Marble is a beautiful natural stone found in different parts of the world. Marble is the king among all-natural stone types available for commercial and residential construction projects. The beauty of marble is mesmerizing. As far as the availability of popular marble is concerned, Indian marble and Italian marble catch all eyes. Both marble types are superb in their features and uniqueness. When it comes to choosing a particular one for construction or décor purposes, buyers always find it hard to make a decision. This content puts light on the deep difference between both the marble types based on a few key points.
Indian vs Italian Marble: Key Points
Origin of marble
In India, there are lots of marble quarries. North Indian marble quarries cater to the specific needs of B2B buyers. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are the destinations where marble is mined in bulk. On the other hand, the Apuan Alps in North Italy produces white colored marble. It is said that this mine has produced more marble than any other marble quarry in the world.
Hardness of marble
Natural stone buyers always focus on the hardness of the stone as it decides the performance and longevity of the stone. Here, Indian marble emerges as a better choice because it is comparatively harder than Italian marble. Being a soft material, Italian marble develops pronominal hair cracks over a period if not maintained properly. That is why Indian marble stone has an edge over Italian marble stone.
Varieties (type and color) of marble
Both Indian and Italian marble come in various colors. Primarily, Indian marble comes in colors like white, pink, yellow, red, black, and green. On the other hand, Italian marble impresses with a variety of texture and color. Indian Makrana white marble with no variation and whitest white surface. Black marine marble stuns with its deep black and white veins over the surface. Rajnagar white marble also impresses with its dark grey waves and a unique lining pattern. Rainforest brown marble is a good choice with dark brown shades and accents of white veins of deep brown hues. Buyers can also consider spider green marble with thin, web-like white veins across the surface and pink onyx marble with swirls of pink and green colors over a white backdrop. In the list of Italian marble, Botticino Classic, Grey William, Royal Diana, Statuario, and Rosso Verona catch all eyes.
Thickness of marble
It is vital to check out the size of the marble to make the most out of the living space. Thickness is a big factor that ensures a perfect installation. In India, buyers can expect 18-20 mm thickness that can also go up to 30mm. Contrary to it, Italian marble can be availed in 18-20 mm thickness.
Maintenance of marble
The performance of the stone widely depends upon the way an installed marble is maintained by users. The regular and frequent maintenance of the marble also adds a burden to the pocket. Here, Indian marble offers better benefits with its low maintenance promise. On the other hand, the maintenance of Italian marble is higher than its counterpart.
Finish of marble
The finish of marble always matters the most as it adds gleam and beauty to the surface of the stone. Indian marble is famous for its premium look whereas Italian marble ensures luxury. When it comes to choosing a specific marble stone type, buyers can opt for finishes including polished, lepatora, honed, antique, brushed, bush-hammered, and leather.
Cost of marble
The cost of the marble is a big factor that directly affects the purchasing decision of the buyer. Broadly speaking, the price or cost of a marble stone varies from city to city and vendor to vendor. The rates of premium, standard, and commercial quality stone are not the same. When it comes to quality Indian marble, buyers can expect 80-250 per square foot cost. Pay about 350-5000 per square foot for Italian marble. Remember that import duty and inflating price tag make Italian marble costlier than Indian marble. Also, note that marble installation cost for both marble types is almost the same.
Usage of marble
Indian marble is broadly used for flooring and bathroom walls. Italian marble is known for its high-end look and decorative features. That is why it emerges as a good choice for flooring and bathroom walls, countertops, vanity tops, etc.
This comparison between the two marble types shows that both marble products have their benefits to buyers. It is up to buyers what preference give to buy between Italian marble and Indian marble.
