Product Overview

Ceramica Sant’Agostino Akoya Ocean 12" × 24" Matte Porcelain Tile interprets the translucent depth and pearlescent movement of precious onyx through premium Italian porcelain stoneware. The Ocean colorway combines smoky blue, deep blue-gray, slate, and softly illuminated mineral veining for a dramatic surface that feels both atmospheric and refined.

Sant’Agostino’s Natural surface provides a smooth, low-sheen appearance that softens the collection’s iridescent character while preserving its layered visual depth. Rectified edges support precise installations with narrow grout joints, while approximately 110 distinct graphics in the 12" × 24" format create convincing variation across larger floors and walls.

Akoya Ocean is an elegant choice for bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, shower walls, fireplace surrounds, hospitality spaces, and sophisticated commercial interiors.

Technical Specifications

The current Sant’Agostino collection sheet confirms the 9 mm thickness, rectified construction, Natural surface, item code, seven-piece carton, 1.26 m² coverage, approximately 110 graphics, and wet DCOF of at least 0.42. Official Akoya collection, 2026 technical sheet

Recommended Applications

• Bathroom Floors and Walls: Creates a luxurious blue-gray onyx effect across primary bathrooms, powder rooms, and vanity areas.

• Shower Walls: Suitable for full-height shower surrounds and feature walls over an approved waterproofing system.

• Kitchen Floors and Backsplashes: Introduces sophisticated mineral color without the maintenance requirements of natural onyx.

• Living and Dining Areas: The numerous graphics help create a natural-looking surface across larger open-plan floors.

• Fireplace Surrounds: Adds atmospheric blue-gray depth outside the firebox where required heat clearances are maintained.

• Hospitality and Commercial Interiors: Appropriate for boutiques, restaurants, hotel bathrooms, reception areas, and other suitable commercial spaces.

• Decorative Feature Walls: Works beautifully behind floating vanities, reception desks, shelving, and architectural displays.

• Exterior Applications: The porcelain is frost resistant, but exterior suitability must be confirmed for the climate, substrate, drainage, and required slip resistance. The Natural surface should not automatically be treated as a dedicated exterior anti-slip finish.

Layout Options

• Straight Stack: Creates a clean, contemporary grid that emphasizes the rectified edges.

• Horizontal Running Bond: Produces a natural stone-block appearance using the manufacturer’s recommended stagger.

• Vertical Stack: Visually increases wall height and gives shower or feature walls a more architectural character.

• Vertical Offset: Combines height emphasis with gentle movement.

• Coordinated Field Installation: Combine with other Akoya formats and mosaics, provided the production lot, caliber, thickness, and finish are compatible.

Installation & Handling Guidelines

⚠️ IMPORTANT: MANUFACTURER-SPECIFIED JOINT AND OFFSET

Sant’Agostino recommends a 2 mm grout joint for Akoya. For the 30 × 60 cm format, the manufacturer recommends aligned installation or a 3/4 stagger, which creates approximately a one-quarter-course shift when viewed from one row to the next.

• Confirm the Finish: Verify that every carton is labeled Akoya Ocean Natural, item code CSAAKOCE30. Do not mix Natural and Krystal finishes unintentionally.

• Dry-Lay and Blend: Open several cartons and arrange the tiles before installation. Distribute lighter, darker, and more strongly veined graphics throughout the surface.

• Mortar Selection: Use a premium polymer-modified Large and Heavy Tile mortar meeting ANSI A118.4 or A118.15 and approved for porcelain.

• Mortar Coverage: Directionally trowel the mortar and back-butter where necessary. Obtain at least 80% coverage in dry interior areas and 95% in wet applications.

• Grout Joint: Follow Sant’Agostino’s recommended minimum joint of 2 mm, approximately 5/64".

• Offset: Use an aligned layout or the manufacturer’s recommended 3/4 stagger. Avoid a conventional 50% brick offset unless tile flatness has been evaluated and the installer approves it.

