Swiss mountains are among the most impressive natural treasures in the world. They exude an incredible attraction that is unique in the world. And Swiss stone craftsmanship is also characterized by a highly valued and proven tradition that we as a company have lived by for generations.

We therefore understand that when our Swiss customers buy Swiss natural stone, they are not just buying a natural stone, but a piece of their culture and history. With this article, we want to immerse you in the world of local stone. Find out more about Swiss stone and the properties that make it so desirable.

Varied shades of grey and colorful accents: Swiss granite in all its glory

Granite, especially from south-eastern Switzerland, characterizes the image of our cities and towns. A glance at the large Swiss city centers or the houses and gardens in the suburbs quickly reveals that granite dominates. Together with its subspecies, such as gneiss, it is the most common rock in this country. It is quarried in over 30 quarries in the Alpine region. But sandstone (20 quarries) and limestone (10 quarries) are also among the local rocks.

Due to the frequent occurrence of granite, the color palette of Swiss stone extends across all kinds of shades of grey. From dark anthracite to light dove gray, you will find granite and sandstone in a wide variety of shades. But you will also find a noble touch of color in the Swiss stone selection: For example, the fascinating pistachio green tones of our Andeer granite or the almost golden shimmering filaments of our Verde Splügen.

Quality and authenticity: a look at our range

Our range includes sought-after varieties such as Iragna from the Riviera Valley, Onsernone gneiss and Calanca from Arvigo. The quality and authenticity of these stones are unsurpassed and highly valued by our Swiss customers.

A variety of options: Swiss stone in interior design

Swiss natural stone is far more than just a noble material – it is a statement of timeless elegance, quality and sustainability. That’s why we at Real Stein are passionate about creating remarkable interiors, kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor areas from the highest quality natural stone of Swiss origin. From individually designed bathrooms from Andeer, to natural stone kitchen tops from Iragna, to entire walls and floors made of Vals quartzite.

What makes Swiss natural stone so special

1. Characteristics
2. History of origin
3. Sustainability
4. Value

Characteristics

The cost of quarrying stone in Switzerland is quite high by international standards. To stand a chance in global competition, Swiss natural stone must therefore have a unique selling point in terms of structure, color or material properties. The stones we offer are therefore of exquisite quality and appealing aesthetics.

History of origin

In addition, there is the unique aura inherent in a stone that has been shaped and hardened to the highest degree by powerful elemental forces over hundreds of millions of years in mountains as natural and unique in the world as the Swiss Alps.

Sustainability

Swiss quarries are strictly regulated and controlled, both in terms of the quantity and quality of extraction, but also with regard to sustainability, out of love and to preserve this beautiful homeland. Short transportation routes also contribute to the high sustainability of Swiss natural stone.

Value

The number of Swiss quarrying sites is also declining, making Swiss stone increasingly rare and therefore more valuable over time.

Discover native stones from Switzerland

At Real Stein, the focus is not only on high-quality natural stone, but also on the connection to our homeland. Our philosophy is based on originality and master craftsmanship. That is why we are passionate about stocking and processing particularly high-quality Swiss stone, from gneiss to sandstone.

Discover the variety, quality and uniqueness of Hemean stone during a visit to our showrooms and take a valuable piece of Swiss natural history home with you. We look forward to offering you the best of Swiss natural stone.

Backlight for Natural Stone

A natural stone is always unique – a painting of colors, grains and shapes crafted by nature over thousands of years. With the right lighting, this feast for the senses can be staged quite splendidly, especially with backlit natural stone. In this article, we will therefore focus on the aesthetic effect and technical aspects of backlighting for natural stone. And if you like what you see, we invite you to discover the whole variety of illuminated natural stone in our showrooms.

Which Natural Stones are Translucent?

For effective, luminous natural stones, you naturally need a translucent stone. However, not every stone allows light to shine through to the same extent. There are types of stone that become translucent from just a few centimeters thick, while some hardly allow any light to shine through at all.

Thanks to the latest technologies, however, extremely thin layers can be cut out of a stone and bonded to a glass pane. The so-called “thin stone technology” makes it possible to backlight almost any stone because the thin thickness of the stone layer allows light to pass through. The advantage of this technology is therefore mainly the wide choice of materials. However, the manufacturing process is quite complex and the result, although beautiful, is not particularly “deep” in its effect.

So if you want to enjoy the extravagant, vivid depth effect of a real stone slab, you should go for the combination of onyx with light. Onyx (also referred to as onyx marble) is translucent from a thickness of 2 cm and therefore particularly suitable for backlighting. It thus combines translucent and construction properties and therefore offers a very wide range of applications in the construction of translucent objects, such as lighting a natural stone wall or a washbasin.

It is also characterized by its richness of color and its multi-layered nature (onyx is a very expressive, dominant stone) and is particularly effective when onyx is backlit. The various layers and color gradients in the stone create an elegant depth effect when backlit. This visual “penetration” of the stone has a very special aesthetic.

