Leathered and antiqued stone finishes are among the most popular premium finish options on granite and marble countertops — they hide fingerprints and water marks better than polished surfaces while retaining the depth and character that honed finishes lack. Creating these finishes requires specialized brushing tools that abrade the stone surface in a controlled and consistent way. 

Leather finish brushes use silicon carbide or diamond abrasive bristles to create the slightly textured, matte surface characteristic of the leathered finish. Antique or bush hammer brushes produce a more pronounced texture reminiscent of naturally aged stone. Both mount on angle grinders or machine heads for consistent coverage across large stone surfaces. 

For the polishing sequence on surfaces being finished with a high-gloss polish rather than a leathered texture see Polishing Pads and Wet Diamond Pads.