I’m no pro and I’m sure you’ll get some pro answers here. That’s the nature of marble. I had it in my bathroom (previous owner choice) and thought mistakenly that sealing would help etching. It did not. I was told I could have it polished but the etching would return. I’d embrace the fact that your island isn’t virgin marble. You’re not the one to “hurt” it. It’s lived, it’s been loved, it’s gonna end up like this no matter what.

Would water cause etching? these appear to be water spots and rings from glasses more than anything.

I probably misspoke. The marks I have from water look just like etching. Only professional polishing would have helped me. But our water is very hard and anything that is constantly exposed to water (baths, kitchen) will continue to have this look. So I chose not to pay $$ to renew the surface. I think you’re in the same boat with this island. Honestly, a light marble like yours does develop a nice patina over time. My dark marble was just a disaster, frankly.

I learned all about etching when we installed polished marble in a bath 20 years ago. Leason learned. I still love marble but would only do honed as the etching is not so apparent, only shows when light hits it a certain way. It doesn't matter what kind of water you have, it will etch your marble. Even distilled water is slightly acidic.

If the previous owners' etches bother you, you can have the stone repolished or honed onsite. They you can have you're own etches which might feel better. (I'm not being snarky...I prefer patina I've created myself too). If you can't live with the patina, it's probably best to get new counters. Sealing will definitely prevent staining, though.

Those etches appear to be too severe for a DIYer. It will take a professional restoration, then More Anti-Etch.

More Anti-Etch would probably cost more than new soapstone counters.

Wow - that marble was really abused in some way.

I have marble counters and floors in my bathroom and they don't resemble those and I am only reasonably careful.

My best friend has had Cararra marble for almost 20 years including a kitchen table that was fabricated from one of the slabs. No one took special care of it - her husband is a slob and does a lot of cooking and the kids grew up and did all kinds of things on the marble - especially the table obviously. In order to see her etching which she has a bit of you have to tilt your head and the light has to be right and even then it is just a bit where the shine has come off. Marble is honed to give it the shiny surface and it is not a big deal to have it rehoned but as others have stated whatever was done to your marble goes far beyond having it rehoned so that it is "shiny" again because you have some kind of very visible discoloration.

Etching is really just acquiring a patina. Lots of bars and bistros have old marble which is etched but it isn't discolored in the way your slab is - but just not as shiny as honed marble.

Honed marble is not shiny, it's matte. Polished marble is shiny and really shows etches.

I have honed Danby marble and despite 4 kids and lots of cooking, it doesn't look like this--not sure what happened there! I would definitely get a professional out and then following that, re-seal.

Thanks for all the comments. I thought it was just me being picky about the reality of marble, but i do think the rings and spots are extreme for something that has only been there for about four years or so. i’ll have a pro come out and see if maybe they can hone it in place and follow up with a good sealer. Marble is beautiful, but it probably wouldn't be my choice if putting in a new kitchen if this is the automatic result. I’d hate to rip it out though when it is both beautiful and expensive, and also feel it would be wasteful.

I had read that in Italy, they throw canned tomatoes on new marble before using. The etched look is preferred.