Marble

Calacatta Cremo Extra

Calacatta Cremo Extra (also “Calacatta Crema”, “Calacatta Cremo”, “Calacatta Cream” or “Calacatta Gold”) is a classic Apuan premium white marble from the Carrara marble basin (province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany) — petrographically a true metamorphic marble from the Apuan Alps. The slab shows a brilliant white base tone with subtle warm creamy-beige undertones and fine, fluid grey calcite veins in an irregular, branching vein network. The “Extra” suffix marks the premium batch selection with particularly consistent looks. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Calacatta Cremo Extra into elegant bathroom installations with bookmatch mirroring, wall claddings, staircases, dining tables, furniture tops, interior floors and special accent elements with a classic Italian marble effect.

Petrographisch ein echter metamorpher Marmor aus den Apuanischen Alpen – ein metamorph rekristallisiertes Karbonatgestein, entstanden aus ursprünglich sedimentären Trias-/Jura-Kalksteinen (vor etwa 200 Millionen Jahren) durch alpine Metamorphose während der alpidischen Gebirgsbildung. Die Lagerstätte befindet sich im Carrara-Marmor-Becken in der Provinz Massa-Carrara (Toskana, Italien). Im Gegensatz zu vielen „Marmor"-Sortierungen im internationalen Steinhandel, die petrographisch Kalksteine sind, ist Calacatta Cremo Extra ein echter geologischer Marmor. SC-Eintrag: s5973. Verbreitete Handelsnamen: „Calacatta Crema", „Calacatta Cremo", „Calacatta Cremo Extra", „Calacatta Cream", „Calacatta Creama", „Calacatta Ouro", „Calacatta Gold". Der Zusatz „Extra" markiert die Premium-Chargeauswahl. Mineralogisch dominiert Calcit – damit voll säureempfindlich.

Marble Italy 2.715 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs

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About Calacatta Cremo Extra

Background. Calacatta Cremo Extra is a premium selection from the world-famous Calacatta marble family from the Carrara marble basin in the Apuan Alps — the historic centre of Italian marble extraction for over 2,000 years. In the international stone trade the selection is offered under several trade names: “Calacatta Crema”, “Calacatta Cremo”, “Calacatta Cremo Extra”, “Calacatta Cream”, “Calacatta Creama”, “Calacatta Ouro” and “Calacatta Gold”. All denote the specific Calacatta selection with a warm, creamy tonality and subtler accent veins than the powerfully veined Calacatta Vagli or Calacatta Macchia Vecchia variants. In Italian marble nomenclature, the suffix “Extra” marks the premium batch selection with high-grade visual consistency. SC entry: s5973.

Geology and occurrence. Petrographically, Calacatta Cremo Extra is a true metamorphic marble — a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock formed from originally sedimentary Triassic/Liassic limestones (around 200 million years ago) by Alpine metamorphism during the Alpine orogeny. In that metamorphism, the originally sedimentary calcite crystals were recrystallised at high temperatures and pressures into larger, interlocking calcite crystals — the end product is a compact crystalline marble structure. The deposits lie in the Carrara marble basin in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy). Geologically, the selection is one of the few petrographically genuine marbles — in contrast to many “marble” selections in the international stone trade that are petrographically in fact limestones.

Appearance. The base tone is a classic Carrara white through to a light grey, creamy dimension-stone white with subtle warm creamy undertones, which give the selection the “Cremo/Crema” character it is named for. Across the surface runs characteristic fine to medium-wide grey calcite veining in an irregular, branching distribution. In more dramatic batch variants, warm golden and beige-brown accent veins additionally appear (hence the alternative trade names “Calacatta Gold” or “Calacatta Ouro”). In the batch available here, the calm, elegant grey veins on a white base tone dominate; the warm accent veins are subtler and not as powerful as in the Calacatta Macchia Vecchia selection. The vein courses are, as is typical for the material, organic and fluid rather than strictly linear, with more powerful diagonals and finer branchings. From a middle distance the surface reads as a calm, elegant white marble image with subtle movement; up close you discover the fine crystalline calcite structure and the characteristic branching veining.

