Anyone can pls share your experience with Cristallo countertop?

5 years ago

DH and I are looking for 'perfect' countertop. We were initially thinking of Super White, but all our samples were etching horribly so we had to give it up. (We have two toddlers, and we are red wine lovers). Today we went to visit a countertop place and came across Cristallo by chance.

We are in love. But our fabricator has zero experience with Cristallo thus cannot give us an advice/opinion.

Does anyone have Cristallo? How do you like it? Does it etch, stain, scratch?

Does it behave like a true quartzie, or more like Superwhite (more marble like?)

Unfortunately we have to order our slab soon, so we are desperately seeking your advice. Thank you soooo much!

Featured Answer

HU-926282148

2 years ago

Crystallo is a superb stone and the hardest due to high content of crystal…so hard it won’t even absorb a sealer which is why it is hard to fabricate Much better than marble since wont etch or stain or scratch A reliable stone importer & an experienced fabricator is a must Fabrication requires diamond tipped water jets & experience we live in Orlando,FL w an excellent fabricator

pictures really dont do it justice since you cant see the depth & how translucent it is It can be lit from underneath since it is so clear

sorry pics arent better still in construction mode

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Comments (51)

Lori Hand
5 years ago
I have it. I don’t like it. It doesn’t feel like marble and it stained in an area. I’m getting ready to replace it. My entire bath is marble except for the counter top in the sink 60” and the tub 110”. It was here in the house when we bought it last yr. next to marble it’s not 100% obvious it’s not marble but it just doesn’t fit in my opinion. Supposedly this bath was $90k. I think it was a bad choice.
Lori Hand
5 years ago
I have leathered marble Brazilian super white in the kitchen. I love it though I think the original fabricator could have done a better job. It’s from Chantilly.
Mrs. Gopher #BringBackSophie
5 years ago
i have it in my facility. Ours looks completely different that the one pictured here. Do you have a picture of your slab?

Ours behaves like a quartzite not a marble
HappyJaye
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi Catt Combs. I don't have a good shot, as the slab was wedged between other slabs... This is an angled shot. I hope this helps determining.

Based on your experience, does Cristallo stain, etch and scratches?

I took a sample of Fantasy Blue and unfortunately it did etch.

My sample of White Macaubas passed all the test, but the slab is wrong color for us. So our final contender is Cristallo, but i worry that it would be a very expensive mistake. Our fabricator is charging 50% more for Cristallo than White Macaubas.

Ah, and i was unable to get a sample of Cristallo to test, as our fabricator has never worked with one, thus didn't have scraps to spare.
Mrs. Gopher #BringBackSophie
5 years ago
Fantasy Blue is a marble so it will stain and etch.

My Cristallo looks the same as yours and it acts as a quartzite.
HappyJaye
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you so much, Catt Combs!!!!

I heard that Cristallo can be brittle. Is it true?

And sorry yet for another question. :)

In your opinion, what makes the list of 'True Quartzite'?

I heard that Taj Majal and White Macaubas make the list. (Now adding Cristallo)

Any others?
Mrs. Gopher #BringBackSophie
5 years ago

Quartzite vs. Marble

Buying Guide
K R
5 years ago
Cristallo was by far the most expensive of the quartzites we were quoted. One slab ran $8500.
Mrs. Gopher #BringBackSophie
5 years ago
Yes, it is very expensive. I have it at $179/sqft.
HappyJaye
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi Fluffycat1505. I am sorry to hear of your expensive trouble..

That bathtub surrounding is Cristallo? it looks so different from the slabs I have seen.
HappyJaye
Original Author
5 years ago
Also, does anyone know of Lumix and Quarzo are same as Cristallo? They look alike to me, but of course I am looking at online photos, which could be deceiving.
Lori Hand
5 years ago
That’s what they told me. It looks like marble but feels and acts like quartz. That’s what I have except for that fine line. I am not a fan with this pattern. And the scratch. If it was just that it might be ok. I am a marble person. If you really want marble I would go with it. Liking marble I don’t like this cristallo or fake marble. It feels not the same as marble. Like quartz
PRO
Nick Skenteridis-master craftsman-project manager
5 years ago
Cristallo is a superb natural stone harder than granite.

I hope that it was your choice.

Cristallo quartzite full mitered integrated vanity
jillybean103
4 years ago
@Lori Hand I realize this is an older post, but hope you worked it out with your fabricator that that dark stone you pictured is absolutely not cristallo. Guarantee it.
HU-891276262
2 years ago
Hello! Also fell in love with cristallo and wondering what you decided?! No way to sample until we purchase the slab
HappyJaye
Original Author
2 years ago
We got Cristallo in our kitchen over 2 years ago now. We absolutely love it. I was told by the fabricator on the day of the installation that Cristallo can be brittle (what???) so are careful to not bang the corners/edge, etc. Otherwise, it is indestructible. Lots of tomato sauce, vinegar etc. and no stains or etch. Still look new and I am still madly in love with it. Good luck!!
HU-891276262
2 years ago
HappyJaye - Thank you SO much!! Can I ask what you decided to do for backsplash? It's so beautiful I hate ruin it! Is yours polished or honed?
HappyJaye
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
HU-891276262 I am embarrassed to say that we still don't have a backsplash. First we wanted everything in the kitchen before we make a final decision, and then took us a long time to finally select a tile. We are in Canada and needed to travel to US to pick the tiles up... then the boarders closed due to Covid. We have to start over from scratch, so please share your tile info with me. :D
HU-891276262
2 years ago
HappyJaye - I hope to pick out backsplash after I can get a hunk of the quartzite. I am waiting to hear on price. Can I ask if you remember what you ended up paying per sq ft? I'll be sure to keep you posted on backsplash! Our cabinets are natural cherry and I have a painted white accent piece. What color are your cabinets? Do you have any photos you can share or did I miss those?
HappyJaye
Original Author
2 years ago
HU-891276262 It took us a long time and found a water jet marble and mother of pearl mosaic tile that we thought that would go well with the countertop. We needed to take a sample of our countertop down to the States to ensure that colors match. That didn't happen yet, and now we are thinking of finding a simpler/local solution. Please share ideas that you come across ;)
HU-891276262
2 years ago
Absolutely beautiful!
Diane Roberts
2 years ago
I found a remnant of crystallo for a 27x24 bathroom vanity but it is 2cm. Is this an issue? I know that some people recommend plywood underneath since it is thinner but is this necessary with this size vanity?
HU-96911429
2 years ago
I love the cristallo, what color did you paint the walls? I have white cabinets. Thank you
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Diane:

