I had white Mont Blanc Silestone in my last kitchen for about 4 years. I almost always cut directly on it, and never had any scratching. The only thing that ever left a stain was yellow curry, and I eventually got that out with some kind of abrasive cleaner (can't remember which).

However, I did get one big "thermal" crack, and about 13 chips/pits in the surface! They patched them, but it didn't look too good.

We have Caesarstone's Eggshell as quartz vanity tops in two bathrooms. No problems with scratches or staining after 15 months of use. We have Caesarstone in their Carmel pattern for our kitchen counters, in use for the same amount of time.

The kitchen tops are definitely bulletproof (more action there) and I love that you can butter 30 pieces of toast on it and not see any crumbs except by feel. Dumping a box of oatmeal on it is equally invisible.

The higher pattern numbers are harder compositions (Carmel being #9XXX) and a bit more shiny than the lower pattern numbers. Neither is as shiny as granite though...a plus for me because I don't like the mirror like reflections of overhead lights glaring from the surface of granite. We've been exceptionally pleased with our Caesarstone selections.

Oh dear! Was the crack from placing a hot pot on it? When they patch these counters is the patch a solid color, or do they have the same aggregate as the original they mix with clear epoxy, and do the patch with that? I would have had them do it over.

I prefer the chunky ones, but I'm using a calacatta 2 X 4 brick backsplash, and I'm don't think I like the larger speckles of the Caesarstone Nougat color with it. The other problem is with clear pieces in the white base, as if you get a clear piece on an edge it looks like a chip. The edges look a little ragged with the clear chips there, and you can't avoid them.

Sara Richadson, the designer from Design Inc., has the Nougat in her kitchen with a carrera backplash. She used some mini brick in her design to try and tie in the speckles but I'm not sure I like them together. The Eggshell works better with my tile.

I was going to use black granite, but it just seems so heavy and dark in a small, windowless apartment kitchen. The white is so clean and fresh looking and opens the space, especially with the cream cabinets and marble splash. Going to do a deeper brown gray limestone floor with it.

My samples of Ceaserstone Misty Carrara & Lagos Blue were fairly easy to chip...FWIW.