Its a man made product, different batches will have different shading and graining. Unfortunately just the way it is.

Appreciate your comment. I understood there would be some variation but wasn’t expecting to this degree. I’m trying not to feel disappointed but struggling as I know what the pattern/colour saturation can look like...so it’s hard to not feel like I got a lemon. Other people’s feedback helps to gauge the reasonableness of my feelings.

"so it’s hard to not feel like I got a lemon."

The question being though which was the "lemon", it could have been either or. Again that is the chances you take with man made products lite quartz where they attempt to make it appear like a natural stone.

You’re right - I refer to as lemon on the island because it looks very different in colour and veining pattern compared to the other 4 surface areas in the same space that are all very similar to each other. But if the whole kitchen was all similar or each one was actually uniquely different from one another in colour/pattern, I wouldn’t feel the same way. I actually asked the installer to confirm it was Calacatta Nuvo since it looked like we were almost attempting to select entirely different quarts for island to be intentionally unique from the rest. Sadly realizing we may have been better to have accepted the defective first island top as colour and veining were from same lot as rest of kitchen and clearly a better fit. It wasn’t brought to my attention that getting it replaced (warranty) would mean this level of variation. I didn’t know to ask and it wasn’t mentioned.

Any other users care to share opinion or feedback? I feel regretful I agreed to replace the damaged piece. I’m anxious and not relaxing in new kitchen. Crying looking at the counter :(

Would you post a picture of the entire space?

I don't think we can reassure you about the color variation you're seeing, certainly not with these photos. I agree a picture of the entire space or something further back with both surfaces included would help.

To me, the veining pattern looks the same, so that I would have guessed the counter and island were the same quartz. And no, you wouldn't have been better off with a big black mark on your island.

My counters were cut from one granite slab and there is a subtle difference in the undertones and coloration.

But I honestly think your concerns that the veining doesn't look the same are misplaced.

Fabricators have to weigh the fussiness and sophistication level of customers against the material/installation constantly. I can pinpoint customers from my walk through their garage. If they ask me to remove my shoes and they aren't Asian, that's a big hint. Your fabricator has failed here.

"...a noticeable black mark on island. The installer attempted to buff out with no success." You mechanically polish engineered stone decks as a last resort. It is very difficult to do. Before a blade ever kissed a slab, the fabricator should have examined the slab and asked himself "Is this gonna fly with this particular customer?" He didn't do that, thought he could bail himself out of trouble, and now its blown up in his face.

I've broken engineered stone front sink rails and repaired them before the customer ever knew. If the repair was unsuccessful and the estone discontinued, I would have had to replace all the tops in the kitchen, even the ones with nothing wrong. It's a risk we take.

This guy bet the spot would fly; he lost. He bet he could get the spot out; he lost a second time. He bet the new piece would match; he lost again. Now he has to decide if he'd like to purchase an unfavorable online review with the money he thinks he's saving by not replacing the tops. Based on his history of business decisions, I'm not optimistic.