Technical properties (SC s5973). Bulk density 2,705–2,725 kg/m³, compressive strength 146.1–150 MPa, flexural strength 12.7–17.6 MPa, water absorption 0.24–0.28 %, Mohs hardness around 3–4 (calcite). That places the stone in the more stable range of the marble family and makes it structurally load-bearing for floor and wall applications. Acid sensitivity: complete (calcitic) — vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato and cola leave etch marks on polished surfaces immediately. Frost resistance: not officially documented.

The ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we fabricate bathroom installations (vanity tops, wall and floor tiles, showers with professional waterproofing), wall claddings with bookmatch mirroring, staircases with treads and risers, interior floors in large format or tile format, bar counters, dining tables, buffet and furniture tops, window sills and skirtings.

Comparison. Within the Calacatta marble family, Cremo Extra positions itself as the warm, creamy, calm and elegant selection with fine veining. Related Calacatta selections with different degrees of movement and tonal profiles are Calacatta Vagli (cooler and greyer with powerful veins), Calacatta Borghini (with more dramatic gold accents), Calacatta Macchia Vecchia (with particularly powerful warm golden accent veins), Calacatta Statuario (the classic premium statement), Calacatta Caldia and Calacatta Lincoln. Compared with Bianco Carrara CD, Calacatta Cremo is somewhat warmer with more powerful veining; compared with Statuario, the veining is subtler and creamier and warmer than the black-and-white statement image.

An honest assessment. Calacatta Cremo Extra is the ideal choice for any application calling for a classic Italian, warm marble character with calm, elegant veining. The selection works particularly strongly in luxurious bathroom installations (vanity tops, wall claddings with bookmatch mirroring, floor tiles with professional waterproofing), as a statement wall cladding in prestige living spaces, as a staircase and as a high-quality furniture top. Anyone looking for more powerful golden-yellow veining should turn to Calacatta Macchia Vecchia or Calacatta Borghini; anyone wanting cool grey veining should switch to Calacatta Vagli; anyone who needs an acid-proof white stone for heavily used kitchen worktops or external applications should switch to a white quartzite (Cristallo, Mont Blanc), a porcelain (Calacatta look) or a light granite/migmatite.

Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.715 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 148,1 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 15,2 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,26 %

Suitability by application

Finishes

Calacatta Cremo Extra is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Politur ist die klassischste Veredelung für Marmor und Kalkstein — eine glänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglicher Farbintensität und ausgeprägter Tiefenwirkung der Aderung. Je nach mineralischer Zusammensetzung kann die Wirkung stellenweise mattglänzend sein. Säureempfindlich — Wein, Zitrone und Essig hinterlassen Ätzspuren bei längerer Einwirkung.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. In everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner are sufficient. Mild all-purpose cleaners without an acid content and mild washing-up foam are suitable. Wipe up spilled liquids promptly — the material is acid-sensitive, and every drop of vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato or cola can leave an etch mark on the material surface.

Do not use. Acidic cleaners of any kind — descalers (vinegar, citric acid, formic acid), bathroom cleaners with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted acids etch calcite marble immediately and leave dull patches that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing. Aggressive scouring pads or abrasive pastes are likewise off limits.

Sealing. Recommended for all applications with a risk of water or soiling — bathroom, kitchen, entrance area. A premium sealer with silane/siloxane-based stone protection guards against grease, oil and water stains and reduces the visibility of drip marks on light marble surfaces, but it cannot remove the acid sensitivity. The sealer should be refreshed regularly (every 2–5 years depending on exposure).

Bathroom. The classic application — the strength of this selection. Usable as a wall and floor surface, vanity top and shower — with professional waterproofing to DIN 18534 and a premium sealer. Note: anti-limescale sprays and bathroom cleaners with an acid content must be avoided at all costs, because they etch the calcite surface dull immediately.

