Engineered quartz

Caesarstone® Quarz 5003 Piatra Grey

Caesarstone® 5003 Piatra Grey is a characterful marble-look grade from the 5-series of the Israeli engineered quartz manufacturer Caesarstone. The polished slab shows a deep dark anthracite ground tone run through by a finely branched, lacy network of delicate white and light grey veins – stylistically an allusion to the classic Italian Bardiglio marble or to Pietra Cardosa natural stone. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate the large-format slabs into characterful kitchen worktops, bar counters, vanity units, wall claddings and made-to-measure interior components with an elegant dark marble feel.

Engineered quartz material from the marble-inspired Caesarstone 5-series (Caesarstone Ltd., Israel), based on high-purity natural quartz aggregates (≈ 90–93 % quartz, ≈ 7–10 % polyester resin) – not a naturally formed stone, not a marble and not a granite. Variant 5003 “Piatra Grey” with a deep dark anthracite base tone and a finely branched vein network in delicate white and light grey tones, in design terms a Bardiglio / Pietra Cardosa quotation.

Engineered quartz India

Available as: Slabs

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About Caesarstone® Quarz 5003 Piatra Grey

Background. Caesarstone was founded in 1987 in Kibbutz Sdot Yam in Israel and is regarded as one of the pioneers of industrial engineered quartz slab production. The company produces its slabs by the Bretonstone® vacuum vibro-compaction process and has been among the globally leading brands in this material segment for decades. The version presented here, 5003 Piatra Grey, comes from the brand's 5-series, in which Caesarstone gathers its marble-inspired grades with pronounced veining – the design counterpart to the single-colour 2-series slabs, the finely speckled 3-series slabs and the industrial 4-series Concrete slabs. Piatra Grey has been among the best-selling grades of the range for years and is one of the brand's most iconic designs.

Material build-up. A classic Caesarstone quartz slab consists of around 90–93 % natural quartz (SiO₂), about 7–10 % polymer binder on a polyester resin base as well as pigments and mineral additives. The veining is created in the Bretonstone process from differentially pigmented mixes that are introduced into the mould in several layers and compacted under vacuum. Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7 (against calcite marble at Mohs 3) – which makes engineered quartz slabs considerably more scratch-resistant, more acid-resistant and free of pores. In spring 2024, alongside the classic quartz line, Caesarstone brought the Mineral™ line to market, in which a large part of the crystalline quartz was replaced by other mineral aggregates – this change is a direct response to the global discussion of silicosis risk during fabrication; the grade documented here, 5003 Piatra Grey, corresponds to the historical quartz mix.

The 5003 Piatra Grey version. “Piatra” means stone in Italian (and Romanian) – with this slab Caesarstone makes a deliberate quotation of Italian building architecture and of the typical Bardiglio / Pietra Cardosa tradition. The ground tone is a deep, slightly cool anthracite grey – not pure black, but a characterful dark grey shade with subtle warmth. Distributed across the ground is a finely branched network of delicate white and light grey veins that run over the surface like filigree mineral fissures. The vein lines are not regular but deliberately irregularly distributed – each slab shows a slightly individual picture that nevertheless remains predictable within the grade. The effect is elegant and timeless: not as severely dramatic as 5100 Vanilla Noir with its powerful golden veins, not as characterfully raw as 6338 Woodlands, but fine and balanced.

Format and fabrication. Caesarstone supplies the slabs in the standard format 306 × 144 cm as well as in the jumbo format 327 × 162 cm, in 2 and 3 cm thicknesses; individual lines also in 1.2 cm and 0.6 cm (Caesarstone Slim) for wall claddings and furniture fronts. The slabs can be cut, profiled, drilled and edge-worked with diamond tooling. Standard edges are square, chamfered (V-chamfer, 45°), rounded (R3, R5) and finished profile edges such as bullnose or a mitred edge joint for 90° corner connections. With a veined slab such as Piatra Grey, particular care in slab selection is worthwhile, because on multi-part workpieces the fine vein runs should be deliberately matched to one another.

