What's More Expensive Quartz Or Granite Countertops - The Madona Rosa, a rose quartz specimen, set a price record as the most valuable fine mineral specimen ever offered at auction, when it was purchased for $662,500 at Heritage Auctions.
La Madona Rosa (the pink Madonna) is an exceptionally large and beautiful specimen of rose quartz that closely resembles traditional depictions of the Virgin Mary.
What's More Expensive Quartz Or Granite Countertops
The smoky quartz "body" of the Madonna is an abstract composition of an ambiguous human form, bearing a multitude of glittering surfaces. The overall effect is completed by a broad ribbon or "halo" of glittering rose quartz crystals, completely outlining the Madonna's body and enhancing her resemblance to classical statues and icons. Measuring an impressive 15.5 x 8 inches (40 x 20 cm), it towers over all other known rose quartz specimens and is in a league of its own.
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Many think La Madona Rosa is superior to the famous Van Allen Belt rose quartz, which can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Standing nearly 40cm tall, La Madona Rosa towers over the 23cm tall Van Allen belt.
According to Heritage Auctions it sold for $662,500, thanks to its incredible rarity and fascinating backstory.
In the late 1950s, miners at a small mine called Sapucaia in Brazil discovered a luminous pocket of rose quartz. Though only six inches wide and 12 inches tall, the vein actually spanned 16 feet, filled with deep smoky rose quartz crystals. The Rosa Madonna is believed to have been involved in this first discovery.
The miners of "Sapucaia" (the informal name of the mine due to its proximity to that city) had hit the jackpot --- Rose Quartz had never been seen before this find. Subsequent discoveries in Brazil also yielded additional rose quartz specimens (notably Lavra da Ilha and Alto da Pitora), but none approached the size and beauty of the Lavra Berilo Branco specimens, which have become the "gold standard " for rose quartz. The only other major known example of this historic find is the "Van Allen Belt" which currently resides in the Smithsonian.
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An examination of the characteristics of La Madona Rosa leads to the conclusion that it probably came from the original find "Sapucaia" (Lavra Berilo Branco). But efforts to identify the history of this particular specimen fail at one point. Some argue that it was produced during the original discovery in 1959 and was hidden for decades in the collection of a Brazilian gentleman before coming to the attention of the outside world.
Another account states that it was "discovered" in Brazil in 1972 (the mine had been in sporadical operation until 1973). Whatever its origin, it was acquired by a London game collector in 1972. It was sold in 1977 to a US game collector and lived in that collection for twenty years --- its significance was recognized for decades.
It emerged at the 1997 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show where it was recognized for its considerable potential. Modern cleaning and trimming measures have been carried out and the end result is nothing short of spectacular. It was later sold to the Hoppel Collection and has held a central position in that collection, hidden from public view until now.
Interesting fact: Although quartz is one of the most common minerals on Earth, natural rose quartz is one of the rarest types of colored crystalline quartz. Do you like the look of marble countertops? I certainly do! It's classic, timeless, and stunning. However, I dislike the idea of a high-maintenance countertop in the home's body of work: the kitchen. So today I'm sharing why I chose a white quartz countertop instead. Consider quartz that looks like marble for an affordable, maintenance-free alternative to marble.
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From the beginning of this kitchen remodel, I knew I wanted to install a countertop that looked like marble.
I have traveled several times to Europe and the marble amazes me there and it has become one of my favorite stones. However, I wanted a stone countertop that was durable and maintenance-free.
I walked into the Lakeside Surfaces Inspiration Gallery showroom in Grand Rapids, MI and enjoyed looking at all the beautiful quartz slabs. Quartz is one of the most durable stone countertops available. It is virtually maintenance free and is available in many designs.
We chose discount quartz countertops, called Statuario Roma, in affordable marbles from Lakeside Surfaces. This white quartz is absolutely beautiful and instantly became a showpiece in our new kitchen.
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When designing the kitchen, we followed my design process to set goals for the space and compromise between our styles. If you want to learn more about the process of creating my homepage, be sure to sign up for my free design course!
We were so pleased with how quickly the process went from start to finish with our new countertops. First, they came out to shape our countertops to match our kitchen layout and cabinet design.
Next, I was sent a plan to approve with all the marble and stitching details. This ensured I knew exactly how the final product would look in our space.
We have been living with this beautiful quartz for several years now and I already know two things in particular that I love!
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Our previous kitchen had granite and often showed watermarks after the glass sat on it for two longs. I know marble does the same! We also had problems with red sauces and acidic foods staining our previous stone granite countertops.
I love using these cleaning cloths for my quartz because they are gentle, chemical free, and non-toxic. For daily care, they are the perfect cleaning cloth!
For more extensive details, as well as how to deal with the problems, check out this post on how to take care of quartz safely.
When I was planning my kitchen design (you can see all the design plans here) I wanted to make sure my kitchen wasn't trendy. I wanted the design to be timeless.
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You can find all the details for the hardware, sink and faucet I chose in this post.
If you're looking to update your kitchen countertops with quartz, there are plenty of options to choose from!
I finally chose Statuario Roma because it combines dramatic veining with a solid white base. It felt like the best of both worlds with Aaron's desire for big veins and my desire for subtlety.
However, if you've ever looked at real marble, then you know there's no one marble look that fits everyone! Some marbles are full of variation and color. Other marbles have fine specs and small veins.
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On the other end of the spectrum, you can also find natural marbles that aren't white! So often we think of marble in the white and gray categories, but marble comes in a variety of colors.
So how do you choose? Below I am rounding up 15 quartz countertops that look like marble, which can be found on the Lakeside Surfaces website in more detail.
First, let's start with the obvious. You want to pay attention to the surrounding elements of your home where your quartz countertops will be used. If you're installing them in a kitchen, choose a color and design style that complements your kitchen backsplash and cabinetry.
All in all, your quartz countertops that look like marble should fit the design aesthetic you want to have in your home.
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What do I mean by this? I am mainly addressing those who want to make important changes to their home.
Perhaps you've purchased a locking upper or are just ready for a change. If you want to change the style of your home, wait to add new countertops until these updates are complete, choose countertops in anticipation of what is to come!
It would be an unfortunate decision to purchase new quartz countertops in a style that fits your home now, but doesn't love. If that happens, you'll likely regret your decision in the long run and wish you could replace your countertops sooner than you should.
Always consider forward planning and think ahead when choosing long-term investment pieces and design elements for your home!
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Honed Quartz and Polished Quartz are the two primary finishes to choose from. Polished Quartz has a higher polish finish and a beautiful sheen. Hone quartz has a duller, less reflective appearance.
Polished quartz hides fingerprints and smudges best, while smooth quartz shows fingerprints and blemishes like chips and cracks more visibly.
The finish you choose is a choice, but also something you should consider for the traffic levels of the space.
High-traffic areas, like a kitchen or bathroom, might do better with polished quartz to hide the residue of daily life. Low-traffic areas, such as laundry rooms, can provide a better smooth finish.
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The next item to consider is the color of your quartz. Natural marbles come in many colors, but the most commonly produced quartz colors are white, cream, gray, brown, and black.
The colors of quartz are white and cream
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