Popular Monument or Headstone Colors

An Overview

There are hundreds of monument colors out there. If you count in variations, you are probably even looking at more than 1,000 colors! But, if you were to stick to just the basics and the colors that are widely picked by the vast majority of the population, you can quickly learn about them below.

01.

Elberton Grey/Barre Grey

Greys are one of the most popular monument stones out there. If you visit any cemetery, grey monument stones will dominate the landscape. Grey is a muted color and is a good representation color for someone who has passed on. While Elberton Grey and Barre Grey are domestic granite stones in the USA and Canada, exporters from India and China can provide you with excellent granite look-alike stones, often for a cheaper price. Imported grey Indian granite in particular is very hardy in nature, capable of withstanding heat and winters, without fading over time.

02.

Blacks.

Black is another timeless colour when it comes to monuments. Many people choose black monuments because etching and carvings carried out on black granite have the most contrast and vivid look, making for a great looking monument. The best black granite in the world almost exclusively comes from India. Called India black or Absolute Black, they have a glossy or matte finish and are an excellent choice of stone to create a respectful monument in memory of a loved one.

03.

Blues

Bahama Blue and Blue Pearl are two very popular blue colours that are chosen as monuments. Blue Pearl is a rather expensive stone but can provide a vivid looking monument stone as it has shiny silvery flecks that look brilliant against the contrast of a dark blue. 

04.

Reds and Mahogany

Though not nearly as popular as Blacks or Greys, reds are also quite popular for monuments. Families choose this stone when they want a monument with a bold character, perhaps to represent the nature of their loved on who has passed on. Popular colors in this category are India Red, Indian Mahogany, Dakota Mahogany and a few other imported reds that come from countries like Brazil and from some European countries as well.

05.

Other Colors.

Other less popular but very available colours are paradiso, multi, pinks and sometimes even white granite. Though not commonly bought, they are good to have in your showroom as there are always customers who are looking for something unique to represent a very special someone who has passed on. 

Finish matters too!

 

It’s not always about just the colour. The finish of the stone matters too. The most commonly used finish when it comes to monuments is a polish finish on 4 sides that is contrasted with a bare rock pitch finish on one side. However, this is completely up to the customer. Other finish styles include honed, leathered, flamed and a few other finishes that people think represent the cherisher person’s life better. 

When recommending finishes, you must be knowledgeable about what finishes will look good for a particular stone. For example, a honed finish will look fantastic for a black granite whereas it will look ordinary if used on a white granite. 

If you are unsure about how certain finishes will look, it is best that you suggest the commonly accepted polished finish or maybe opt for a P3 finish where three front and side facing sides of the monument are polished while the other is left as sawn cut or as bare rock pitched.