Belvedere is a dark black Brazilian gneiss (hard rock) with a powerfully fluid white and golden veining — a dramatic composition with a luxurious visual effect. A high-performance dimension stone with a Mohs hardness of around 6 and full acid, heat and frost resistance, for exclusive kitchen worktops, statement wall claddings, bathrooms and large-format prestige internal surfaces.
Brazilian gneiss (a medium- to high-grade metamorphic foliated rock, in the international trade often listed as “granite” or wrongly as “quartzite”) from the Precambrian shield areas of Brazil — part of the Brazilian craton. Mineralogically dominated by dark mafic base components with light feldspar-quartz veining and secondary iron oxide healing zones producing the warm golden accents. Mohs hardness approx. 6, high compressive strength, low water absorption, fully acid-, heat- and frost-resistant.
Quartzite
Angola
Säurebeständig
Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs ·
12 of 183 reserved
Other trade names: African Fusion, Andromeda Black, Fortemoro, Occhio di Drago, RO-01-605, Saint Laurent Quarzite
About Belvedere
Belvedere is a Brazilian gneiss from the Precambrian shield areas of Brazil.
Geologically it is a gneiss (a medium- to high-grade metamorphic foliated rock) with clearly recognisable metamorphic bedding foliation. In international stone trading, Belvedere is frequently listed as “black quartzite” or “granite” — commercially widespread, but petrographically it is more precisely a gneiss.
In the slab, Belvedere shows a dramatically deep black ground crossed by white, golden and in places cloudy veining. Unlike calm black hard rocks, Belvedere lives on contrast, fracture and dramatic movement — an exceptionally powerful composition. In places the pale veins condense into powerful nodal zones, then run on softly and under control.
This dramatic character makes Belvedere the first choice for statement islands, bar counters, fireplace surrounds, prestige wall claddings, exclusive bathrooms and interior architecture in which the material is meant to become the deliberate design protagonist. Combined with warm timber, brass, bronze and muted earth tones, the material develops an atmospheric, luxurious, almost sacral effect.
Technically, like all Brazilian gneiss hard rocks, Belvedere is a robust high-performance dimension stone with a Mohs hardness of around 6, high compressive strength, low water absorption and full acid, heat and frost resistance. Steel knives leave no scratches, wine and lemon no etch marks, hot pans can be set down directly — with full robustness for intensive kitchen applications.
At ROSSITTIS we currently carry Belvedere with high stock availability (up to 219 slabs) as raw slabs in various thicknesses with a polished finish. On request we produce kitchen worktops, islands, vanity tops, wall claddings, table surfaces and project-specific bespoke cuts from them. For book-matched schemes we are happy to reserve material directly from the same block on request.
For anyone comparing Belvedere with other materials: stylistically close are Brazilian migmatites with dramatically fluid black-and-light veining such as Cosmic Black, Magma Gold and Night Dream. Compared with Nero Marquina (a Spanish carbonate marble with a similar visual idea), Belvedere as a gneiss is markedly more acid-resistant and more scratch-resistant.
Our frank assessment: Belvedere is an exceptional choice for luxurious interior architecture that calls for a dramatic protagonist — with the full robustness of a high-performance hard rock. Anyone who needs a calm monochrome black surface should turn to classic black gabbros. But anyone who wants the expressive black-and-gold appearance of a Brazilian gneiss hard rock gets a decidedly powerful stone in Belvedere.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
183 slabs in stock — 171 available now, 12 reserved · plus 35 blocks
Thicknesses: 1–3 cm · Finishes: Polished, Satin-honed, River finish · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.
Belvedere is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Polished
Polishing is the most classic finish for quartzite — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced sense of depth. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be satin-gloss in places. As a silicate rock it is fully acid-resistant and scratch-hard — ideal for kitchen worktops and feature surfaces.
Satin-honed
The surface is brushed — softer minerals are removed in a targeted way, creating a slight depth and a matt appearance. Veined quartzites gain a special character in this way. Acid-resistant and scratch-resistant, easy to care for in daily use — a popular alternative to a polish in modern kitchens and living spaces.
River finish
The surface is roughened by water pressure — the shade comes through more strongly than on the flamed and brushed finish. A level, slip-resistant texture with a pronounced depth of colour. Recommended for outdoor areas, terraces and façade surfaces that call for a characterful, non-slip surface with a powerful material depth.
Care & fabrication
Belvedere should be sealed after fabrication, even though quartzite is inherently dense and resistant. The sealer makes cleaning and care easier and, on dark polished surfaces in particular, supports a clean everyday appearance.
For cleaning and care, pH-neutral natural stone cleaners, clear water and a soft microfibre cloth are sufficient. On large dark surfaces, water residues and greasy smears should be removed regularly.
Avoid heavily abrasive pads and unnecessarily aggressive specialist chemistry. Quartzite reacts far more calmly to acids than marble, but oil, coffee or colouring foods should nevertheless not be left standing on the surface for hours.
Where Belvedere is used in a bathroom or kitchen, a regular visual check of the sealer makes sense. It is not chemical sensitivity but the visual effect that determines how intensive the care needs to be here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belvedere suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, very much so. Belvedere is a quartzite and therefore markedly more robust and more acid-resistant than black marble. For high-grade kitchen islands and worktops in particular, that is a strong advantage.
What finishes are available in Belvedere?
The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
Where does Belvedere come from?
Belvedere is a Brazilian gneiss from the Precambrian shield areas of Brazil. In international trade the stone is marketed in the premium segment thanks to its dramatic black-and-gold appearance.
How do I clean Belvedere correctly?
A pH-neutral natural stone cleaner is sufficient for cleaning and care. On dark polished surfaces, water residues, greasy films and limescale traces should be removed regularly so that the depth of the material is preserved.
Is Belvedere frost-resistant?
Quartzite is fundamentally a robust rock group, and Belvedere can also work in selected external applications. In practice, however, it is used above all for high-grade interiors and sheltered premium projects.
Belvedere or Nero Marquina — which is better?
Nero Marquina is black marble and therefore more sensitive to acids; Belvedere is quartzite and more suited to everyday use. Visually, Nero Marquina is more clearly black and white, Belvedere more dramatic with gold and a stronger sense of movement.
What does Belvedere cost?
The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.
Projects using Belvedere
Projects in which Belvedere has been used successfully.
