WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CALACATTA AND CARRARA MARBLE?
The truth is that Calacatta marble is the most sought after material in the natural stone universe.
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 to be able to choose which one is right for your project.
Calacatta vs. Carrara: Appearance Differences
As a rule of thumb, Carrara tends to be muddy in color and not pure white. Carrara is also less expensive and more common to find in your everyday marketplace or cut into tiles. Calacatta on the other hand has very bold veining with a crisp white background. While each natural stone slab is unique, Calacatta marble is much rarer than your typical Carrara.
Left: Carrara Marble | Right: Aria Stone Gallery’s Calacatta Vagli Marble. Image courtesy of Aria Stone Gallery.
Where Does Calacatta Marble Come From?
Calacatta marble comes from quarries found in the Apuan Mountains in Carrara, Italy. What most people don’t realize is that Calacatta marble doesn’t come from one specific mountain or quarry. There is a vast mountain range in the Carrara region in Italy, with each quarry producing a variety of white marbles such as Bianco Carrara, Goiai, Venatino, Statuario, and Calacatta marble. All of these materials are white marble with more or less the same geological formation.
Some quarries produce better Calacatta marble than others. For example, the Borghini Quarry is one of the oldest operating quarries in the Carrara region and some of the quarry’s cuts can be traced to Roman Times.
The prestigious Borghini Quarry
In Carrara, Italy
What Does the Perfect Calacatta Marble Slab Look Like?
In order to understand Calacatta, you need to know what is not Calacatta. Just because someone calls a Calacatta – does not mean it is a true Calacatta. But what truly differentiates all of the white marbles in the Calacatta Region – as the Italians have discovered hundreds of years ago – is the stone’s veining and how white the background is. The whiter the material, the more expensive the slabs. The more “uniform” the veining in the stone, the pricier it gets.
And what about Statuario?
Statuario marble contains the same white and grey hues found in Carrara, with grey veining similar to that which you’ll find in Calacatta slabs. This marble is a very bright white in color, and it is relatively rare. This makes it one of the pricier and more sought-after marbles available on the market. While Statuario is revered in Italy for being the perfect marble for carving statues, it is also an ideal material for residential and commercial projects. Given its rarity, it is not surprising that Statuario marble is often used as a focal point in any room in which it is featured.
The New Collection with Calacatta
We’ve launched a new collection, an understanding of art history and materials. A series of 20 new pieces developed over last year and perfected through the quarantine. Designed with a timeless appeal to the celebration of our 40th anniversary. Masterpieces, with materials like Calacatta. Get to know them below.
MINIMA CONSOLE
With a Calacatta Marble
AFONSO SIDEBOARD
With Calacatta Marble
Take a look at our range of marbles, Onyx, and Limestones.
These are representations of our range of finishes and are carried out to match perfectly to our real swatches. Only given as an indication, to make your choice, please refer to the reference of finish to Larforma.
