Quartzite vs. Marble

Buying Guide

Cristallo was by far the most expensive of the quartzites we were quoted. One slab ran $8500.

Yes, it is very expensive. I have it at $179/sqft.

Hi Fluffycat1505. I am sorry to hear of your expensive trouble..

That bathtub surrounding is Cristallo? it looks so different from the slabs I have seen.

Also, does anyone know of Lumix and Quarzo are same as Cristallo? They look alike to me, but of course I am looking at online photos, which could be deceiving.

That’s what they told me. It looks like marble but feels and acts like quartz. That’s what I have except for that fine line. I am not a fan with this pattern. And the scratch. If it was just that it might be ok. I am a marble person. If you really want marble I would go with it. Liking marble I don’t like this cristallo or fake marble. It feels not the same as marble. Like quartz

Cristallo is a superb natural stone harder than granite.

I hope that it was your choice.

Cristallo quartzite full mitered integrated vanity

@Lori Hand I realize this is an older post, but hope you worked it out with your fabricator that that dark stone you pictured is absolutely not cristallo. Guarantee it.

Hello! Also fell in love with cristallo and wondering what you decided?! No way to sample until we purchase the slab

We got Cristallo in our kitchen over 2 years ago now. We absolutely love it. I was told by the fabricator on the day of the installation that Cristallo can be brittle (what???) so are careful to not bang the corners/edge, etc. Otherwise, it is indestructible. Lots of tomato sauce, vinegar etc. and no stains or etch. Still look new and I am still madly in love with it. Good luck!!

HappyJaye - Thank you SO much!! Can I ask what you decided to do for backsplash? It's so beautiful I hate ruin it! Is yours polished or honed?

HU-891276262 I am embarrassed to say that we still don't have a backsplash. First we wanted everything in the kitchen before we make a final decision, and then took us a long time to finally select a tile. We are in Canada and needed to travel to US to pick the tiles up... then the boarders closed due to Covid. We have to start over from scratch, so please share your tile info with me. :D

HappyJaye - I hope to pick out backsplash after I can get a hunk of the quartzite. I am waiting to hear on price. Can I ask if you remember what you ended up paying per sq ft? I'll be sure to keep you posted on backsplash! Our cabinets are natural cherry and I have a painted white accent piece. What color are your cabinets? Do you have any photos you can share or did I miss those?

HU-891276262 It took us a long time and found a water jet marble and mother of pearl mosaic tile that we thought that would go well with the countertop. We needed to take a sample of our countertop down to the States to ensure that colors match. That didn't happen yet, and now we are thinking of finding a simpler/local solution. Please share ideas that you come across ;)

Absolutely beautiful!

I found a remnant of crystallo for a 27x24 bathroom vanity but it is 2cm. Is this an issue? I know that some people recommend plywood underneath since it is thinner but is this necessary with this size vanity?

I love the cristallo, what color did you paint the walls? I have white cabinets. Thank you

Diane:

No.

HU-96911429, We have cristallo with white cabinets.

We painted our walls Repose Gray (SW) and Kendall Charcoal (BM).

If I had to do it again, I would have selected Barren Plains (BM) instead of Repose Gray. I think it would have looked better in our kitchen, however Repose Gray is not bad either.

Happyjaye what shade of white cabinets do you have?

I am considering Crystallo for a 60” round table top. Is it too brittle for that application?

@HU-96911429

love your backsplash. what is it exactlt? looks great eith the crystallo.

is your crystallo polished or leathered?

Fluffycat1505

can we see pictures of it

@HappyJaye wow tomatoe swude abd vinegar resistant, that is great! i wonder if it depends in the finish of the crystallo? is it leathered? or shiny?

what does wveryone think of leathered finish?

fabricator here only carries leathered crystallo

Kaitlyn G, cabinets were painted with Simply White, Benjamin Moore

Me AGirl Polished finish. I haven't seen crystallo in leathered finish. If you have a photo of leathered crystallo, please share. I would love to see it ;)

Your kitchen looks gorgeous. Could you please tell me what the name of your backsplash is?

