where do they make curling stones

Curling stones, those hefty granite icons of the ice, are crafted from a super-exclusive granite sourced from just two quarries on Earth—one in Scotland and one in Wales—ensuring they're tough enough to withstand endless freezes and thaws without cracking.

This rarity makes every stone a piece of sporting history, quarried sparingly (like every decade for Scotland's prime spot) and machined with diamond-tipped precision into 38-44 pound perfection.

Prime Granite Sources

• Ailsa Craig Island, Scotland : The gold standard, supplying "Blue Hone" and "Common Green" granite—quartz-free for low water absorption. This uninhabited bird sanctuary off Ayrshire has fueled stones since the 1800s, with exclusive harvesting rights held by one family firm.

• Trefor Quarry, Wales : Backup granite when Ailsa Craig runs low; its stone matches the density needed for elite play.

The Exclusive Maker

Kays of Scotland (aka Andrew Kay & Company), a 175-year-old family business in Mauchline, Scotland, is the sole supplier for Olympic, World Championship, and pro-level stones worldwide.

"Kays Scotland is the only company in the world accredited to produce the stones used for Olympic and World Championships matches."

They hold perpetual rights to Ailsa Craig granite, granted by the Marquess of Ailsa in 1851. Recent 2026 coverage highlights their monopoly: one company shapes every top-tier stone via quarrying, grinding, polishing, and embedding handles—ensuring uniform curl on pebbled ice.

Manufacturing Process

Here's how raw granite becomes ice royalty, per detailed breakdowns:

1. Quarrying : Granite blocks (micro-granite, super-dense at ~2.7g/cm³) are blasted and shipped—sustainably, with Ailsa trips rare to protect wildlife.

2. Shaping : Diamond saws cut 36-inch circumference blanks; lathes carve the convex running band (1.5-inch contact) and 4.5-inch height.

3. Finishing : Polished handles added; stones tested for balance (they must "curl" predictably left/right). Imperfections? Rejected.

4. Quality Check : World Curling Federation specs enforced—no quartz (it cracks in cold), perfect weight distribution.

Fun fact: A set of 16 stones costs ~$10,000-$15,000 CAD, lasting decades with recuts.

Trending Context (2026)

With curling's buzz from recent Olympics and pro tours, forums like Reddit's r/Curling geek out over "How It's Made" clips, while fresh YouTube explainers (Jan-Feb 2026) spell out Kays' dominance amid sustainability talks—Ailsa Craig yields ~2,000 tons per harvest for 10,000+ stones.

TL;DR : All elite curling stones hail from Scotland's Ailsa Craig (main) or Wales' Trefor, handcrafted exclusively by Kays Scotland for unbeatable durability on ice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.