Composite stones go by several other names: reconstituted stones, assembled stones, reconstructed stones. These terms refer to any stone created using excess stone remnants from the cutting process. These remnants are then mixed with resin to create "new" stone that is cut into blocks and turned into beads or cabochons. This reconstitution process originated in the 1980’s as a way to use otherwise good stone material instead of deeming it as waste.
WHAT ARE SOME MERITS OF COMPOSITE STONE?
- The possibilities are endless when it comes to stone reconstruction. You can find anything from wild, bright combinations of color to beads with striking metallic inclusions and subtle undertones.
- Even though these stones are created by adding steps to the cutting process, they offer a great savings over traditional stone. Composite stone gives stone cutters additional revenue where they previously had a loss, so they can offer composite stones at a great price.
- Designing with composite stone combines the creative energy of re-purposing wasted material with the beauty of up cycling, or finding value in the overlooked. It's definitely rewarding to decrease our environmental footprint while broadening our creative thinking.
The best practices for the care and cleaning of composite stones will vary based on the materials. It's important to remember that all composite stone uses resin, and some may use dyes. For that reason, ultrasonic, steam cleaning or harsh chemicals may destroy the integrity of the stone.
