Well, I am right behind you - my marble gets installed next week. Yes, I am scared I made the wrong choice but I justified it by knowing I would rather have an etched counter that I loved than a perfect counter/island that I don't. I hope it's like getting a brand new wood floor. The first scratch bugs you but after a few weeks you don't even know it's there. I'm sure you will continue to love your choice.

I've always wondered....

What would happen if one just gave the whole counter a quick wipe down with the salad dressing (or whatever etcing agent you have on hand). Instant patina?

Lordy, how I love old, old marble!

(Not a marble expert, but I always thought sealant offers no protection at all against etching--only staining.)

:-)

francy

I got my installed in June.. in certain lights I see countless etches of ring and spill shapes... I am really starting to think about taking a lemon in half and rubbing is all over the entire counter.. The sealer DOES prevent stains... I have had no stains.. even with red and sauce.. but etching is everywhere...
Most people dont notice it.. it really depends on the lighting.. but I still love my 2 inch thick honed carrara marble... I posted lots of photos this week on another thread

Oh my. This reminds me why despite how much I love it, I can't get marble for my countertops. I am admittedly a neat freak perfectionist and I know in my heart that seeing a 'mar' on my brand new counter would kill me.

Haven't gone to the stone yard yet but hoping I can find something in granite or quartz that I can be happy with...but not marble. Guess I'll just try to stay away from that section and not look over!

I am with bayareafrancy, I think old marble is beautiful. First scratch in stainless sink hurts too but eventually it is a patina.

I didn't get marble in the kitchen because I hate all the etching on my polished crema marfil counters in the bathroom. It never looks clean. BUT, I did get a honed calacatta baking counter and though it's very etched (after about 9 months), the etches don't bother me at all. I kind of wish I'd done the whole kitchen in marble now. Who knew?

Yea! I love marble threads and hope to join all of you eventually.

AJ  I thought your marble was polished  I must have read wrong. If you go all Meg Ryan on it  you will have to share!

ItÂs interesting you bring up the first scratch in the SS sink. I moved into a house with a SS sink that already had the patina. I never noticed any scratches at all and wondered why people made such a fuss on this forum when they purchased a new sink. Then, I moved and purchased a new SS sink  but because of my past experience, I didnÂt baby that sink at all and scratches never bothered me.

IÂm admittedly not a neat freak, so I think IÂm good to go for marble. :-)

I recently found a lovely carrara dining table on craigslist for a really good price. When I went to pick it up, the seller was so apologetic - "You know it DOES have etches..."

I said, "That's exactly what I want. I want it to look as if it's been in my kitchen for 30 years." So, no newbie marble-angst for me--I love the patina!

Enjoy your beautiful kitchens, live in them, and LOVE them.

I had to report that I came down this am and couldn't find the etch.at all. I think some spots must take longer to dry? It vanished.
I don't want to scare off future marble owners.....am loving the counters day 2, but did have a slight case of remorse, anxiety last night about making a bad decision. All better today!

OK, I finally have gotten up the courage to ask. What is "go all Meg Ryan over it" when talking about etching marble? I've seen it used so often on marble threads.

I'm getting marble on my island baking center (3'x5') and would love to speed up the patina. Its supposed to be honed, but I'd save the money & get it polished if I thought that I was going to try to artificially hasten the patina.

Thanks - Jo Ann

Jeri - it is honed

drjoann - Rumor has it Meg Ryan took tomatoes and lemons and rubbed them all over her new marble counters so they were 100 % etched and then you cant see etches... I have countless in such a short time I am thinking about it.. so I dont see rings, splatters and , and circles anymore

I keep going to granite yards (husband isn't sold on soapstone yet) the only thing that has gotten me excited is the marbles, I LOVE them!!! Granted a light marble would not look right in my home but I love the mid & darker ones as well. I keep talking myself out of thinking about it though, my family is not good a wiping counters and we are red wine drinkers.I will also have a large eat-in counter, it might look really bad in a short time(?) The other problem though is that I don't want a shine and I'm sure that would really be asking for trouble. I can't wait to get this countertop pick over with.

I have a sample of unsealed 12 x 12 polished (the store didn't have honed) Carrara tile that I intentionally abuse. I haven't done the scientific tests that others have tried in different threads, but here is what I can relay: the purpoted Meg Ryan treatment does very little to age marble quickly. Plain white vinegar is best for quick etching/honing. The only problem is I soaked a Bounty paper towel with vinegar and left on the marble for a few hours, so now I have a tiny Bounty pattern etched on it.

I have "spilled" red wine, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice and anything else that happened to be at hand - nothing stained the marble. Some liquids will create a darker pattern that we tend to think of as etching, but after wiping the spill, it eventually dries and becomes unnoticeable. I think this is what Carriea has experienced.

I wouldn't advise anyone to try to hone your polished marble with vinegar or any other acid. I think you would be better of starting with a honed slab and letting it age by living with it and using it.