Engineered quartz

CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White

CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White is a dramatic engineered quartz stone from the Italian manufacturer Civet, part of the CTX BasicQuarz line, with a pronounced Calacatta character. The polished slab shows a bright white, slightly warm-toned base tone, run through with powerful, flowing main veins in dark grey to anthracite and finer light grey accompanying clouds – stylistically an allusion to the classic Italian Calacatta marble with high-contrast dark veining. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate the large-format slabs into characterful kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, washstands, wall claddings and made-to-measure interior components with a luxurious premium character.

Engineered quartz material from the CTX BasicQuarz line (Civet, Italy), based on high-purity natural quartz aggregates (≈ 90–93 % quartz, ≈ 7–10 % polyester resin) – not a naturally formed stone and not a marble agglomerate. Variant 9688 “Skiathos White” with a light, warm-toned cream white base tone and powerful dark grey Calacatta veins; the name references the Aegean island of Skiathos.

Engineered quartz

Available as: Slabs

Check the live stock Request an appointment

About CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White

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

Material composition. 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 mixture is laid out on a mould in the Bretonstone® vacuum vibration compaction process, compacted and polymerised in a curing oven. Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7 (compared with calcitic marble at Mohs 3) – which makes engineered quartz slabs considerably more scratch-resistant, more acid-resistant and non-porous. The powerful veining of the Skiathos White selection is created using differentially pigmented mix batches, which are introduced into the mould in several layers and compacted under vacuum.

The 9688 Skiathos White variant. The name refers to the Greek island of Skiathos in the Sporades chain – a design quotation of the white Aegean beaches with their dark rock formations, realised in the slab with a white base tone and high-contrast dark veining. The base tone is a light, slightly warm-toned cream white with a delicate greige nuance. Distributed across the base tone are powerful, organically flowing main veins in dark grey to anthracite, interspersed with finer light grey accompanying clouds and subtle veils reminiscent of a classic Italian Calacatta marble. The vein pattern is not regular but deliberately irregularly distributed – every slab shows a slightly individual image, which nevertheless remains calculable within the selection. The four-digit code “9688” is Civet's internal recipe number.

Format and fabrication. Civet usually supplies the BasicQuarz slabs in a large format of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in the standard thicknesses of 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 executed profile edges such as bullnose or half-round. With a powerfully veined slab such as Skiathos White, particular care in slab selection and in matching individual workpieces to one another pays off – the appearance lives from the deliberate alignment of the vein courses, 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 are themselves inert to acid and the polyester makes up only a small volume fraction. Even so, the following applies: highly concentrated acids (hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric acid) and aggressive industrial chemicals attack the binder. Heat resistance goes beyond that of the marble agglomerates – brief heat up to about 150 °C is tolerated – 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 – Skiathos White is clearly conceived as an interior material and should not be installed in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

The ROSSITTIS range. We carry Skiathos White as a polished large-format slab with stock depth. From it we fabricate kitchen worktops (standard and island), washbasin 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 powerful Calacatta appearance comes into its own most strongly as an island or bar element, set against calm cabinet fronts and matt wall paints; combined with oak, brass, bronze and black sanitary fittings, the result is the typical premium Calacatta look of contemporary kitchen architecture.

Comparison. Within the CTX BasicQuarz family, Skiathos White is the most expressive Calacatta-look selection, with powerful dark veining. Stylistically related are the calm solid and cloud selections 1611 Frost White and 1612 Elegant White, which show considerably finer veining or none at all. Against genuine Calacatta marble from the Apuan Alps, the Caesarstone variant remains calculable in its play of veins, more acid-resistant and more scratch-resistant – the natural marble appears more classic, livelier, more individual, but is care-intensive and acid-sensitive in kitchen use. Against the Caesarstone marble-look selections (5114 Calacatta Maximus, 5151 Empira White), Skiathos White moves within the same design spectrum, with a somewhat more powerful, dramatic vein course. Against porcelain with a Calacatta décor (Laminam Calacatta lines, GEOLUXE Dionysos), the slab remains warmer to the touch and less brittle, but is thermally and chemically somewhat less resilient overall.

