In short
Choose Black Galaxy for gold sparkle and a forgiving kitchen counter, Jet Black for a solid, minimal black (which shows water marks on a polish), R Black for a near-solid black that hides marks better, and Royal Black or Black Blue for large, light-catching crystals. Black DC and Telephone Black are textured blacks that are especially good at hiding dust and crumbs on floors and counters.
Seven black granites side by side
All black granites are hard, heat-resistant and stain-resistant. What separates them is pattern, and that decides how they look in your room and how much everyday marks show.
| Granite | Pattern | Hides water marks & crumbs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Galaxy | Black with small gold and bronze flecks | Very well | Kitchens, floors, stairs |
| Jet Black | Solid, uniform black | Poorly on polish; well on leather | Minimal kitchens, borders, inlays |
| R Black | Black with fine white pin-point specks | Well | Counters, floors, stairs |
| Royal Black | Large grey-silver crystals on black | Very well | Islands, bars, feature walls |
| Black Blue | Large crystals that flash blue | Very well | Statement counters, bar tops |
| Black DC | Fine grey streaks running one way | Very well | Floors, lobbies, cladding |
| Telephone Black | Rounded, pebble-like dark grains | Very well | Kitchens, busy floors |
Black Galaxy vs Jet Black
This is the most common question we get. Black Galaxy has gold flecks that sparkle under light and hide crumbs, so it is the safer choice for a busy kitchen. Jet Black is plain black: it looks sharper and more modern, but on a mirror polish every water drop and fingerprint shows. If you love Jet Black's look, ask for a leather finish.
Plain-looking blacks that are easier to live with
If you want black without sparkle but find Jet Black too fussy, look at R Black, which reads solid from a distance but has fine specks that hide marks, or Telephone Black and Black DC, whose texture hides almost everything.
Statement blacks
Royal Black and Black Blue have large crystals that catch light as you move, so they work best where the stone is the feature: an island, a bar or a feature wall. Their pattern varies from slab to slab, so choose all the slabs for one job together.
Finish changes everything
The same black granite looks very different in mirror polish (deep, reflective, shows marks), leather (soft sheen, hides marks) and flamed (matt grey-black, grippy, for outdoors). Ask us to show you samples of each finish in the store.
