Glass tombstones, made in Pretoria
Their face, in full colour, for the unveiling.
We print their photo inside tempered glass. Made in Pretoria, installed anywhere in South Africa.
Planning an unveiling? Order at least 5 weeks before the date.
- 300+ installed
- Ready in 3 to 4 weeks
- Pay in instalments
- Nationwide installation
Installed glass headstone and ledger on granite base · Gauteng
Send us one photo. We’ll show you how it looks on glass. Free.
- Send a photo
- We design it in 24 hours
- You approve or change it
Or upload it in the quote form
Old, small or damaged photo? We restore it for free.
What does a glass tombstone cost?
Every option includes their photo, printed inside the glass.
Glass Portrait
25 × 25 cm to 100 × 85 cm · 6 mm when mounted on granite
From R3 500
Excluding delivery
- Their photo, restored free
- Name, dates and words
- Granite or wall mount
Glass Headstone on granite base
Glass from 100 × 50 cm · dual-layer laminated glass
From R18 500
Installed in Gauteng. Other provinces quoted.
- Photo and words in the glass
- Polished granite base
- Delivery and installation
Full glass tombstone
Headstone and ledger · made to size
From R55 000
Installed in Gauteng. Other provinces quoted.
- Everything in the headstone
- Glass ledger over the grave
- Full grave surround
- Delivery and installation
Granite and glass picture frame
Outside 110 × 75 cm · glass 90 × 55 cm
From R23 000
Black granite. White Caesarstone from R25 000.
Installed in Gauteng. Other provinces quoted.
- Unique design
- Photo and words in the glass
- Polished granite base
- Delivery and installation
Custom glass and granite
Made to your design
- Your own combination of glass and granite
- Pillars, capstones, curbs and ledgers
- Photo and words in the glass
- Delivery and installation
Final price depends on size and cemetery. Your quote is free and fixed.
Choose a design. Get your quote within 24 hours.
Every design is a real memorial we made. We add your photo and words. Nothing is final until you approve it.
AI can improve an image, but it can’t reliably bring back detail the original photo never captured. More on image quality and colour
Tap the share button on any card to send it to your family on WhatsApp.
Families know us from Facebook. We have made memorials in Pretoria for 6 years.
- memorials installed
- 300+
- years in Pretoria
- 6
- installed every week
- 3 to 5
Recently installed
4 steps. No surprises.
- 01
Choose a design, or build your own
Pick from the catalogue, or use the design tool.
- 02
Get your free quote in 24 hours
By WhatsApp or email. No obligation.
- 03
Approve the design
We send the layout with your photo and words. We only start once you approve.
- 04
We deliver and install
Careful delivery and installation, anywhere in South Africa.
Pay it off before the unveiling.
Pay a deposit to book your date. Pay the rest in monthly amounts. We start making your tombstone once it is paid. No credit checks.
Ask about a payment plan- 01Deposit
- 02Monthly payments
- 03Installed before your date
Want something different? Build it yourself.
Choose the shape and size. Add their photo. See it in 3D. When it feels right, ask us for a quote.
- See their photo on the glass, live
- Type the name and dates. Watch them appear
- Headstone, portrait, or your own shape
Loads only when you tap. Light on data.
Glass sits on granite. You get both.
The glass panel stands on a solid granite base. Both come from the same Pretoria workshop.
| Feature | Granite engraving | Glass photo |
|---|---|---|
| Shows their real face | No | Yes |
| Full colour | No | Yes |
| Complex imagery | No | Yes, collages too |
| Can be stolen for scrap | Risk | No scrap value |
Glass has no scrap value. There is nothing to steal.
Traditional granite, same craft.
6 years of granite work stand behind every glass memorial. Bases, surrounds and full granite tombstones, quoted the same way.
Granite bases
The foundation under every glass headstone. Cut, polished and matched to your glass panel.
Surrounds and covers
Full grave surrounds, steps and cover slabs in polished granite.
Full granite tombstones
Traditional engraved granite memorials, made the way Best Monuments has for years.
Tombstone components
The words we use when we quote. Cemeteries use them too, so it helps to know them before you ask what your section allows.
Tap a photo to see it larger.
Headstone (granite)
Headstone (glass)
Glass portrait
Base
The granite block the headstone stands on. Shown in the headstone photos.
Ledger (granite)
Ledger (glass)
Curbs / curb set
Capstone
Pillars
Berm installation
Base and headstone only. Berm sections allow no curbs or ledgers.
Full installation
Headstone, base, ledger and curbs together.
Real installations, across South Africa.
Every photo is our own work, photographed where it stands. Tap any image to see it full screen.
Installed headstone Installed Full set with granite Portrait, ready for collection Full monument Installed Round plaques Memorial plaque
Captions carry the town where the family has given permission.
All 9 provinces.
We are based in Pretoria. Our team delivers and installs anywhere in South Africa.
- Gauteng (workshop)
- Limpopo
- Mpumalanga
- North West
- Free State
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Eastern Cape
- Northern Cape
- Western Cape
Your questions, answered.
How much does a tombstone cost in South Africa?
It depends on what your cemetery allows and how much you add. A plain granite headstone in a berm section starts around R5 000. A traditional tombstone with a ledger and curbs costs more, and a large custom memorial can pass R80 000. Glass is added on top of the granite, so it is priced on size and design.
Granite vs glass tombstones: which is better?
Neither. Glass does not replace the granite. It replaces the engraved panel with a full-colour photo, and the granite still does the structural work. Granite alone costs less. Granite with glass gives you their face in colour and room for any picture you like.
Do photographs on tombstones fade?
Surface prints do. Ours are fired into the glass. We use digital ceramic printing, so the ceramic ink becomes part of the glass and stands up to sun, rain and scratching. We tell families to expect around 20 years before any colour change might show. The ink maker expects far longer.
How long does a granite tombstone last?
The stone itself lasts 100 years and more. The polish dulls over time, engraved photos lose contrast, and painted lettering fades first. In South Africa, theft is often a bigger risk than weather. Granite can be polished down and resold. Printed glass cannot.
What should you put on a tombstone?
Their name, dates and a few words at least. With glass you can add their face in full colour, the farm, the dog, the motorbike, the degree, a favourite place. Some families add a QR code that opens an online memorial. Pick the few things that say who they were.
How strong is the glass?
Very strong. We use thick tempered safety glass made for outdoors. A free-standing glass headstone is laminated, and we can go up to three layers on request. Think bank teller glass.
How long does it take?
3 to 4 weeks from your approval to installation. Planning an unveiling? Order at least 5 weeks before the date.
Can you use my old or damaged photo?
Yes. Send us a scan of it, or a clear picture taken with your phone. We restore old, damaged or blurry images so the design comes out properly.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Pay a deposit, then monthly amounts. We start making your tombstone once it is paid. No credit checks.
Can it be stolen for scrap?
No. Glass has no scrap value, and the photo cannot be removed. There is nothing to resell.
Where do you install?
All 9 provinces. We are based in Pretoria and install anywhere in South Africa.
Where can I see glass tombstones in Pretoria?
Our glass memorials are on display at Best Monuments in Pretoria: 9 Pine Road, Magaliesmoot AH, Pretoria, 0082. It is open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00, and closed on weekends and public holidays. You can also send a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll show you a design with their face on glass within 24 hours.
Get your free quote
We reply within 24 hours. Free. No obligation.