David J wrote:
I'm sourcing a new sink for my kitchen.

I had virtually decided on a 'granite' style from Carron Phoenix
(rather stark but indestuctable) until I saw Focus now stock an
attractive white ceramic sink called Rustica from CP for about the
same price. (Strangely the Rustica is not listed on Carron Phoenix
own webpage)

Now I thought that ceramic sinks were equally indistructable - a
lifetime guarantee is given. Then browsing through eBay I spotted one
for sale at a reduced price because it was 'chipped'.

So is a ceramic sink not as durable as I had expected?

The term ceramic covers a whole range of materials, from inserts in
bulltproof vests, through materials than can be turned in a lathe, to
the finest boneware. Sinks are usually made from fireclay, which is a
particularly durable ceramic, made, despite its name, from mined rock.
It is very difficult to chip, but not impossible. Just avoid dropping
heavy weights onto corners.

Colin Bignell