Italian marble… a premium stone category that drops jaws and widens eyes in awe everywhere, without exception. But is Italian marble the best? Is it really matchless in its shine and beauty? Before we answer that, let’s dive into how Italian marble got its rep.

Why is Italian marble popular?

The chief reason behind the regard for Italian marble is its famed purity. High-quality Italian marble is pure calcite with little to no impurities. The wavy veins and curly wisps sprawled across the white expanse present a visual treat that outlives generations. Back in the 14th century, Renaissance architecture acknowledged this natural art and introduced marble as a staple for structures of significance. Churches, palaces and statues – the white Italian marble found applications as far and wide as they could be transported. By the 19th century, quarries of Carrara, and the Apuan Alps (Italy’s most marble-rich area) were swarming with gargantuan machines that cut pristine blocks for export across the globe. Italian marble’s growing fame propelled the technological advancement of the industry. Italians were among the first to streamline the quarrying process for mass consumption.

• Today, Italian quarries have been extracting marble relentlessly for over 2000 years.
• Moreover, Italian marble is not an infinite resource. It is bound to run out.
• And the quality of marble produced varies sharply – resulting in the highest quality being low in volume as per demand.

Are you really buying the best quality Italian marble?

High demand has led cheaper knockoffs (yes, even for something that is supposed to be 100% natural by definition) to crowd the market. Whether you are in the market looking for white Italian marble like Statuario or coloured Italian marble like Grey William or Borghini Gold marble, you will surely encounter their much-believable doppelgangers at least once.