And here's a photo of the sample.

Have you looked at Caledonia or New Caledonia? It is a gray stone with lots of variation but primarily gray. Sometimes when they hone or brush granite it opens up the pores in the stone and that is why it is a bit more susceptible to staining but not THAT much more. If you seal it, it may initially look darker but when it dries out it would probably be light again after a while. Can you try it on that sample and see how it looks after a couple of days? It's very pretty. Who knew AB would be gray when brushed! I bet that is very pretty in person : ))) It's different too. Stone techs weigh in!

Very pretty. Can you apply a coat of sealer to see how it changes it?

Absolute Black granite should not be gray. And Absolute Black should not be sealed. That someone is saying to seal it and it stains is a red flag that this stone is fishy. Please read the article I've linked, and take a pass on that granite, and on that stone yard. The stone has been treated some time ago to falsify its appearance; then the treatment fades and fails, and the stone takes on a gray hue. You are lucky you are seeing issues before you put down your money and have all kinds of problems.

Find another stone yard; there are many good ones where you can find real untreated Absolute Black granite if that is what you like. Though it sounds like you find the gray color appealing - in that case find a true grayish granite like Virginia Mist aka Jet Mist. Virginia Mist/Jet Mist is really gorgeous honed, and is bulletproof to boot; if you want gray, get that instead.

Here is a link that might be useful: Article of Absolute Granite Issues to be Aware of

Hi Sahmmy, thanks so much for the article.

I guess my issue is that I don't want absolute black. I want gray. So what would be the potential problem of getting a granite that is mislabeled as AB and is actually something else? I understand that if it is artificially made to look black, it would be a problem, but what if it is left gray?

Also, the worker in the stone yard who cut me a sample told me that the sample cracked because it was a weak stone and that he would not use it for a countertop. I had thought (too wishfully perhaps) that maybe it cracked because AB is so dense it is also brittle? Not sure if that makes sense.

I did choose a virginia mist as back up. It's nice in general, but I haven't been able to find a slab I love because I don't like too many white speckles/swirls and I can't find a relatively quiet slab.

Romy718 - I am going to ask my fabricator today if he can do that and if he has opinions about keeping it gray.

Gr8day - I checked out the caledonia. Thanks for the suggestion. The overall color is right, but I don't love the pattern.

My contractor warned me that some of his clients who installed the honed black or grey granites have complained to him about oil spots, fingerprints, and other oily marks. They come out with some soap and a bit of scrubbing, so it's not the end of the world, but it is something you should be aware of.

What about manmade quartz? There are so many colors to choose from, seems like you'd be able to find a nice quiet grey one.

I was going to suggest quartz too. Caesarstone has one called Raven, there is an identical one by Pental which is probably a little cheaper. If you want a little lighter grey than that, I think Silestone and Quantra have those.

I also considered the brushed absolute black, but I was worried about everything mentioned above....plus I really want grey like you.

I was also going to suggest looking at engineered quartz. . . .

Well, I guess it may end up being quartz. I've been avoiding quartz because I don't love the look (it looks shiny to me even when honed) and it costs more than the AB granites. I do like the texture of the honed and brushed AB. But I can't have anything that would stain from oil, since I'll be frying on the cooktop, and splattering plenty.

I have been trying to find a countertop as well. I found a piece of leathered steel grey... It may be something that will be a good fit. Good luck!

After having my heart set on Absolute Black granite for our remodel, we ended up getting the Caesarstone Piatra Grey. I am very happy with it. It is not black, but a dark grey with a white swirl that gives it a marble look instead of the 'sparkly' granite look. For practical purpses it seemsed like a better choice for our family, and I don't regret it.