Thermal and chemical properties. Engineered quartz is considerably more acid-resistant than marble, because the quartz aggregates themselves are inert to acid and the polyester accounts for only a small share of the volume. Even so: strongly concentrated acids (hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric acid) and aggressive industrial chemicals attack the binder. Heat tolerance extends to roughly 150 °C for short periods; hot pots, frying pans or baking trays must never be set down directly on the surface, because direct point heat can cause discolouration or stress cracks. UV resistance is limited – the slab is clearly designed as an interior material and should not be permanently installed in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

ROSSITTIS range. We carry 5003 Piatra Grey as a polished large-format slab with stock depth. From it we produce kitchen worktops (standard and island), vanity tops, wall claddings (including kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls), bar counters, reception desks, buffet and furniture tops, interior stairs with treads and risers as well as window sills. The elegantly dark anthracite look with its fine white veining comes into its own most strongly against pale cabinet fronts and white wall colours; combined with pale oak, brushed steel, brass and bronze, a classically modern premium picture emerges.

Comparison. Within the 5-series, Piatra Grey sits in design terms between the lighter versions (5141 Frosty Carrina, 5151 Empira White) and the dark, dramatic grades (5100 Vanilla Noir, 5810 Black Tempal). Stylistically the slab quotes Italian Bardiglio marble (Apuan Alps, Tuscany – with a similar dark grey marble base and fine veining) and Pietra Cardosa (Tuscany – a slaty marble with the finest lineation). Compared with genuine Bardiglio, the Caesarstone version remains more acid-resistant, more scratch-resistant and more predictable in its play of veining – the natural marble looks more classical, livelier, more individual. Compared with porcelain with a similar decor (Laminam Bardiglio, Neolith Pietra Grey), the slab feels warmer to the touch and is less brittle, but is overall somewhat less resilient thermally and chemically.

Guarantee and brand. On its slabs in residential applications Caesarstone offers the “Caesarstone Forever” lifetime warranty, with clearly defined care and fabrication conditions. The brand is established Europe-wide among architects, interior fit-out contractors and premium kitchen studios.

An honest assessment. 5003 Piatra Grey is one of the most timeless slabs in the Caesarstone family and has been a classic of the modern premium kitchen for years. Anyone looking for an elegantly dark marble feel with fine veining, without the dramatic staging or the acid sensitivity of a natural marble, will find in this material a very distinctive premium engineered stone. Anyone who needs a dramatic statement material with powerful veins is better served by the 5100 Vanilla Noir or 6338 Woodlands grades.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

57 quartz composite slabs in stock · plus 24 blocks

Thicknesses: 1.3–3 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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Finishes

Caesarstone® Quarz 5003 Piatra Grey is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

A glossy surface with the highest possible degree of colour intensity — the standard finish in the engineered stone and engineered quartz segment. Easy to care for in everyday use and resistant to common household acids. A prestigious choice for kitchen worktops, wall claddings and exposed surfaces with a classic high-gloss character.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. Day to day, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to mildly alkaline pH cleaner are enough. Soapy engineered-stone cleaners, mild all-purpose cleaners, mild washing-up foam and special engineered quartz care products are suitable. Caesarstone recommends its own care products (Caesarstone Cleaner) – these are not essential, but well matched. Wipe up spilled liquids – wine, coffee, juices, oil – promptly in everyday use.

Do not use. Concentrated acids (sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric acid), cement and rust removers, paint strippers, oven cleaners, acetone, petrol, thinners, nitro cleaners and very strongly alkaline industrial cleaners are off limits – they can attack the polyester resin. Also avoid chlorine-based bleaches in high concentration – on the dark slab, local lightening becomes especially conspicuous. Do without abrasive pads (steel wool, green scouring pads); scratching is undesirable on the polished surface, and on the dark slab fine scuffs are clearly visible as lighter lines.

Impregnation. A classic natural stone impregnation is not required – engineered quartz is dense and free of pores in itself, water absorption is below 0.05 %. A sealer would tend to show up on the surface as a haze.

Dark slabs – particular care notes. On a dark grey slab, water marks, limescale spots, fingerprints and dull scuff marks become especially clearly visible as lighter shadows. We recommend prompt drying off with a soft microfibre cloth after every use; on the polished version in particular this pays off.

