Derived from a Greek word that means "to sparkle, flash and gleam," marble is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious materials in the world. And although marble is extracted from quarries all over the globe, some of the most precious varieties of marble are found in Italy. The most popular Italian marble varieties are carrara, calacatta and statuario. To the untrained eye, these stones may all look like the same type of white marble. Confusion is also added because calacatta is quarried in Carrara, Italy.
While these three precious Italian marbles can sometimes resemble one another, there are slight differences that are important to note in order to be able to choose which one is right for your project.
Carrara marble is grayish-white with less large veins and more fine, feathery veining that often appears to be linear.
Calacatta marble is a rarer than carrara and is more white than gray with dramatic veining that results in thick, predominate patterns. It often has brown and gold undertones.
Statuario is the most precious marble varieties found in Italy. It has distinctive veining that can range from gold to gray.
All three types of marble will vary from slab to slab, as no two marble formations are the same. The uniqueness of each marble slab is what can result in distinguished luxury kitchens and baths. For this reason, it is often advised that when picking out white Italian marble, one should ask the stone provider to see at least three samples in order to find the color variegation and patterning that speaks to you the most.
Marble and Granite in New England features rare and precious Italian marble varieties including carrara, calacutta and statuario which can be purchased from our product inventory online or at one of ourshowrooms in Westwood, Massachusetts and Milford, Connecticut. To speak to a professional stone technician to learn more about Italian marble from Marble and Granite, contact us at 877-39-STONE.
Photos via Houzz