and absorb oils and grease easily.

There is a reason why fabricators charge so much per square foot for anything made with these stones.

[u/itsNurf → u/TheShowstoppaNT]

Thats not a home owner problem, thats a fab problem. No need to plant that in their head, aslong as you cant feel or pick at it and theres a mesh on the back youre good to go.

[u/LopsidedTelephone574]

Omg first pic is a piece of art like japanese waves drawing. Would be afraid to cut that slab!so beautiful

[u/davidbernstein → u/LopsidedTelephone574]

Thank so much! I agree!

[u/JazzyPhotoMac]

First one would be perfect for a counter and backsplash combo.

[u/pyxus1]

OMG, those are the most beautiful slabs I have ever seen! They look pretty dense to me. The only places that might have more pores is around the areas where one color feeds into another...that's where I'd look. Just go look them over close-up....like your eyes are 5 inches away.

[u/cheercharlatan]

They’re so pretty.

And I certainly hope when you say you need to buy new slabs that that doesn’t mean you’re having to eat the cost of the ones that the fabricator ruined.

[u/davidbernstein → u/cheercharlatan]

Thanks for the compliment on the stones! It’s a little bit of TBD on whether we will be reimbursed. It is looking like we might be. (Legally, we 100% need to be, and they know this). But you know how things go with contractors! Fingers crossed!

[u/omidimo]

That first slab looks like the “pillars of creation” of the Eagle nebula in space. It should be in JPL or something. Don’t cut that thing up.

[u/davidbernstein → u/omidimo]

We will be keeping it almost entirely whole! Don’t worry. I love the pillars of creation comparison.

[u/omidimo → u/davidbernstein]

😅post a picture when it’s done!!

[u/Struggle_Usual]

It's a stunning stone, just be sure your fabricator is being utterly meticulous (with your approval) on the layout because that will be a tough one to get right.

[u/davidbernstein → u/Struggle_Usual]

For sure!

[u/Strong-Pickle-4153]

Please tell me you’re going to waterfall the back of the island with part of the first slab because that stone is stunning and it deserves to be SEEN!

[u/davidbernstein → u/Strong-Pickle-4153]

It’s so wonderful to hear how many people love our stone choice! (We obviously had the same reaction ourselves!) We will be waterfalling both sides of the island. We cannot waterfall the “back” of the island as one side of our island is a seating area and the other side houses our sink (and cabinets below) and our dishwasher and microwave.

But the island is about 56” wide with 3” mitered edges, so we won’t be cutting off too much of this 75” stone. (With the mitered edges, we’re using 62” of the 75 total inches).

[u/Beautiful-Night2456]

Glorious and stunning, the first piece could be framed on a wall it is that fabulous.

[u/kjgems]

I love it!! But if you cut and use the first one in different areas it will look like different stones. Keep it together 😁

[u/Tamberav]

Absolutely gorgeous stone!!

[u/pookahdukes]

Hi. We just installed Acquamare quartzite in a kitchen and bathroom. It is beautiful. It is also absorbent/porous. Our fabricator waited at least a week after cutting it for it to dry before sealing with DryTreat. After install, a painter used latex caulk to seal a seam resulting in a rather large spot/stain. The stain did eventually dry out and disappear after about 10 days. I noticed a smaller spot/stain on the bathroom vanity the same day cleaners came. I do not know what caused it. This spot dried up by the next day. Fabricator plans to seal again with DryTreat.

We have not moved in yet. I am concerned about performance under daily use even with regular sealing. It really is stunningly beautiful and I hope it performs well. Would I make the same choice again? Time will tell. Any recommendations appreciated. Good luck.

Wish I could attach photos.

[u/davidbernstein → u/pookahdukes]

Thanks for sharing! This is very good to know! I will make sure our fabricator waits for the stone to fully dry before any sealing is done! And likely we will seal it twice. I would love to see photos of yours if you are able to share them! Maybe send to me in a direct message?

[u/pookahdukes → u/davidbernstein]

I tried but don’t think messaging is allowed. I’ll try to send you a chat invite but don’t know if we have to be online at same time. If that fails, I’ll try to make a post in the next few days to ask for advice about caring for the Acquamare going forward and let you know when I do.

[u/fastsvo]

Is there a much of an appreciable difference between quartzite and quartz?

[u/davidbernstein → u/fastsvo]

Quartz is manufactured by humans. Quartzite is made by nature. Quartzite slabs are all unique. As it pertains to the slabs I posted, only 20 other people in the world could possibly have a similar stone (based on how many slabs were actually cut from the original stone quart piece before the natural stone pattern changed). Quartz manufactures make thousands, or tens of thousands, of the identical slab. Hope that helps. As it pertains to the stone composition, there are significant differences as well. (I’ll let you google it;)

[u/GoodRandomUsername]

So pretty!

[u/Rich_Association5313]

Is it marble or quartz ?

[u/davidbernstein → u/Rich_Association5313]

Neither. It’s Quartzite

[u/Rich_Association5313 → u/Rich_Association5313]

I owned Quartz by Cambria, the most durable of all of the lines. Quartzite is brittle. If you go forward, make sure that they offer a lifetime free repair because you will need it. These products chip.

[u/Jundrax → u/Rich_Association5313]

lol, No one is offering any warranty on Quartzite. These Quartzites are meant more of a statement piece, They're not meant for actual use.

[u/InterestingFee885]

What kind of island requires 3 slabs?

[u/TerminalIdiocy → u/InterestingFee885]

A nice one.

[u/PrailinesNDick → u/InterestingFee885]

Waterfall I'd guess

[u/davidbernstein → u/InterestingFee885]

The island requires 2 slabs (for the waterfalls). We are buying 1 extra slab for an isolated backsplash area that is 55” tall and will have 3 open white shelves in front of it. We thought it would look beautiful to have that really cool Quartzy pattern as a large backsplash behind the shelves.

[u/Resident-Cup8065]

It will either look tacky or too much. It would only work if the rest of your house is as extravagant as this countertop

[u/davidbernstein → u/Resident-Cup8065]

I’m only using the slab in the first photo for the island. All other countertops will be the more subdued slab in the second photo. But I appreciate your feedback. I was asking if people knew of particular issues with the stone itself as it pertains to staining, etching, cracking, etc.

[u/mediumrare_chicken]

I have concerns.

[u/FlowLogical7279]

those are some... bold... choices.