When choosing between natural White Onyx and White Quartz for interior design, understanding their distinct characteristics is crucial. While both offer elegance and versatility, they differ in composition, durability, and maintenance.
Onyx consists of large, solid slabs that are meticulously processed to create unique and large panels. Quartz, on the other hand, is more commonly found in smaller sizes in nature. Each stone is individually processed: it is carefully cut, polished, and treated. Then, they are manually assembled into Duramica panels, filled with special compounds, and undergo technological treatments and polishing. Thanks to Duramica technology, quartz can be assembled into large panels, creating durable and striking quartz wall panels.
White Onyx: Translucent Luxury with a Delicate Touch
White Onyx is a natural stone admired for its translucent beauty and unique veining. Its ability to be backlit makes it a premium choice for feature walls, countertops, and decorative panels.
✅ Pros:
✔ Stunning visual appeal with dramatic veining
✔ Translucency allows for striking backlit designs
✔ Unique natural patterns, ensuring no two slabs are alike
❌ Cons:
✘ Softer and more fragile than quartz
✘ Requires regular sealing and careful maintenance
White onyx variants
White onyx fantasy variants
Onyx slabs
White Quartz: Durable and Low-Maintenance Elegance
White Quartz is a natural stone composed primarily of quartz crystals. It is widely used in kitchen countertops, flooring, and bathroom vanities due to its high durability and ease of maintenance. Like onyx, some varieties of quartz can also be backlit, creating a soft, glowing effect.
✅ Pros:
✔ Highly durable and resistant to scratches and stains
✔ No sealing required, making it low-maintenance
✔ Can be backlit for enhanced visual impact
✔ Wide variety of designs
❌ Cons:
✘ Less unique compared to the one-of-a-kind patterns of onyx
✘ Can discolor over time with excessive UV exposure
Duramica Glassonyx white quartz panels variants
Duramica Glassonyx white quartz panels with gold and silver variants
Quartz slabs
Best Applications: Which One to Choose?
✅ For a statement piece with luxury appeal: Choose White Onyx for feature walls, decorative panels, and artistic applications where its natural veining and translucency shine.
✅ For durability and practicality: White Quartz is the superior option for kitchen countertops, high-traffic surfaces, and areas requiring easy maintenance, with the added benefit of backlighting in select applications.
Innovation in Onyx ans Quartz : Duramica Reinforced Panels
Traditional white Onyx and Quartz is fragile, but Duramica Reinforced Panels enhance its strength while maintaining its beauty. Options like DuraSkin (ceramic base), DuraMet (aluminum honeycomb base), and Glassonyx (backlit glass base) make onyx more durable and versatile for modern applications.
Duramica DuraMet (Aluminum Honeycomb Base): Utilizing an aluminum honeycomb core, DuraMet is one of the lightest stone panels available, suitable for walls, ceilings, and decorative columns.
Standard formats: 2400 x 1200 mm ≤
Stone thickness: 5 mm ≥
Base thickness: 15, 20, 25 mm
Weight (kg/m²): ± 14-16 kg
Duramica Glassonyx (Backlit Glass Base): This composite combines an ultra-thin onyx or quartz layer with a backlit glass base, creating a glowing, translucent effect.
Glassonyx Fibreglass is a ultra-lightweight composite with large-size natural stone based on backlit cellular fibreglass.
Backlit Onyx Standard formats: 2400 x 1200 mm ≤
Stone thickness: 5 ≥
Base thickness: 15, 20 mm
Weight (kg/m²): ± 11, 16 kg
It is possible to produce a triplex structure, where the stone is between a glass base and a top coating of safety glass - Duramica Glassonyx Triplex. This product allows onyx and other translucent stones to be used on floors or in aggressive areas such as swimming pools, steps, bars etc.
Final Thoughts: If you seek unparalleled elegance and luxurious aesthetics, both materials are excellent choices. Both can be backlit. Onyx stands out with its large, continuous patterns, while or smoky quartz offers a unique appeal as a panel composed of smaller pieces.
White onyx projects
White quartz projects
