A polished stone surface indicates that the surface is extremely smooth. The smoothness makes it very easy for the light to reflect from it. The smoother the stone, the more reflective it becomes. This is because the light stays together while reflecting off the stone, such that each ray bounces off the surface in the same direction. Of course, when a marble surface becomes rough and scratched, the light is reflected in all different directions. This rough surface causes the light to refract and our eyes perceive a dull slab of marble.
We can re-polish the marble by honing and polishing. Marble honing is simply a method of polishing the stone and creating a smoother surface. After the rough spots have been removed, the marble will have a matte surface. At this point, the polish will be very scratch resistant as it is not shiny. There will be no clear reflection when the light shines on it, but the surface will appear smooth. Honed marble will act like a sponge and absorb any spilled liquid! Liquids should be wiped off immediately from all stone surfaces, whether honed or polished.