"Engraving" is the word customers use for everything — both the inscription and the portrait. In reality, these are two completely different techniques, carried out with different tools, with a different final result. We explain how sandblasting letters differs from diamond needle engraving — and why this choice matters more than most people think.
Sandblasting – the Standard for Inscriptions
We create the letters on a gravestone using the sandblasting method, not engraving. This is a technique in which a pressurized stream of sand carves the letter into the stone’s surface — creating a real, three-dimensional recess, not a shallow mark on the surface. We then fill the recess with paint, which gives contrast and readability from a distance. Why does this matter? Because an inscription engraved shallowly (e.g. with a laser, without a recess) loses sharpness over time as the stone’s surface naturally wears. A sandblasted inscription physically cannot “disappear” — at most, it can be refreshed with paint after years.
Hand-Chiselled and Milled Letters – Premium Options
Besides standard sandblasting, we offer two premium techniques:
- Hand-chiselled letters — a traditional “wedge-cut” technique, carried out by hand by a stonemason. The highest level of craftsmanship, available for an extra fee, but the effect is one of a kind — every letter bears the mark of manual work.
- Milled letters — modern CNC precision, ideal for long, complex inscriptions or custom typefaces.
Diamond Needle Engraving – for Portraits Only
We create a portrait of the deceased or of an animal using the diamond needle engraving technique — a completely different process from sandblasting. The diamond needle physically “strikes” thousands of microscopic points into the stone’s surface, at varying density and depth, reproducing the shading from a photograph. It’s not a print or a sticker — the image is part of the stone, so it doesn’t fade in the sun and doesn’t chip in frost.
Important: diamond engraving only works on black, polished granite (Swedish, Impala) — only that background contrast lets you see the shading of the portrait. On light-coloured stone (e.g. Strzegom), an engraved portrait would be practically invisible — in that case, we recommend a porcelain photo instead, an enamelled photograph set into the stone.
Which Combination to Choose?
The most common combination is a sandblasted inscription (name, dates, a short phrase) together with an engraved portrait on the same black granite slab — this pairing gives the best contrast and the longest-lasting durability for both elements at once. If you only want text, without a portrait, any granite colour works well with sandblasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sandblasted inscription be changed years later, for example to add another name?
Yes — that’s one reason it’s worth planning the right spacing from the very first order. Adding a new name is a separate, smaller service.
Does diamond engraving fade in the sun over the years?
No — because these are recesses in the stone, not paint or print, UV radiation has no effect on them.
How long does it take to create a portrait using diamond engraving?
It depends on the size and detail of the photo — we always prepare a design and visualisation for approval first, before the actual engraving begins.
Not sure which technique suits your project?
Send us a photo and your idea for the inscription — we’ll recommend a specific solution instead of leaving you with general theory.