Wednesday 16 June 2021

ITALIAN MARBLE VS INDIAN MARBLE

 

Indian and Italian marble:

INDIAN MARBLE: In a big assortment of colors and textures, Indian marble comes from lots of North India quarries in Rajasthan and Gujarat. With immaculate quality and premium look, India caters to the high demand for marble in the world market. India is also involved in the processing and production of marble as per global standards. This stone is a cost-effective choice and easily available in the following options:

  • Makrana marble and Rajnagar marble
  • Andhi or pista marble and Salumber or onyx marble
  • Yellow or Jaisalmer marble and Abu black marble
  • Bidasar, forest green, brown, or fancy green/brown marble
  • Morwad or Kishangarh marble and Ambaji white marble
  • Indian green marble and Katni marble

ITALIAN MARBLE: Quarried and processed in Italy, Italian marble is famous for rendering a high sheen and visual appeal to the ambiance in which it is installed. It is easily available in all corners of the world. With Botticino, Calacatta, Carrara, Pavonazzo, Red Verona, Rosso di Levanto, and Siena marble, Italy serves all marble lovers. Find out the best marble stones from Italy as per these colors:

Carrara marble white or blue-grey
Connemara marble Green
Creole marble white, blue/black
Etowah marble Pink, salmon, rose
 Murphy marble white
 Purbeck marble Grey/brown
Vermont White
Yule marble Uniform pure white

Properties of Indian Marble vs Italian Marble

Basis Italian Marble Indian Marble
Source Quarried from Italy Quarried from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra, and Madhya Pradesh in India
Lustre Italian marble is very high-quality lustre, pearly and luminescent Indian marble is medium lustre as compared to Italian marble.
Colors Italian marble available in White, Grey, Blue-Grey, Rose, colors Indian marble available in white, Grey, Deep Yellow, Green, Red, Black
Softness Very soft Comparatively harder
Thickness Commonly available in 18-20 mm slabs Available in various thicknesses, can go up to 30 mm
Polishing Available as one side polished slabs Polished or unpolished
Laying Italian marble needs highly skilled craftsmen Indian marble requires a lesser level of skills as compared to Italian marble.
Environmental concerns As it is soft, it has a nylon backing and is treated with epoxy resins, matching pigments, and chemical resin sealers No toxins or chemicals used to reinforce stone as it is harder
Where used High-end floors of living, foyer, staircases, tabletops. Not preferred in kitchens as it is very soft and can easily stain. Indian marble mostly used in bathroom walls and floors, kitchen countertops.
Durability Italian marbles are softer stones, more porous in nature, and can easily catch stains and hairline cracks. Thus, they are good for decorative corners. You can keep them in places where there will be minimum chances of heavy objects being placed or dragged. If you are looking for something sturdier, Indian marble is a better option. You can use them for floors and kitchen countertops which are more susceptible to scratches and stains. 
Price Point Italian Marble price starts at around Rs 350 per square foot. Indian Marble price starts at around Rs 80 per square foot.
Variety With the obvious import tag on Italian marbles, even though there is wide availability in the market, prices can fluctuate, and stocks may vary. Quarried locally, Indian marbles are widely available in a range of colors and price points. 
Appearance Italian marbles are softer and delicate looking. They also have a higher lustre, adding a glow to your home. Italian marbles come in slabs, with each slab having an approximate thickness of 18 to 20 mm. Indian marbles are harder and come with medium lustre. They can be thicker than Italian marbles, with each slab measuring up to 30 mm.

Pros And Cons of Indian Marble and Italian Marble

While the most significant advantage of marble is its aesthetic appeal, it does come with a lot of drawbacks.

  • Marble is a porous stone and is prone to stains. Chemically, it is made of calcium carbonate, a basic salt that can react with an acidic material. That’s why citrus juices can corrode the surface and make it susceptible to small pits. For this reason, granite is preferred over marble for kitchen countertops.
  • As marble is a natural stone, deeper layers of the stone could have fissures and cracks which may not be visible on the surface. As a result, the slabs you buy may sometimes come with a high percentage of wastage.
  • Marble is prone to scratches and heavy or sharp objects should not be moved on the floor.
  • Unless you have experts laying the stone, it may not be done perfectly level.
  • Over a period of time, marble can wear away and develop hairline cracks due to weight or pressure. This is more common in Italian marble. However, many people feel this adds to the charm as the stone ages.
  • Marble is more expensive than granite, vitrified, or ceramic tiles.

