Engineered quartz

CTX BasicQuarz® 1680 Alaska White

CTX BasicQuarz® 1680 Alaska White is a high-contrast Calacatta-look grade from the CTX BasicQuarz line of the Italian engineered quartz manufacturer Civet. The polished slab shows a clear, cool pure white ground tone run through by striking dark grey to anthracite main veins with branching fine accompanying lines – stylistically an allusion to the cool clarity of an Arctic ice block and to classic Calacatta Vagli marbles with powerful dark veining. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate the large-format slabs into kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, vanity units, wall claddings and made-to-measure interior components with a luxurious, coolly elegant premium feel.

Quarzkomposit-Werkstein der CTX-BasicQuarz-Linie (Civet, Italien) auf Basis hochreiner Naturquarz-Aggregate (≈ 90–93 % Quarz, ≈ 7–10 % Polyesterharz) – kein gewachsener Naturstein und kein Marmor-Agglomerat. Variante 1680 „Alaska White" mit kühlem Reinweiß-Grundton und kraftvollen dunkelgrau-anthraziten Calacatta-Adern in Anlehnung an Calacatta Vagli/Borghini.

Engineered quartz

Available as: Slabs

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About CTX BasicQuarz® 1680 Alaska White

Background. CTX BasicQuarz® is the engineered quartz line of the Italian materials manufacturer Civet (CTX). Unlike the marble agglomerate line CTX BasicAgglo®, the aggregate used here is not marble chippings but high-purity quartz crystals. The end product is more acid-resistant, harder and more thermally resilient than a marble agglomerate – the typical material class for kitchen worktops.

Material build-up. A BasicQuarz slab consists of around 90–93 % natural quartz (SiO₂) in several grain sizes, about 7–10 % polyester resin, mineral additives and pigments. The mix is spread out in a mould in the Bretonstone® vacuum vibro-compaction process, compacted and polymerised in a curing oven. Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7 (against calcite marble at Mohs 3) – which makes engineered quartz slabs considerably more scratch-resistant, more acid-resistant and free of pores. The powerful veining of the Alaska White grade is created from differentially pigmented mixes that are introduced into the mould in several layers and compacted under vacuum.

The 1680 Alaska White version. The name refers to the cool clarity of an Arctic ice block – bright white, clear, with dramatic dark veins like fissures in the ice. The ground tone is a bright, clear pure white with a slightly cool cast – not warm cream, not cream beige, but a cool white architectural tone. Distributed across the ground are powerful, broadly flowing main veins in dark grey to anthracite, interspersed with finer branching accompanying lines. The vein pattern is organic, not regular but deliberately irregularly distributed – each slab shows a slightly individual picture that nevertheless remains predictable within the grade. Stylistically Alaska White is a quotation of classic Calacatta Vagli or Calacatta Borghini marbles from the Apuan Alps, with their typical cool white ground tone and dark vein composition.

Format and fabrication. Civet normally supplies the BasicQuarz slabs in large formats of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in the standard thicknesses 2 and 3 cm; individual lines also in 1.2 cm and 1.5 cm for lightweight wall claddings. The slabs can be cut, profiled, calibrated, drilled and edge-worked with diamond tooling like a dense engineered stone. Standard edges are square, chamfered (V-chamfer, 45°), rounded (R3, R5) and finished profile edges such as bullnose or half-round. With a powerfully veined slab such as Alaska White, particular care in slab selection is worthwhile – the look lives from the deliberate alignment of the vein runs, above all on islands with a mitred edge or on multi-part wall accents.

Thermal and chemical properties. Engineered quartz is considerably more acid-resistant than marble, because the quartz aggregates themselves are inert to acid and the polyester accounts for only a small share of the volume. Even so: strongly concentrated acids (hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric acid) and aggressive industrial chemicals attack the binder. Heat tolerance goes beyond that of the marble agglomerates – brief warmth up to roughly 150 °C is forgiven – but hot pots, frying pans or baking trays should never be set down directly on the surface. Direct UV exposure is a weak point of all polyester-based materials – Alaska White is clearly designed as an interior material and should not be installed in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

ROSSITTIS range. We carry Alaska White as a polished large-format slab with stock depth. From it we produce kitchen worktops (standard and island), vanity tops, wall claddings (including kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls), bar counters, reception desks, buffet and furniture tops, interior stairs with treads and risers as well as window sills. The coolly elegant Calacatta look comes into its own most strongly as an island or bar element, set against white or light grey cabinet fronts and matt wall colours; combined with oak, stainless steel, brass and black sanitary fittings, the typical cool, luxurious look of modern kitchen architecture emerges.

Comparison. Within the CTX BasicQuarz family, Alaska White is one of the most expressive Calacatta-look grades, comparable with 9688 Skiathos White – with its purer, cooler white tone Alaska White looks somewhat more formal, Skiathos White with its slightly warm-toned cream white somewhat more domestic. Compared with the calm solid and cloud grades 1611 Frost White and 1612 Elegant White, the veining is considerably more powerful. Compared with genuine Calacatta marble from the Apuan Alps, the Caesarstone version remains predictable in its play of veining, more acid-resistant and more scratch-resistant – the natural marble looks more classical, livelier, more individual, but is care-intensive and acid-sensitive in kitchen use. Compared with porcelain with a Calacatta decor (Laminam Calacatta lines, GEOLUXE Dionysos), the slab feels warmer to the touch and is less brittle, but is overall somewhat less resilient thermally and chemically.

