Ticino family turns Cristallina marble into luxury designs

Switzerland’s only active marble quarry is repositioning its Cristallina stone as a luxury design brand to compete with cheaper imports and ceramic imitations, SRF reports.

The quarry lies high above Peccia in the Maggia Valley, at around 1,200 metres above sea level. The stone is processed in Biasca by family business Maurino Graniti, which has operated the quarry since 2010.

Fourth-generation owners Cesare and Natascia Maurino say the quarry is a source of pride. The company does not disclose its current output, saying marble is now extracted mainly to order. In the past, annual production was about 600 cubic metres, roughly the volume of a family home.

Cristallina marble is distinguished by crystals in the stone that give it a characteristic sheen. It comes in 16 colour variations, from white and grey to green, black and violet. Its production is modest compared with the much larger quarries in Carrara, Italy.

The business faces competition from ceramic products that imitate marble and can cost considerably less. Digital imaging technology allows manufacturers to reproduce the appearance of natural stone on ceramic slabs. Builders often choose these alternatives for facades, bathrooms and flooring.

In response, the Maurino family is expanding beyond sales of raw stone. Its Cristallina Design line includes vases, wine holders, candle holders and jewellery objects, as well as a chess set made entirely from the marble. Swiss designers create the products, which are made mainly in Ticino.

The pieces are aimed at affluent customers seeking exclusivity, Swiss provenance and craftsmanship. Even simple candle or jewellery holders cost several thousand francs, while the handmade chess set is priced in the five-figure range. The family hopes the strategy will make Cristallina known internationally as a design material, not just a building stone.