When ordering a headstone, it is important to follow these guidelines:
Be cautious with middlemen who may try to profit from families during difficult moments of grief. Whenever possible, it is best to work directly with a company that designs and manufactures headstones.
Be wary of unrealistic prices and warranty promises advertised in marketing materials. Reputable professionals who respect you—and their own craft—will not promise the impossible. Transparency and mutual respect are the first steps toward trust, and Gabro Sela has upheld this principle since its founding.
Review the order form carefully, especially the exact inscription text you approved and the headstone dimensions.
Confirm that the materials and design match what you selected. A respectable company will invite you to visit the workshop, show you examples, and explain the production process.
Make sure the work will be performed by the company itself, and not passed to a lower-cost subcontractor.
Ask for guidance on the selected material, including how to care for the headstone properly.
Avoid purchasing headstones made from artificial “granite” materials, such as polymer granite, engineered stone, or painted granite. Polymer granite—recently more common in some markets—is typically produced from a mixture of quartz, sand, hardeners, and plastic. The result is often a very uniform, deep-black surface with almost no visible grain or crystal structure—this is a first warning sign that the material is not natural granite.
Painted granite is created by adding pigments before polishing lighter granite. After polishing, it may appear fully black with no visible natural grain. Within two to three years, the color can fade, exposing the inferior underlying stone. Genuine granite has a natural structure of grains and crystals in shades of gray to black, and may sometimes show natural mica or subtle bluish-green tones.Know the realistic price range for a granite headstone. A “too good to be true” discount is a warning sign.