Which Lighting Material is used for Backlit Natural Stone?

If a natural stone is backlit, the choice of the right illuminant is important. The choice, positioning and setting of the light source should always depend on the stone, or its appearance and its use. For example, should a warm or cool effect be achieved? Which light temperature goes particularly well with the color scheme of the stone? Such aspects are always taken into account at Real Stein when designing a backlit stone object.

Quite independently of such design issues, LED technology is always particularly well suited as a light source for backlit natural stone. The reasons for this are the small installation depth of LED lighting, the possibility of large-area illumination to create or avoid halos, and the high energy efficiency despite maximum brightness.

Also possible, of course, is the integration of the illuminants into one’s own smart home architecture. In general, there are hardly any limits to the technical possibilities. Thus, sensors for controlling the light or similar technology highlights can also be used, which give your backlit stone that little extra.

If a queen were chosen among the natural stones and collections we offer, the choice would not be particularly difficult for us. We present: Shellstone. Or rather, our Shellstone Collection. Behind the name stands the most extravagant, noble and sophisticated material creation in the house of Real Stein.

What is Shellstone?

Shellstone is the crowning glory — or in this case much more apt — the pearl among the natural stone collections. These are the smallest mother-of-pearl stones, or stone cut-outs, which are assembled in a mosaic-like arrangement by the finest manual work to form entire stone slabs and surfaces for interior design elements.

Depending on the selection of the underlying mother-of-pearl stone, the resulting surfaces differ in color, but also in the size and arrangement of the various mosaic pieces. From large and small rectangles to splinter-like set pieces – the overall picture is always a feast for the senses.

The color spectrum covers all the colors that the organic processes of the shells impart to the marine rock: from light pink shimmering beige to emerald green shining brown tones. The shimmer of the mother-of-pearl is further intensified by the optical reflections between the fragments, creating a veritable 3D effect.

Where is Shellstone used?

Sellstone is a very special material in interior design, because in addition to its robust properties as a natural stone, it has an unparalleled aesthetic appeal. This makes it the ideal choice for the creation of particularly high-quality, luxurious interior design elements.

Due to its particularly high-quality and filigree appearance, Shellstonde is most often used in interiors. Here, the most breathtaking design highlights are created from the mother-of-pearl stone, from the luxurious Shellstonde bathtub, to the shiny translucent mosaic wall, to the cladding of extravagant furniture. Shellstone is also used for wet rooms with incorporation of fittings or technical sensors. Outdoors, Shellstone is mostly used for finishing pools or water features, which is a fitting tribute to this marine rock.

On our website, you can get a first impression of the aesthetic effect of Shellstone indoors in our reference projects and browse through the different finishes in our Shellstone collection. Here you will find the most popular varieties from White Mother of Pearl to Caramel Abalone and our Rainbow Opale. But admittedly, only the real experience truly does justice to a majestic rock work like Shellstone. That’s why in our Shellstone Gallery in Gibswil you can not only marvel at the organic jewel live, but also touch it.

Wie teuer ist Shellstone?

Aufgrund der anspruchsvollen Verarbeitung per Hand und des edlen, organisch-gewachsenen Materials gehört Shellstone zu den hochpreisigen Materialien im Interior-Bereich. Das Label „Luxus“ hat sich das Perlmutt-Mosaik jedoch nicht nur aufgrund seines hohen Preises, sondern vor allem auch durch seine wirklich extravagante Erscheinung verdient.

Durch die vielseitigen Möglichkeiten der Verarbeitung ist eine genaue Preisangabe schlicht nicht möglich und muss immer individuell errechnet werden. Zu den relevanten Faktoren gehören zum Beispiel die Verarbeitungsformen, von grossen bis kleinen Fragmenten, die unterschiedlichen Perlmutt-Varianten und die vielen möglichen Einsatzgebiete, von der Shellstone-Wand bis zur Shellstone-Kommode, bzw. zu regelrechten Perlmutt-Möbeln.

Das heisst, die schlussendliche Bepreisung hängt nicht nur von der Materialauswahl und Grösse der Fläche ab, sondern auch von den konstruktiven Eigenschaften des zu produzierenden Objekts. Gerne können wir Sie zu den Kosten von Shellstone, aber auch zu den verschiedenen Einsatzmöglichkeiten unverbindlich beraten.

Stone or artificial and natural stone slabs are among the particularly robust elements in bathroom and kitchen construction, as well as in interior design. Of course, different materials are suitable for the various areas of application, such as wet rooms, kitchen covers, floors, walls or stairs, depending on the requirements and also visual ideas. What they all have in common, however, is that they are generally hardly susceptible to major damage such as cracks.

Extreme mechanical or thermal influences, however, can affect even the most robust stone – cracks can be the result. With such an aesthetic product as stone, cracks are of course particularly undesirable, so even hairline cracks bother stone lovers immensely. So what should you do if you discover a crack in your stone slab?

Do I need to have a fracture, crack or hairline crack in the stone slab repaired?

