These products are very highly polished which brings out the intense, very deep red of the stone. It is then finished with an underglazed, glazed, or bisque finish. Underglaze provides a matte finish, while glazing produces a high gloss. A matte finish without glaze is called bisque. When glazing is completed, the product is then cooked at 800 degrees for approximately six hours.
Great expertise is needed to work with stoneware.
It is fast becoming a lost art. This material is safe to use in both microwaves and conventional ovens. Quartz Analog - A battery activated crystal vibrates 32,768 times per second, providing the energy to move the hands. Usually accurate within one minute a year. Quartz Digital - Digital display instead of moving hands.