Indian and Italian marble: Pricing

Italian marble is sold at Rs. 350 to Rs. 5000 per Sq. at a number of price points. Italian marble slabs are very costly, mostly due to import duties compared to Indian stones. Their highly lustrous existence, however, causes Italian stones, despite their inflating price tags, to sell out like hotcakes. Indian marble pricing starts from as low as Rs. 50 per sq. ft and grows to Rs.250 per sq. ft thanks to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra, and Madhya Pradesh quarries. Italian marble comes in a range of texture and color, but with a small range that includes white Statuario marble, golden Botticino marble, and light grey Carrera marble. For fans of marble, Indian marble has more than hundreds of colors. Ambaji marble, radiant white Makrana marble (Taj Mahal), onyx marble, and Indian green marble all make a major difference to Indian stone. These materials are highly popular for export purposes.

Indian and Italian marble: Installation cost

The cost of laying both marble types is more or less the same. But it is cheaper for the Indian stone. It falls somewhere between 100 and 300 per square feet. Laying marble is a labor-intensive process as it demands the creation of the base of cement and river sand.

AESTHETICS

Indian marbles come in a range of beautiful colors, such as white, pink, green, yellow, grey, and black. Compared to Indian marble, Italian marble doesn’t always come in a range of colors. Black, White, Grey, and Rose are the popular Italian variants. Italian marble, while Indian marble has a medium luster, has very high-quality luster, pearly and luminescent. Most Indian marbles have a more solid look and feel than the delicate, fragile look of Italian marbles. Italian marbles are commonly available in 18-20 mm stone blocks, but different thicknesses of Indian marbles are available and can go up to 30 mm. Italian marbles are available only as slabs that are polished. Indian marbles might however be polished or unpolished. Both forms of Italian marble stones are available in slab form only but marble tiles, slabs, and blocks come in the form of Indian marble. Italian marble is widely preferred and considered the best alternative for outstanding interior design since it is rich in luster or gloss.

Cleaning Tips: Indian Marble Vs Italian Marble

Marble is a stone that requires a high degree of maintenance to keep it looking good. Its porous nature makes it very prone to scratches and stains, and such imperfections show up all too well against a polished surface. Here are some maintenance tips:

  • Acidic substances like vinegar, lime, and tomato will stain the marble, so wipe up any spills immediately.
  • Use diluted organic cleaners that are environmentally friendly and do not contain any chemicals.
  • Seal the surface regularly with a sealant that forms a protective barrier. When water stops beading on the surface, it’s time to re-seal.
  • Every few years, marble should be re-polished with carborundum stone and tin oxide, to restore the surface lustre.
  • The water used for mopping the floor should not be hard or contain any chemicals.
WHICH IS THE BEST QUALITY MARBLE ?

IN INDIAN MARBLE-

  • Makrana Pure White Marble
  • Opal White Marble
  • White Sangemarmar Marble
  • Albeta White Marble
  • Albeta Beige Marble

IN ITALIAN MARBLE-

  • Statuario White Marble
  • Calacatta Marble
  • Carrara Marble
  • Breccia Aurora
  • Bottochino Marble
IS ITALIAN MARBLE THE BEST ?

 It is true that the most famous marble in the world comes from Italy, specifically the Carrara region. For this reason, many prefer authentic Italian marble. Italian marble is considered to be superior by many due to its purity, durability, and beautiful white color.

WHICH IS THE HIGHEST QUALITY MARBLE ?

Why Italian Marble Is the Finest Marble in The World ?While marble is quarried in many countries around the world including Greece, USA, India, Spain, Romania, China, Sweden and even Germany, there is one country which is generally considered the home of the most high-grade and luxurious marble available – Italy.

ADD BY EXPERT AND EXPORT TEAM OF BHANDARI MARBLE GROUP, KISHANGARH, RAJASTHAN, CONTACT 9829040013

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