I’m thinking of using crystallo for my kitchen. Any updates on how it’s holding up?

Crystallo is spectacular.

@happyjaye Can you share the name I’d your fabricator in Orlando.

Im in Orlando and used stone crazy jake was very helpful and knowledgable i think Happyjaye is in canada

HU- 926282148
Who is your fabricator in Orlando

Hello All

we are going to install Cristalo counter top and planning to put led lights under it.

But, the favriactor has asked us to put three cat iton rods under the cristalo countertop for island. If we do then and then install led lights under it, the cast iron bars will blcok part fo the backlight. Just wnated to see if anyone had any experience wi5 this kind of installation?

Can

Whoever has installed cristallo or superwhite, can you post pictures please.

How are the LED lights installed?

Used Light Tape.

As a translucent natural stone, everything will show through when lit. Rods, Imperfections, or whatever is not obvious when unlit. When unlit it is a totally different look, where those imperfections add interest and beauty.

When lit, they stand out more and absorb the light differently. The top picture‘s dark line is an imperfection in the stone. Not sure if those are Rods or Veining in the bottom picture.

@vikki7444 it looks very interesting. I like it. Would it be possible to see pictures of this u lit, how was the lighting done, in grids/ rows? What type of lighting system

Light system is Lighttape.com. Full panel of very thin led lights surrounded by plastic for each section of space. (No thicker than 2 credit cards). Customized panel requires a template made of each section and lead time for them to produce the panel and mail to you. Easy installation for an electrician, as long as the measurements for the panels are exact.

This Cristallo is very translucent, like a milky ice when not lit. I don’t think you are able to appreciate the crystallization in the pictures, as it looks flat, but it is not.

Does cristallo have some grey in it or cream

Does it look like worn out ice on a skating rink? Or crushed ice compacted?

Which region is the fabricator

The color depends on the slab And how the light hits it due to the translucent nature.

Most that I have seen have an unusual feature in that they appear greyish white when on the side and tend to lighten when flat. I believe the clearer and ‘cleaner‘ they are, the higher the price.

The one pictured has a combination of white, cream, grey, and brown.

The slab before Fabrication. This seems more colorful than most. (Funny as I look at the slab, l see that white streak is an imperfection and not a rod….never paid it any attention until now!!)

Another slab with less color variation.

A very clean and expensive ’white’ and grey slab.

The last one was like a true crystal. It was the first slab I saw in Cristallo and when I looked at it from the back, I was hooked as it was so translucent, even from the back of the slab. The fabricator priced it at $40,000 as I don’t think he wanted to touch it! It was soo translucent.

The consistency also varies, probably leaning more to a mini glacier look. When the sun hits the countertop, it shows even more of the layers.

The fabricator is in Virginia, but Cristallo is popular, so more Fabricators are aware of it’s particulars…. but they may charge more since it does require a different expertise.

If you're backlighting a Cristallo quartzite countertop and need to install cast iron support rods, you’re right to consider how they might impact the lighting. The key is planning your layers properly so the backlighting remains even and seamless.

Here’s how we usually recommend setting things up:

• Support First – add a 1/2" plywood subtop on top of the steel rods

• LED Light Panels – Our ultra-thin frameless LED panels sit directly on a plywood or MDF sub-top.

• Diffusion Layer (If Needed) – If you’re using multiple LED panels a ¼” to ½” clear acrylic layer can help spread the light more evenly into the stone.

• Stone on Top – The quartzite sits directly on top of everything, completing the look.

If you’re worried about shadows, we can help troubleshoot placement or suggest adjustments to ensure you still get an even glow. Let us know the exact layout, and we’ll be happy to provide a layering diagram specific to your setup.

I have cristallo countertops. three words ” TO DIE FOR” Rare and eternally beautiful . you cant go wrong.,

Beautiful
Nicely done

@vikki7444 what kind of edge does your cristallo countertop have? i love it

@Sha Green what edge do you have on your countertops? looks so nice