Fabrication & Finishing
Leathered Finish
A leathered finish (also called brushed or antiqued) is created by passing rotating diamond brushes over a honed surface to produce a textured, low-sheen result that accentuates the stone's natural topography. It is popular for dark granites and quartzites in kitchen applications because it hides fingerprints and water spots better than polished surfaces. Texture depth varies by tool pressure and stone hardness.
Brushing wears down the softer minerals a little more than the hard ones, so the face keeps a slight relief you can feel, with a soft sheen instead of a mirror shine. Dark granites keep a deep color, and the texture hides fingerprints, water spots and small scratches better than a polished face.
It is most common on granite, quartzite and dark marbles, above all for kitchen countertops. The small hollows hold dirt a little more than a polished face, so it needs regular cleaning, and porous stones still need a sealer. Not every stone takes it well, so buyers usually ask for a sample first.
In Noria Strata
In Noria Strata the finish is part of every slab, next to its size, thickness and photo, and buyers on the Portal see it before they hold a slab.