No.
HappyJaye
Original Author
2 years ago
HU-96911429, We have cristallo with white cabinets.

We painted our walls Repose Gray (SW) and Kendall Charcoal (BM).

If I had to do it again, I would have selected Barren Plains (BM) instead of Repose Gray. I think it would have looked better in our kitchen, however Repose Gray is not bad either.
Kaitlyn G
2 years ago
Happyjaye what shade of white cabinets do you have?
eamarx
2 years ago
I am considering Crystallo for a 60” round table top. Is it too brittle for that application?
Me AGirl
last year
@HU-96911429

love your backsplash. what is it exactlt? looks great eith the crystallo.

is your crystallo polished or leathered?
Me AGirl
last year
Fluffycat1505

can we see pictures of it
Me AGirl
last year
@HappyJaye wow tomatoe swude abd vinegar resistant, that is great! i wonder if it depends in the finish of the crystallo? is it leathered? or shiny?

what does wveryone think of leathered finish?

fabricator here only carries leathered crystallo
HappyJaye
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Kaitlyn G, cabinets were painted with Simply White, Benjamin Moore
HappyJaye
Original Author
last year
Me AGirl Polished finish. I haven't seen crystallo in leathered finish. If you have a photo of leathered crystallo, please share. I would love to see it ;)
ekap
last year
Your kitchen looks gorgeous. Could you please tell me what the name of your backsplash is?
d b
8 months ago
I’m thinking of using crystallo for my kitchen. Any updates on how it’s holding up?
jillybean103
8 months ago
Crystallo is spectacular.
Connie Edge
8 months ago
@happyjaye Can you share the name I’d your fabricator in Orlando.
HU-926282148
7 months ago
Im in Orlando and used stone crazy jake was very helpful and knowledgable i think Happyjaye is in canada
Carol Zelnik
6 months ago
HU- 926282148
Who is your fabricator in Orlando
HU-541423866
2 months ago
Hello All

we are going to install Cristalo counter top and planning to put led lights under it.

But, the favriactor has asked us to put three cat iton rods under the cristalo countertop for island. If we do then and then install led lights under it, the cast iron bars will blcok part fo the backlight. Just wnated to see if anyone had any experience wi5 this kind of installation?
Me AGirl
2 months ago
Can
Me AGirl
2 months ago
Whoever has installed cristallo or superwhite, can you post pictures please.
Me AGirl
2 months ago
How are the LED lights installed?
vikki7444
last month
Used Light Tape.

As a translucent natural stone, everything will show through when lit. Rods, Imperfections, or whatever is not obvious when unlit. When unlit it is a totally different look, where those imperfections add interest and beauty.

When lit, they stand out more and absorb the light differently. The top picture‘s dark line is an imperfection in the stone. Not sure if those are Rods or Veining in the bottom picture.
Me AGirl
last month
@vikki7444 it looks very interesting. I like it. Would it be possible to see pictures of this u lit, how was the lighting done, in grids/ rows? What type of lighting system
vikki7444
last month
Light system is Lighttape.com. Full panel of very thin led lights surrounded by plastic for each section of space. (No thicker than 2 credit cards). Customized panel requires a template made of each section and lead time for them to produce the panel and mail to you. Easy installation for an electrician, as long as the measurements for the panels are exact.

This Cristallo is very translucent, like a milky ice when not lit. I don’t think you are able to appreciate the crystallization in the pictures, as it looks flat, but it is not.
Me AGirl
last month
Does cristallo have some grey in it or cream
Me AGirl
last month
Does it look like worn out ice on a skating rink? Or crushed ice compacted?
Me AGirl
last month
Which region is the fabricator
vikki7444
last month
The color depends on the slab And how the light hits it due to the translucent nature.

Most that I have seen have an unusual feature in that they appear greyish white when on the side and tend to lighten when flat. I believe the clearer and ‘cleaner‘ they are, the higher the price.

The one pictured has a combination of white, cream, grey, and brown.

The slab before Fabrication. This seems more colorful than most. (Funny as I look at the slab, l see that white streak is an imperfection and not a rod….never paid it any attention until now!!)

Another slab with less color variation.

A very clean and expensive ’white’ and grey slab.

The last one was like a true crystal. It was the first slab I saw in Cristallo and when I looked at it from the back, I was hooked as it was so translucent, even from the back of the slab. The fabricator priced it at $40,000 as I don’t think he wanted to touch it! It was soo translucent.

The consistency also varies, probably leaning more to a mini glacier look. When the sun hits the countertop, it shows even more of the layers.

The fabricator is in Virginia, but Cristallo is popular, so more Fabricators are aware of it’s particulars…. but they may charge more since it does require a different expertise.