First of all, there is no need to worry should you discover a crack or hairline fracture in your stone slab. At least not as far as your safety is concerned. Stone slabs are usually installed by professionals and will retain adequate stability even with simple cracks. In the long run, however, you should use a repair service, as a professional can identify the severity of the crack, as well as its cause, and fix it if necessary, so that the crack does not widen into a fracture or return after repair.

From a purely visual point of view, of course, the question cannot be answered unambiguously. Here, the subjective feeling or the question of how much the crack displeases is decisive. Of course, a stone slab is a very aesthetic product, so a crack can quickly disturb, especially if it is visible accordingly. In addition, the sealing of the stone may be impaired at the crack site, especially if small splinters have broken out of the slab in addition to the crack. Here the stone is without protection, or very susceptible to further damage, which is why repair service is the right choice here as well.

Have a crack in the stone slab repaired

If you want to have a crack in your stone slab repaired, a specialist is required. It is important not only to have a good hand, but also to have sufficient expertise and experience with different materials. An expert can evaluate the various parameters, such as the nature of the material or the intensity of the damage, and determine the optimal measure for repair.

At Real Stein, we have a service team consisting of just such experts. Through our repair service, you can now easily send a non-binding service request by phone, e-mail or directly through our request form, our service team will be happy to inform you about all the possibilities. By e-mail and also via our inquiry form you can also directly send photos of your damaged stone slab, so that our repair team can send you very precise offers and information.

The repair work on the stone, or the repairs are then either carried out directly on site, or depending on the severity of the damage in our workshops. It is also possible to replace a section or the entire piece, such as a kitchen cover.

Stone, or artificial and natural stone is a very robust material, which is why cracks that occur through use are rather a rarity. However, whether you have a granite or marble countertop, or slabs of artificial stone / composites — all artificial and natural stonecounters can also be damaged in daily use. Especially in such demanding locations as a kitchen.

Here they are exposed to daily stresses, such as heat during cooking, impacts from kitchen appliances or chemicals such as cleaners or acids in food. Of course, there are differences in the sturdiness of the stones. For example, kitchen tops made of granite are once again significantly harder than those made of marble, but even the sturdiest stone can suffer damage if subjected to the appropriate stress.

Fractures and cracks in the kitchen worktop made of granite, marble and co.

A very classic example of damage is the crack in the stone slab, or in the kitchen worktop. It is usually the result of too high, mechanical or thermal load. That is, impact from blows, weight, vibrations and the like, as well as extreme heat. The three main causes of cracks in the stone are:

1 ) Cracks due to tension (or other, mechanical loads).
2 ) Cracks due to material fatigue
3 ) Cracks due to thermal stress (heat)

Stress cracks in the stone slab

Tension can be caused, for example, by the, under the stone slab, construction, or a sagging of the kitchen cabinet or cooking island, as a result of which the countertop could not properly rest at the necessary points. But do not worry too much about stress cracks in the stone slab in the stone slab: stone is a dead material, that is, it does not work by itself (as, for example, wood), and therefore it can not cause stress cracks without external action.

Cracks due to material fatigue

Vibrations, such as the permanent lifting and lowering of an old wooden floor under the kitchen counter, can cause material fatigue in the stone in the long run. This means that the smallest parts of the stone permanently rub against each other due to the up and down movement and thus become brittle. However, it is a long way until a stone fatigues, which is why there must be very unusual problems in the subsoil. A professional, such as a specialist from our installation team, will of course always take the conditions on site into account during an installation.

Cracks in the countertop due to heat

High, thermal stress, can also cause cracks in the stone, even if that, like the stress crack, occurs very rarely. A crack in the stone countertop due to heat can be caused, for example, when extremely hot kitchen utensils, such as pans or roasters from the oven, lead to extremely rapid heat differences at perhaps already sensitive points on the stone countertop, i.e. abrupt heating to extremely high temperatures, as well as very rapid cooling. We are talking here about temperatures from 200 degrees Celsius upwards. Accordingly, cooking pots are harmless, while particularly hot pans or roasters from the oven are more likely to cause such effects. We therefore recommend that you always use the appropriate supports or trays.

Cracks or hairline cracks in the kitchen countertop — that’s what you can do.

In most cases, the resulting cracks are very small. This does not mean their length, but the width of the visible crack line. We are talking about the so-called hairline crack in the stone slab. It is not uncommon for these to become noticeable only after a while, since the crack line is very thin and thus sometimes hardly visible. depending on the texture, color, pattern or thickness of the crack, the visibility varies. If the crack is not very visible, a simple surface treatment of the stone may be sufficient to repair it.

For more noticeable cracks, a surface treatment is usually no longer sufficient. And if you would have trusted yourself to treat the surface of the stone with the appropriate care products, you will have to call in a professional for larger cracks at the latest. Now there is no general description of how to repair a crack. The chosen method depends on the nature of the stone slab and the crack. However, our repair service team can quickly provide you with the right answer.