The word "marble" covers dozens of types that differ radically in appearance, rarity and price. Knowing the differences helps you choose what suits your space — and understand why prices vary so much.

What creates the differences?

Colour and veining come from the mineral impurities present in the limestone before it recrystallised:

  • Iron oxides produce red, brown and yellow tones
  • Graphite and carbon produce grey and black
  • Chlorite and serpentine produce green
  • Complete purity produces pure white

The best-known types

Carrara

The world's most famous, from Italy. Greyish-white with soft, closely spaced grey veins. The most available of the premium types, which is why it costs less than Calacatta. Ideal for small spaces and minimalist interiors.

Calacatta

A brighter white with wider, more dramatic veins in grey and gold. Far rarer than Carrara and more expensive. It works as a focal piece that commands attention on its own.

Breccia

Distinctive in its formation: stone fragments of different sizes and colours bound together by a natural matrix. The result is a rich mosaic pattern in beige, brown and pink. A bold choice for statement pieces — like our accent tables.

Black marble

A deep dark ground with striking white or golden veins. It delivers instant luxury and drama, but needs good lighting and enough space. It shows fingerprints and dust more than lighter stone.

Green marble

Rich green tones with interlacing white veins. Rare and striking, and exceptional alongside natural wood and brass — as in our tables with wooden legs.

Onyx

Technically alabaster rather than marble, though sold alongside it. Its unique quality is that it is translucent and transmits light, which is why it is used in illuminated pieces.

Which should you choose?

  • Small space or weak light? Carrara or white marble — it reflects light and opens the room
  • Want a piece that steals attention? Calacatta or Breccia
  • Warm decor with wooden elements? Green marble
  • Bold, modern style? Black marble
  • Looking for a luminous art piece? Onyx

An important tip before buying

Marble trade names are not standardised worldwide — a stone may be sold as "Calacatta" without being it. So:

  • Always ask for a photo of the actual piece, not a catalogue image
  • Ask about the country of origin
  • Remember that veining never repeats in natural stone — that is proof of authenticity, not a flaw

In short

There is no absolutely "best" type — only the type best suited to your space, light and taste. Start from room size and lighting, then choose the stone that completes it.

Browse our full collection to see what is available, or contact us for help choosing.

Egyptian marble worth knowing

Egypt is one of the oldest stone sources in the world, and Egyptian quarries still produce stone that competes with imports on both price and quality. The best known:

  • Silvia: pale beige with quiet veining — the most widely used, because it suits almost any interior.
  • Galala: a golden beige with clearer veining that warms a large space.
  • Triesta: cool greys, a modern choice against dark furniture.
  • Sunny Menia: light and warm, common in entrances and bathrooms.

The advantage of local stone is not only price but availability of matching pieces — if you need a replacement years later, your chances are far better than with an import bought in a limited batch.

The imports people ask for, and why

  • Italian Carrara: white with soft grey veining, the most famous marble in the world — classical and never dated.
  • Calacatta: whiter still, with bolder gold or grey veins, and much rarer, which is why it costs more.
  • Breccia: a mosaic of stone fragments in warm tones, lively and distinctive.
  • Nero Marquina: deep black with sharp white veins — the strongest contrast available.

Onyx is not strictly marble

Onyx is sold alongside marble and treated like it, but it forms differently, and its defining property is that it is translucent — it passes light. That is why it is used for illuminated tables and for pieces lit from behind.

In exchange it is more fragile than ordinary marble and wants gentler handling.

See it working in the side and accent tables.

How to read a marble sample like a professional

1. Tilt it under a light — a good polish reflects a sharp image, not a hazy one.

2. Run a fingernail across the veins — a raised or sunken vein means differing hardness, and that is where a piece is most likely to fail.

3. Look at the back — mesh or resin behind a slab means the stone needed reinforcing.

4. Ask to see the actual piece, not a sample from another block — two blocks of the same type can differ considerably.

Which type suits which room?

  • A large, bright living room: dark stone adds weight and luxury without closing the space in.
  • A small or dim room: light stone opens it up visually.
  • With warm wooden furniture: beiges and golds harmonise naturally.
  • With white, grey and stainless steel: white with grey veining, or sharp black.