1. printing process showing-look at a magazine/newspaper up close and you'll know what I mean. (being that I'm in the marketing/printing field- this is the first thing I see)

2. Ripples in the surface...when certain angles hit the tile you can see tiny ripples sort of like roller mark texture on walls which screams fake to me.

Peronda is mirror smooth..and the printing process they use is awesome-in other words,... very realistic.

Marmi di Napoli - this was really quite good. I had to keep touching it to be sure it wasn't marble. The texture is great and it has a good white color to it.
This is the only link I could find on the Internet to the tile and I don't think it does it justice.
http://www.bedrosians.com/files/resources/brochures/Porcelain.Creme_Br ulee.Creme_Brulee.T.pdf

Marmo D (similar name as above). This one is very good too.
http://www.italgranitigroup.com/dettaglio.php?_serie=91&_search_type=3 &_search_by=&L=EN

Eleganza Gemstone also is pretty good, but it's a little creamier in color and not as white.

http://www.eleganzatiles.com/products/residential/gemstone_white.html

Below you can see some pics of it, hard to tell in the pics but the reflections
are smooth, plenty of variation so it doesn't look fake (that was another issue I had with other brands) Please excuse the mess in the pic-in the middle of gutting the bathroom -also I did't take off the plastic on all the pieces yet.

Here's a link to the HD tile:

http://www.msistone.com/porcelain-pietra/calacatta/

This is what tile showrooms sell (same manufacturer/different tile name):

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202943512/h_d2/ProductDisplay? catalogId=2&langId=-1&keyword=calacatta&storeId=10051#.UJbKprQuLs0

Did you see the peronda brand? The only issue with that brand is that it comes only in 18 x 18.. it is rectified so that you can cut it down if you want. (both brands are actually).

Seriously other brands mentioned above do not compare...I've looked at about 20 brands -some of which were mentioned on garden web- and they all had that porcelain ripple look, a dead giveaway.

A "close" third (although the printing is visible and not as smooth but better than others) was Porcelanosa. This is NOT rectified though.

http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/home/products/tile/floor.aspx

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/?s=peronda&submit=Search

OK. Done posting.... Sorry I'm just super excited as I spent weeks and so much gas traveling to stores to find the perfect look alike and finally found two brands. : D

Not too bad price wise. I just picked up the 12 x 24 for the walls and I'm in love. It's the same tile you can get at a tile store - ask for MS International Pietra Calacatta.

Michelle16 used the same tile in her laundry and she loves it too.

I think it is stunning but then I have to be honest, I have not been in a bathroom that was real marble. I wanted easy maintenance and that is how it is and everyone who sees it seems to be very impressed. I think you can order it online. We used the 12X24.

We didn't use it on the floor - I was worried it might be slippery - I don't have good balance.

Here's a sample of the Floor and Decor from our bath project:

Bull nose here at:

The matching bullnose porcelain calacatta is HERE

Though I still liked the look of the matching bullnose which my tile guy used a fair amount of, some of the pieces had a bit of roughness - not sure if some will be difficult to clean over time. This was not the case with the matte 12X24 pieces - all were quite smooth.