The granite color selection process is often the first major decision a family makes when ordering a monument, and it can be overwhelming without good guidance. As a dealer, your ability to present the options clearly, describe what makes each stone distinct, and match the stone to the family's preferences and budget determines both client satisfaction and your average sale value.
Supreme Black (Absolute Black, India Black): The most widely sold monument granite in the United States. Quarried primarily in Andhra Pradesh, India, it offers the deepest, most uniform black color available, with a mirror-like polish that maximizes contrast with sandblasted lettering. It is also among the most competitively priced monument granites due to abundant supply. It is appropriate for virtually any monument type and any cemetery. Its only limitation is its universality — some families specifically want something different.
Blue Pearl (larvikite from Larvik, Norway): The most visually distinctive monument granite, with an iridescent blue-silver schiller effect unique to this stone. It is significantly more expensive than black granite and has longer lead times due to its single-source quarry origin. Best presented to families who have viewed a sample under natural light, which showcases the schiller effect dramatically. Very popular as a premium alternative to black.
India Red / Multicolor Red (Rajasthan, India): Rich burgundy-red to multicolored granites with strong visual presence. Popular for families seeking warmth and distinction. Takes excellent polish and works well with painted letter fills for enhanced contrast. Confirm cemetery approval for colored granites before selling to a family.
Bahama Blue (also Blue Bahia, from Brazil): A striking blue-gray granite with variable white and darker mineral inclusions. Less iridescent than Blue Pearl but with its own distinctive appearance. Often less expensive than Blue Pearl with comparable availability. Popular as an alternative blue option.
Imperial Red (Balmoral Red, Shivakasi Red, various names — from Finland and India): Various red-to-pink granites with consistent warm coloration. Balmoral Red from Finland is particularly consistent and premium. Shivakasi Pink from India is a lighter, more pastel pink option popular for women's monuments.
Colonial White / Alaska White (India): Light gray to near-white granites offering an alternative to the traditional dark monument colors. These are popular for families who associate white or light stones with certain religious or aesthetic traditions. They require careful inspection for background consistency, as variation in light granites can be more visible than in dark stones.
Dakota Mahogany (South Dakota, USA): A domestic granite in warm reddish-brown tones with gray inclusions. Popular in the Midwest and among families who prefer domestic stone. Generally more expensive than comparable imported granite due to higher domestic production costs.
When presenting options to a family, show actual samples if at all possible — photographs in catalogs rarely capture the true color and depth of polished granite. In lighting that includes natural daylight, the differences between stones become immediately apparent. Offer your professional recommendation based on the family's expressed preferences, the cemetery's color permissions, and the budget they have indicated. Guiding families confidently through this decision is one of the most valuable services you provide.