An artificial stone for covering a supporting surface and having a body with a base surface for placement on the supporting surface, the body having a body contour for installation of the artificial stone in mating engagement with other like stones in a repeating pattern, with intermediate perimeter joints being created between mating stones in the installed condition, the artificial stone comprising: a facing surface having a natural appearance and a facing contour with a depending sidewall , the facing surface having a total surface area defined by the irregular facing contour and being subdivided by at least one simulated joint into a continuous, major surface portion and at least one minor surface portion ; the major surface portion being free of any simulated joints and having the appearance of a slab and the minor surface portion having the appearance of a filler stone; the body including a top portion and a base portion , top portion having the facing surface the base portion having the body contour ; and at least one perimeter recess that extends into the body of the stone from the perimeter, where each of the at least one perimeter recess is defined by a region along the perimeter in which an outer edge or the sidewall of the artificial stone is set back from the body contour for generating a gap visible in the installed condition between the stone and an adjoining like stone in mating engagement therewith, the gap having a larger width than an adjoining perimeter joint and being positioned for providing a break in the perimeter joint and visually breaking a pattern of juncture lines between the stone and adjoining like stones in the installed condition, wherein the perimeter recess extends into the stone over only a part of a height of the artificial stone, to a sufficient depth from the facing surface to prevent exposure of the base portion of the stone should some fill material in the gap be washed out. a facing surface having a natural appearance and a facing contour with a depending sidewall , the facing surface having a total surface area defined by the irregular facing contour and being subdivided by at least one simulated joint into a continuous, major surface portion and at least one minor surface portion ; the major surface portion being free of any simulated joints and having the appearance of a slab and the minor surface portion having the appearance of a filler stone; the body including a top portion and a base portion , top portion having the facing surface the base portion having the body contour ; and at least one perimeter recess that extends into the body of the stone from the perimeter, where each of the at least one perimeter recess is defined by a region along the perimeter in which an outer edge or the sidewall of the artificial stone is set back from the body contour for generating a gap visible in the installed condition between the stone and an adjoining like stone in mating engagement therewith, the gap having a larger width than an adjoining perimeter joint and being positioned for providing a break in the perimeter joint and visually breaking a pattern of juncture lines between the stone and adjoining like stones in the installed condition, wherein the perimeter recess extends into the stone over only a part of a height of the artificial stone, to a sufficient depth from the facing surface to prevent exposure of the base portion of the stone should some fill material in the gap be washed out. <EOS>