Kitchen. Recommended only with reservations. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone wanting to minimise acid marks should choose a more matt surface finish with a premium sealer. Accepting the formation of a patina over the years is advisable. For an acid-proof white kitchen worktop with a similarly classic look, we recommend switching to a white quartzite (Cristallo, Mont Blanc) or a porcelain with a Calacatta look.

Floors and stairs. The classic Italian application — built into prestige interior schemes for centuries. With a compressive strength of 146–150 MPa and a low water absorption (0.24–0.28 %), Calacatta Cremo Extra is structurally fully load-bearing for heavily used entrance areas and staircases. For floor applications we recommend a more matt surface finish with a premium sealer.

Outdoors. Suitable with reservations. With a more matt surface finish and careful installation with good drainage, Calacatta Cremo Extra can be used outdoors — but we recommend the application under a canopy or loggia. A smooth, glossy external application loses its shine within a few years in the Central European climate through precipitation and freeze-thaw cycles.

Scratches and repair. Where there are dull patches, etch marks or light scratches on the material surface, a specialist stonemason or joint-technology firm can locally rework the slab with diamond pastes. Deeper mechanical damage can be partly disguised with pigmented calcite-based repair mortars.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Calacatta Cremo Extra?

Petrographically a true metamorphic marble from the Apuan Alps — a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock formed from originally sedimentary Triassic/Jurassic limestones during the Alpine orogeny. The deposit is located in the Carrara marble basin in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy). SC entry: s5973. In contrast to many “marble” selections in the international stone trade that are petrographically limestones, Calacatta Cremo Extra is a genuine geological marble.

Which trade names are used for this selection?

The selection is offered under several trade names: “Calacatta Crema”, “Calacatta Cremo”, “Calacatta Cremo Extra”, “Calacatta Cream”, “Calacatta Creama”, “Calacatta Ouro” and “Calacatta Gold”. All denote the specific Calacatta selection with a warm, creamy tonality. The suffix “Extra” marks the premium batch selection.

What exactly does Calacatta Cremo Extra look like?

A classic Carrara white through to a light grey, creamy dimension-stone white as the base tone with subtle warm creamy undertones, crossed by characteristic fine to medium-wide grey calcite veining in an irregular, branching distribution. In more dramatic batch variants, warm golden and beige-brown accent veins additionally appear (hence the trade names “Calacatta Gold/Ouro”); in calmer batches the grey veins on a white base tone dominate.

What technical values does Calacatta Cremo Extra have?

SC values (s5973): bulk density 2,705–2,725 kg/m³, compressive strength 146.1–150 MPa, flexural strength 12.7–17.6 MPa, water absorption 0.24–0.28 %, Mohs hardness around 3–4 (calcite). That places the stone in the more stable range of the marble family. Acid-sensitive (calcitic). Frost resistance not officially documented.

Is Calacatta Cremo Extra suitable for bookmatch installations?

Yes, outstandingly. The directional veining can be composed into impressive V, X or quad bookmatch patterns by mirroring adjacent slab pieces — on large wall surfaces in particular, dramatic symmetrical mirror images emerge. We recommend planning the slab layout before installation with our stone engineering service.

Is Calacatta Cremo Extra suitable for kitchen worktops?

With reservations. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone wanting the warm, elegant marble look in the kitchen should choose a matt, textured surface finish with a premium sealer and accept the formation of a patina over the years. For an acid-proof white kitchen worktop we recommend switching to a white quartzite or a porcelain with a Calacatta look.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, all pH-neutral stone and all-purpose cleaners and mild washing-up foam. Off limits are all acidic cleaners — descalers, anti-limescale sprays with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted vinegar or lemon juice immediately leaves dull etch marks that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing.

Calacatta Cremo Extra or Calacatta Macchia Vecchia?

Both are classic Carrara marbles from the Carrara marble basin with an identical care profile. Calacatta Cremo Extra is subtler and more elegant with calmer grey veins and a creamy, warm tonality; Calacatta Macchia Vecchia (“old mottling”) is more powerful with dramatic warm golden accent veins. The choice is a question of style between a calm, elegant effect (Cremo Extra) and a dramatic, luxurious effect (Macchia Vecchia).