Both are natural marble — calcite-based stone — so they share the same weaknesses: they etch with acid, they're porous, they scratch. But they behave differently enough that care and polishing have to be adjusted.
Italian marble
Statuario, Carrara, Botticino, Dyna, Perlato and the rest. Generally softer and finer-grained, with dramatic veining and a translucency that catches light. It takes a spectacular mirror polish — but it also etches and scratches at the slightest provocation, and it's usually the most expensive surface in the house.
- Polishing — a gentler hand, finer final grits, and the minimum possible cut, because over-grinding wastes irreplaceable stone. Often finished with crystallisation or lustre powder for maximum reflectivity.
- Sealing — essential and non-negotiable. Italian marble stains readily; a premium impregnating sealer buys you time to wipe a spill.
- Daily care — pH-neutral cleaner only, immediate spill wiping, felt pads and entrance mats without exception.
Indian marble
Makrana (the Taj Mahal marble), Ambaji, Udaipur green, Rajnagar white, Katni. Generally harder and denser than Italian, more uniform in colour, and far cheaper. It's more forgiving of foot traffic and holds a polish longer, though heritage Makrana floors often need more grinding to level decades of wear.
- Polishing — can take a slightly more aggressive cut; the grit progression is standard. Still benefits from diamond pads for the best clarity.
- Sealing — still recommended, especially against hard-water filming, but the stone is a little more tolerant of a missed spill than Italian.
- Daily care — same principles, marginally more margin for error.
Cost, roughly
Indian marble is cheaper to buy and cheaper to polish. Italian marble costs more on both counts — the slab is pricier and the polishing is more careful, finer, and slower. If budget is the deciding factor, a good Indian white marble, properly polished and sealed, looks superb.
Which is "better"?
Neither. Italian marble is chosen for its look — the veining and depth are unmatched. Indian marble is chosen for value and durability. What matters more than the origin is that whichever you have is polished properly and kept sealed — a neglected Italian floor looks worse than a well-maintained Indian one.