An honest assessment. 1680 Alaska White is a coolly elegant choice for clients and architects who want the luxurious Calacatta feel with powerful dark veining, without accepting the care demands of a natural marble. Anyone who wants a lively play of natural veining with genuine geological depth should stay with the natural material – anyone looking for a predictable, heat- and acid-resistant premium working surface with a clear cool white Calacatta look is right with the CTX version.

Finishes

CTX BasicQuarz® 1680 Alaska White is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Glänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglichem Maß an Farbintensität — die Standard-Veredelung im Kunststein-/Quarzkomposit-Segment. Pflegeleicht im Alltag, säurebeständig gegenüber haushaltsüblichen Substanzen. Eine repräsentative Wahl für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und Sichtflächen mit klassischer Hochglanz-Anmutung.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. Day to day, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to mildly alkaline pH cleaner are enough. Soapy engineered-stone cleaners, mild all-purpose cleaners without aggressive acid, mild washing-up foam and special engineered quartz care products are suitable. Wipe up spilled liquids – red wine, coffee, juices, oil – promptly in everyday use, because dark shadows are immediately visible on the pale Calacatta surface; the material itself, however, is largely stain-resistant.

Do not use. Concentrated acids (sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric acid), cement and rust removers, paint strippers and solvents (acetone, petrol, thinners, nitro cleaners) are off limits – they can attack the polyester resin. Also do without chlorine-based bleaches in high concentration and abrasive pads (steel wool, green scouring pads); scratching is undesirable on the polished surface.

Impregnation. A classic natural stone impregnation is not required – engineered quartz is dense and free of pores in itself, water absorption is below 0.05 %.

Kitchen. Alaska White is a classic kitchen material. Despite its high material hardness and acid resistance the rule is: use chopping boards (knife marks can gradually leave the polyester resin dull, and on the pale Calacatta surface the lines are doubly conspicuous), use trivets for hot pots and pans – direct point heat can cause local discolouration. On direct contact with a hot baking tray (above roughly 150 °C) there is a risk of stress cracks. On the pale slab, dark stains (red wine, coffee, berry juice) are clearly visible, but if dealt with promptly they can usually be removed without a trace.

Bathroom. In the bathroom, Alaska White can be used very well as a vanity top, wall cladding, bath surround and shower. Do not use anti-limescale sprays and limescale-dissolving sanitary cleaners in high concentration; in the shower area wipe standing water away promptly so that no limescale film builds up.

Floors and stairs. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Outdoors and frost. Not suitable for exterior construction. The polyester binder yellows under UV radiation, and freeze-thaw cycles can cause micro defects. Nor is it to be recommended permanently in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

Scratches and repair. Superficial scratches on the polished version can be re-polished by a stonemason, deeper damage made good with tinted polyester filler and worked in to an exact colour match. With a powerfully veined slab such as Alaska White, reconstructing the vein lines is demanding craft work; a test piece is worthwhile.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is CTX BasicQuarz® 1680 Alaska White?

It is an engineered quartz surface from the Italian manufacturer Civet (CTX). High-purity natural quartz aggregates (around 90–93 % by volume) are compacted with about 7–10 % polyester resin, pigments and additives into large-format slabs using the Bretonstone® vacuum process. The veining is created from differentially pigmented mixes that are introduced into the mould in several layers.

What exactly does Alaska White look like?

A clear, cool pure white as the ground tone, with powerful, broadly flowing main veins in dark grey to anthracite and finer branching accompanying lines. Stylistically a quotation of classic Calacatta Vagli or Calacatta Borghini marbles from the Apuan Alps, with their typical cool white ground tone and dark vein composition.

How does Alaska White differ from Skiathos White?

Both are powerful Calacatta-look grades of the CTX BasicQuarz family. Alaska White (1680) is a clearer cool white with dramatic broad veins, stylistically closer to Calacatta Vagli/Borghini. Skiathos White (9688) has a slightly warm-toned cream white ground tone and somewhat more branching vein clouds. The choice is a question of style, between formal and cool (Alaska) and somewhat more domestic and warm (Skiathos).

Which slab formats and thicknesses does Civet offer?

The standard format is around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in 2 and 3 cm thicknesses. Individual lines are also available in thinner gauges (1.2–1.5 cm) for lightweight wall claddings.

Is Alaska White suitable for kitchen worktops?

Yes, that is its core domain. Engineered quartz is more acid- and scratch-resistant than natural marble and marble agglomerates. Even so the rule is: use chopping boards and trivets for hot pans, because the polyester resin can react sensitively to point loads. Direct heat above roughly 150 °C can cause discolouration or stress cracks.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, neutral to mildly alkaline stone care products, mild all-purpose cleaners and special engineered quartz care products. Off limits are concentrated acids, cement and rust removers, paint strippers and strong solvents (acetone, petrol, thinners). Abrasive pads should be avoided.

How much do individual slabs differ from one another?

As with all veined engineered quartz slabs, individual slabs show slightly different vein runs. Within a grade the overall picture remains dependable to plan with, but the exact veining varies. For multi-part workpieces (island + wall shelf + bar counter) it is worth selecting the slabs in person at the warehouse, above all because of how the veins run across mitred edges.

Is Alaska White suitable for exterior construction?

No. Polyester resin-based materials yellow over the long term under UV radiation, and the data sheet declares no frost resistance. Nor is the material to be recommended permanently in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.