Why Olympic Curling Stones Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

A single curling stone certified for the Olympics costs over $600. That makes a full set of 16 stones worth $9,600. Since 2006, every stone used in the Olympic Winter Games has come from Kays of Scotland. The company has produced curling stones since 1851. But making these stones isn't easy. For every stone it makes, Kays uses granite from one tiny island off the coast of Scotland called Ailsa Craig. By combining Ailsa Craig's common green and blue hone granites, Kays produces the only stones allowed in World Curling Federation contests and the Winter Olympics.

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Why Olympic Curling Stones Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[kojosmith]

I passed stones once; but the doctors informed me that it was a common medical condition and not a game. As an American, it also cost me $600 per stone.

[C]

considering they basically monopolized the prodcution of those stones, thats a surprisingly reasonable price

[Heroesworkshop]

-Handmade curling stones made out of rare granite.
- The stones come from one island in the world.
-You have to ship to these stones to someone in the mainland by boat to make the curling stones.
-They only cost $600?!

That’s an insanely reasonable price.

[MM-tetz]

When they said expensive, i was expecting a lot more than $600 dollars. The finished product is a work of art.

[CheesyHotDogPuff]

$600 is way less than i was expecting. No wonder so many small towns in Canada have curling rinks along with hockey rinks

[valuedhumanoid]

I had never heard of curling until sitting at my pub and the winter olympics were on the tele. The volume was turned down but I noticed many people focused on it. All the sudden they all erupted in cheering and it was a jump scare like no other. Then someone explained the game to me and by the fourth match I was hooked. Been following it every since and it's my number one sport at the winter olympics

[vxxiii]

Considering they can last for decades, and that they are handcrafted, I'd say it's worth the money

[jamielockhart]

I worked with the company for three years, and unfortunately was one of the people who had to be let go at the beginning of the pandemic. I can safely say that the price of the stone is a bargain for the time, effort and craftsmanship that goes into not only making, but every stage of the process. From Ailsa Craig to the finished product, it certainly takes a momentous effort and quality from the team to make the stone as "perfect" as it currently is!

[thezfunk]

A set of stones can last decades. So, they are expensive but a curling club isn't ordering a new set every year.

[Stuntman]

Answering a question I never had for a product I never thought about. Still a fascinating process. And great to see a Scottish craft still surviving.

[eliasholenhannouch]

Even the island looks like a Curling Stone, then you know the rock has got to be good!

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

To other people, curling is a boring sport. To me, it's parents putting their sweeping skills to the test. It's great to see curling embrace its Scottish roots like the Olympics using stones made from authentic Scottish granite, the British curling team always having Scots, and bagpipes played before the beginning of each session as part of ancient tradition. I'm not Scottish myself, but it doesn't take long to see why Scottish culture is appreciated so much, it's too cool not to like!

[LAK_]

Ngl, $600 sounds like an incredible deal for a big, heavy work of art painstakingly and precisely made by a skilled artisan out of rare stone harvested from a remote island…

[TheZoan]

This is the type of random knowledge that I love to learn. Thanks for this

[rajkumardhakad]

This is great that a traditional game and its dependent industry is not only able to survive, but it infact is thriving..

[pauldarbishire]

The Trefor quarry mentioned at 5.43 was founded by my family.
My grandfather Huw Darbishire was the General Manager for a time and the post was taken over by his brother Stephen Darbishire until the quarry was bought by Bath and Portland Stone.
I have a photograph of my mother drilling a boulder with an Holman Silver 3 drilling machine sometime in the early 50's so that it could be split into smaller pieces.
I spent many happy days there as a boy watching all the many facets of the production of granite for memorial stones, curling stones and road chippings.

[agapyz]

I'm surprised these guys have been producing stones for so long. like, it's amazing that there is still a demand for stones that are simply eternal after their manufacture. what athletes do with them, that they need new stones? it's a damn stone that slides on ice, its bottom can't wear out

[yoda]

I didn't know what they were made of. I always took them for granite.

[otm]

Wow, didn’t know they were stone. Never take learning for granite 😃

[lwfozzy]

Quick answer, there expensive because the Olympics are involved