Kitchen. 5003 Piatra Grey is a classic kitchen material. Despite its high material hardness and acid resistance the rule is: use chopping boards (knife marks can gradually leave the polyester resin dull), use trivets for hot pots and pans – direct point heat can cause local discolouration. On direct contact with a hot baking tray (above roughly 150 °C) there is a risk of stress cracks. The dishwasher must not be built in directly against the underside of the slab with full contact – heat protection is standard practice.

Bathroom. In the bathroom, Piatra Grey can be used as a vanity top, wall cladding, bath surround and shower. Do not use anti-limescale sprays and limescale-dissolving sanitary cleaners in high concentration; in the shower area wipe standing water away promptly. On a dark grey slab, limescale rings are visible as pale traces – daily drying off is advisable.

Outdoors and frost. Not suitable for exterior construction. The polyester binder yellows under UV radiation, and freeze-thaw cycles can cause micro defects. Nor is it to be recommended permanently in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias – Caesarstone explicitly excludes exterior use and fully sunlit interior surfaces from the warranty.

Guarantee and repair. In residential use Caesarstone grants a lifetime warranty on material and fabrication defects (“Caesarstone Forever”), on condition of fabrication and care to standard by certified specialist firms. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Caesarstone® 5003 Piatra Grey?

It is an engineered quartz surface from the marble-inspired 5-series of the Israeli manufacturer Caesarstone. High-purity natural quartz aggregates (around 90–93 % by volume) are compacted with about 7–10 % polyester resin, pigments and additives into large-format slabs using the Bretonstone® vacuum process. The veining is created from differentially pigmented mixes that are introduced into the mould in several layers.

What exactly does Piatra Grey look like?

A deep, slightly cool anthracite grey run through by a finely branched network of delicate white and light grey veins. Stylistically a quotation of Italian Bardiglio marble from the Apuan Alps or of Tuscan Pietra Cardosa – elegant, balanced, without dramatic staging.

What does the name “Piatra” mean?

“Piatra” means stone in Italian (and Romanian). With this grade Caesarstone makes a deliberate quotation of the Italian Bardiglio / Pietra Cardosa tradition – a family of dark grey Mediterranean natural marbles with fine veining.

Is Piatra Grey suitable as a kitchen worktop?

Yes, that is its core domain. Engineered quartz is more acid- and scratch-resistant than natural marble and marble agglomerates. Even so the rule is: use chopping boards and trivets for hot pans, because the polyester resin can react sensitively to point loads. On the dark slab, dull scuff marks are visible as pale lines – careful maintenance makes sense.

Which slab formats and thicknesses does Caesarstone offer?

Standard format 306 × 144 cm and jumbo format 327 × 162 cm, in 2 and 3 cm thicknesses. Individual lines are also available in thinner gauges (1.2 cm and 0.6 cm “Slim”) for lightweight wall claddings and furniture fronts.

What does the Caesarstone Mineral line mean and does it affect 5003 Piatra Grey?

In spring 2024 Caesarstone introduced a new material generation with the “Mineral” line, in which a large part of the crystalline quartz was replaced by other mineral aggregates – in response to the international discussion of silicosis risk during fabrication. The grade documented here, 5003 Piatra Grey, belongs to the classic quartz mix; a Mineral version can be checked on request, subject to availability.

How much do individual slabs differ from one another?

As with all veined engineered quartz slabs, individual slabs show slightly different vein runs. Within a grade the overall picture remains dependable to plan with, but the exact veining varies. For multi-part workpieces (island + wall shelf + bar counter) it is worth selecting the slabs in person at the warehouse, above all because of how the veins run across mitred edges.

What guarantee does Caesarstone offer?

In residential use Caesarstone grants a lifetime warranty (“Caesarstone Forever”) on material and fabrication defects, on condition of fabrication and care to standard. The warranty is handled through authorised specialist firms; ROSSITTIS supports with the documentation. Exterior surfaces and fully sunlit interior areas are expressly excluded.

What does Caesarstone® Quarz 5003 Piatra Grey cost?

The price depends on the format, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — 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.