Almost all natural stone deposits on Earth fall into two main categories: sedimentary rocks and igneous rocks.
1. Limestone
Hebron stone, Red Slayv (Slayv Adom), and Halila stone are among the most common and affordable materials used for headstones in Israel. They are quarried in the hills surrounding Jerusalem and Hebron.
Advantages:
A warm, elegant color range—from light beige to soft pink—with natural veining. It is a relatively soft stone, making it easy to carve and shape. Due to its lower cost, it is one of the most widely used stones in Israel.
Disadvantages:
Headstones made from Hebron limestone tend to have lower durability in outdoor conditions. The polish typically lasts no more than about a year because the stone is not uniform and contains limestone combined with various minerals and additives. The stone also has natural cavities that are filled with adhesive during polishing; after installation, cracks may develop in those areas or in softer sections. In addition, these stones absorb significant moisture and can develop dark green moss—something commonly seen in cemeteries across Israel.
Headstones made from Hebron stone and Red Slayv require periodic re-polishing and renewal of lettering. Warranty coverage for these materials typically does not exceed three years.
Gabro Sela recommends cladding limestone with granite panels to help preserve the headstone over time. Inscriptions engraved into granite do not require color renewal.
2. Marble
The most commonly used marble in Israel is Turkish marble (imported from Turkey).
Advantages:
Turkish marble features a bluish-gray tone with darker gray veining. Its texture is fairly solid, composed primarily of calcium carbonate and magnesium. Thanks to its relatively accessible price and refined appearance, it has been widely used for headstones in Israel. Marble is easy to polish and shape, making it well-suited for sculptural elements and decorative details. Due to its relatively solid structure, it is less prone to abrasion and cracking.
Disadvantages:
Like all marble, it absorbs moisture, which over time may cause brownish staining. Because the stone is relatively soft, the polish typically fades within the first two years. And since marble has lower contrast, inscriptions and engravings usually need to be emphasized with paint. Once the polished layer fades, the stone becomes matte.
Marble is more durable than Hebron stone and Red Slayv, but warranty coverage typically does not exceed five years.
Marble headstones also require routine maintenance: renewing inscriptions and re-polishing. As with limestone, we recommend cladding marble with granite panels to better protect the stone.
3. Granite
Granite is an igneous stone formed by magma. Deep within the Earth’s crust, molten magma merges with other rocks and minerals. As it cools slowly under pressure, it solidifies—creating granite’s distinctive crystalline grain and rich range of colors. The name “granite” derives from the Latin granum, meaning “grain.”
Most granite types are imported from India—including Jet Black, Cat Eye, and New Imperial—and from China, including Shanxi Black and Fuji Black. Additional options include Gray Granite 603, 614, and Dark Gray Granite 654 (A / B).
Advantages:
Granite is one of the most durable materials used for headstones—both in Israel and worldwide. Thanks to its beautiful crystalline texture and broad color palette, granite holds an honored place in the architecture of monuments and buildings. Granite headstones are known for their distinctive elegance, and the stone is ideal for engraving, inscriptions, relief work, and portraits. In Israel, granite became especially popular in the early 1990s, alongside a major wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union and the growth of Russian-speaking monument craftsmen.
Disadvantages:
Granite has very few drawbacks. One natural characteristic is expansion and contraction with temperature changes. Over time, the movement of crystals can cause small surface micro-cracks. These typically do not compromise structural durability, but they may affect appearance. Gabro Sela offers several solutions, such as applying a special paraffin-based material or engraving a decorative element over the crack to fully conceal it.
In certain granite types, such as Labradorite, the polished surface may contain fine micro-fractures—yet these are among the most premium granite options. Due to expansion and contraction, small gaps may sometimes appear between the granite slab and the base; this can also be addressed using specialized materials.
Granite’s durability in outdoor conditions is essentially permanent compared to a human lifespan. With simple care, granite will remain beautiful for many years. Gabro Sela provides an unlimited warranty on granite headstones.