Polished, honed or leathered: what the finish changes

A polished finish is smooth and glossy. It deepens colour and shows off veining, and it shows fingerprints and fine scratches more easily.

A honed finish is smooth but matte. It softens reflections and gives a calmer look. On stones that etch, such as marble, a honed surface tends to hide the dull spots that acid leaves, because there is no gloss for the mark to interrupt.

A leathered finish is brushed to a soft, textured surface that you can feel. It hides fingerprints and water spots well, and it brings out the grain of the stone. The texture also gives dirt a little more to hold on to, so it asks for good sealing.

Not every stone takes every finish equally well. Ask to see the finish you want on the actual slab, in the light of the room it is going into.