Our honest assessment. 9688 Skiathos White is a statement slab for clients and architects looking for the luxurious Calacatta character with powerful dark veining, without accepting the care requirements 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 calculable, heat- and acid-resistant premium working surface with dramatic veining is right with the CTX variant.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

72 quartz composite slabs in stock · plus 4 blocks

Thicknesses: 2 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

Loading slab images…

Finishes

CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

A glossy surface with the highest possible degree of colour intensity — the standard finish in the engineered stone and engineered quartz segment. Easy to care for in everyday use and resistant to common household acids. A prestigious choice for kitchen worktops, wall claddings and exposed surfaces with a classic high-gloss character.

Care & fabrication

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

Do not use. Concentrated acids (sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric acid), concrete 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 necessary – engineered quartz is inherently dense and non-porous, and water absorption is below 0.05 %.

Kitchen. Skiathos White is a classic kitchen material. Despite its high material hardness and acid resistance, the following applies: use chopping boards (knife marks can leave the polyester resin matt over time, and on the light Calacatta surface the lines are doubly conspicuous) and use trivets for hot pots and pans – direct heat over points can cause local discolouration. Direct contact with a hot baking tray (above about 150 °C) risks stress cracks. On the light slab, dark stains (red wine, coffee, berry juice) are clearly visible, but can usually be removed without a trace if dealt with promptly.

Bathroom. In the bathroom, Skiathos White is very well suited as a washstand, wall cladding, bath surround and shower. Do not use anti-limescale sprays and limescale-dissolving bathroom cleaners in high concentration, and wipe standing water away promptly in the shower area so that a limescale film cannot build up.

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

Outdoors and frost. Not suitable for external construction. Polyester binder yellows under UV radiation, and freeze-thaw cycles can lead to micro defects. Nor is it recommended for permanent use in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

Scratches and repair. Superficial scratches on the polished variant can be re-polished by a stonemason; deeper damage can be filled with tinted polyester filler and worked in to match the colour. With a powerfully veined slab such as Skiathos White, reconstructing the vein lines is demanding craftsmanship; a test piece is advisable.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White?

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

What exactly does Skiathos White look like?

A light, slightly warm-toned cream white with powerful, organically flowing main veins in dark grey to anthracite and finer light grey accompanying clouds. Stylistically a quotation of the classic Italian Calacatta marble with high-contrast dark veining – more dramatic than the calm Frost White or Elegant White selections.

What does the name “Skiathos” refer to?

The name refers to the Greek island of Skiathos in the Sporades chain – a design quotation of the white Aegean beaches with their dark rock formations. The slab transfers this image into a deliberately composed Calacatta engineered quartz character; there is no direct natural stone connection to Greek marbles.

How does Skiathos White differ from 1611 Frost White and 1612 Elegant White?

Frost White (1611) shows finely hazy, frost-like light grey suggestions of cloud; Elegant White (1612) is a solid white slab without veining. Skiathos White (9688) is the most expressive variant, with powerful, dramatic Calacatta veins in dark grey and high-contrast clouds. The choice is a design decision between calm and restrained (1611/1612) and dramatic and high-contrast (9688).

Which slab formats and thicknesses does Civet offer?

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

Is Skiathos White suitable for kitchen worktops?

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

Which cleaners may I use?

Warm water, neutral to slightly alkaline stone care products, mild all-purpose cleaners and special engineered quartz care products are permitted. Concentrated acids, concrete and rust removers, paint strippers and strong solvents (acetone, petrol, thinners) are off limits. 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 courses. Within a selection the overall image remains reliable for planning, but the exact veining varies. For multi-part workpieces (island + wall shelf + bar counter), personal slab selection at the warehouse pays off, above all because of the vein pattern across mitred edges.

What does CTX BasicQuarz® 9688 Skiathos White cost?

The price depends on the format, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.