What is Exotic Granite?

Granite countertops are more than just a catch phrase. Granite is a staple in virtually any high end project where durable natural stone is a requirement. At the top of the quality and diversity ladder for natural stone, you will find a peculiar kind of countertop slab; exotic granite. You may be asking yourself some of the following questions. Is exotic granite just regular granite with a different name? What is exotic granite? What makes exotic granite so special? In this article, we will address such questions.

Exotic Granite Compared to Traditional Granite

When examining exotic granite in relation to traditional granite it becomes obvious that there is a difference between the two. It might be difficult to put a finger on some of the specific differences. However other characteristics might shout, "Here is what makes me exotic!" So, to state it very simply, exotic granite is not just regular old granite with a fancy label. But why is exotic granite in a different class of natural stone from traditional granite? As you will see, there are some key factors that make the determination.

What Makes Granite Exotic?

Exotic granite could be succinctly defined as "granite that is of the highest quality, unique in one or more ways, and bold or rare." A quick definition check on Dictionary.com for the word "exotic" will yield results that contain four entries under adjective. The following quote, shows the top three:

1. of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized:
   exotic foods; exotic plants.
2. strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance:
   an exotic hairstyle.
3. of a uniquely new or experimental nature:
   exotic weapons.

As you can see from the above quote, the term exotic carries the thought of being different from a group of some kind. It is easy to see the answer to the question, "What makes granite exotic?", is that it is distinct and different from other granite.

At this point you may be thinking, "every granite slab is different" and you would be right. But as we will see, there is more to exotic granite than its unique look.

Exotic Granite Is Rare

Beyond being unique, exotic granite is rare. What do we mean by that? Well, when you go to a granite slab yard you will find that their might be many slabs of the same name. These slabs are unique in that there might be color variations and pattern differences that are noticeable when they are compared side by side. In fact, some people might even be able to tell them apart without looking at them together at the same time. But exotic granite is different.

Exotic granite goes one step further than being unique in detail. It is actually uniquely rare. Rather than having slight variations in color and pattern, an exotic granite slab is truly unique. This means that when you look at a granite surface that is made from exotic stone, it is virtually unlike any other that you have ever seen. Why?

An exotic slab of granite will have many factors that distinguish it from every other slab. These factors each play a role in the diversity of the slab's appearance. Let's take a look at some of the characteristics that set an exotic granite apart from all others.

Characteristics of Exotic Granite

As with anything else, the individual properties (or characteristics) of a granite slab contribute to its overall unique look. Some of the specific properties that determine a slab's uniqueness include:

• Color
• Pattern
• Quality
• Unique Feature

Right about now you may be wondering how that list of properties differs from any other granite that one might be able to buy. That is a reasonable thing to wonder about. After all, many websites have touted that each natural granite slab is unique from all others. And that is true, every granite slab is different from all others. But let's go through each of those list items and see if we can notice a common thread that highlights the real nature of exotic granite.

Unique Colors

The first aspect we'll examine is the color. Some exotic granite slabs exhibit extreme colors. Sometimes the stone is naturally formed with deep, rich colors. Other times it is enhanced by an artistic stone professional using a high quality stone dye or a stone enhancing sealer. The result though, is the same. The color is vibrant and deep to a noticeable degree. However, vibrant color alone may not be enough to make a granite slab reach "exotic" stature.

Notably Distinct Patterns

Another characteristic of an exotic slab is the fact that it features a notably distinct pattern of some sort. As we have stated above, each slab will have a distinctive pattern. However, an exotic granite will have a notably distinctive grain and/or pattern. The fact that this part of the stone's appearance is so noticeable is what makes it stand out as unordinary. Yet, other factors contribute to a granite being exotic. The next one we'll consider is the quality.

High Quality

The third exotic characteristic we will review is the quality of the granite slab. Natural granite forms in various locations and in a variety of environments. The forces of nature that shape the Earth's minerals into granite are so diverse that the resulting stone slabs have different grades. The grade of a granite slab is affected by a number of elements. Perhaps one of the most significant is the porosity of the stone. How porous the stone is affects the rate that it absorbs liquids. This in turn, plays a part in how easily the granite will stain.

The composition of the granite also has a bearing on the grade (or quality) at which it ends up being rated. Why is that the case? Because the minerals that comprise a granite slab determine its hardness and consistency. Both of which contribute to the quality of the stone. Exotic granite is of high quality and in the this area it is significantly different from other granite.

Identifying Mark or Feature

Some stone suppliers take granite to the next level and this technique makes a stone qualify as an exotic granite. For example, incorporating gemstones into the stone is a technique that some stone professionals are doing. Additionally, precious metals are at times added to a granite in such a way that it increases the value of the stone. By marking the stone with these precious stones and/or metals, it certainly distinguishes it from other granite surfaces.

As we have seen in this discussion, exotic granite is not just a name given to a traditional granite surface. Rather, it is a granite material that is marked by a high level of uniqueness in usually more than one of the following areas; color, quality, grain, or workmanship. This distinction is nice to know about because it can affect not only the look of a project, but also its price tag.