• Lippage Control: Prepare a sufficiently flat substrate and use an installer-approved leveling system when appropriate. A leveling system does not replace proper mortar coverage.

• Wet-Area Preparation: Install shower applications over a complete waterproofing system. Tile and grout do not waterproof the substrate.

• Shower-Floor Caution: Although the Natural finish has a published wet DCOF, the 12" × 24" format can complicate drainage and slope construction. A smaller mosaic is generally more appropriate for conventional shower floors.

• Movement Accommodation: Provide perimeter and field movement joints following TCNA EJ171 and applicable construction requirements.

• Cutting: Wet-cut with a clean diamond blade designed for porcelain. Follow appropriate crystalline-silica safety procedures.

• Order Allowance: Add approximately 10–15% for cuts, breakage, graphic blending, and future repairs. Complex or diagonal layouts may require additional material.

Shade Variation Notice

Akoya Ocean carries a V2 slight-variation classification. Differences in blue-gray tone, pearlescent movement, veining intensity, and graphic placement are intentional.

The 12" × 24" format includes approximately 110 graphics, so review and blend material from several cartons rather than installing tiles in the order they are removed from one box.

Care & Maintenance

• Clean with warm water and a neutral-pH porcelain-tile cleaner.

• Use a soft cloth, microfiber pad, mop, or non-abrasive nylon brush.

• Avoid abrasive powders, waxes, oily soaps, and cleaners that leave a slippery film.

• Rinse away detergent residue thoroughly, especially in bathrooms and wet areas.

• Porcelain normally does not require sealing.

• Cement-based grout may require sealing according to the grout manufacturer’s recommendations.

• Protect newly installed floors from construction debris and abrasive traffic until the project is complete.

Design Profile

• Aesthetic Inspiration: Iridescent onyx, Akoya pearls, contemporary Italian luxury, and atmospheric modern interiors.

• Color Character: Smoky ocean blue, deep blue-gray, slate, pearl, and softly illuminated mineral veining.

• Visual Advantage: The large number of graphics creates natural-looking movement without the fragility or maintenance of genuine onyx.

• Complementary Materials: White oak, dark walnut, ribbed glass, limewash, brushed concrete, and pale limestone.

• Complementary Countertops: White quartz, Calacatta marble, concrete-look surfaces, and dark soapstone.

• Complementary Metals: Brushed brass, polished nickel, gunmetal, matte black, and stainless steel.

• Suggested Grout Colors: Blue-gray or medium gray creates a unified surface; pale gray provides gentle definition; charcoal produces a more dramatic grid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Akoya Ocean natural onyx?

No. It is Italian porcelain stoneware designed to reproduce the translucency, mineral movement, and pearlescent depth of iridescent onyx.

Is this the matte or polished version?

This listing is for the Natural surface, which is the collection’s matte or low-sheen finish. Sant’Agostino also manufactures a highly polished Krystal version with a different item code.

What is the correct manufacturer item code?

The correct item code for Akoya Ocean 30 × 60 cm Natural is CSAAKOCE30.

How thick is the tile?

The current Sant’Agostino technical sheet specifies a thickness of 9 mm.

Can it be installed on floors?

Yes. The Natural porcelain surface is suitable for appropriate residential and commercial interior floors.

Can it be installed on shower walls?

Yes. Install it over a complete waterproofing system using setting materials approved for porcelain and wet environments.

Can it be used on a shower floor?

The Natural finish has a published wet DCOF of at least 0.42, but the 12" × 24" format may be difficult to slope properly toward a conventional drain. Confirm the complete shower-floor design with the installer.

Does Akoya Ocean require sealing?

The porcelain surface normally does not require sealing. Cement-based grout may require a penetrating grout sealer.

Why do the tiles have different patterns?

Sant’Agostino produces approximately 110 graphics in this format to create a more natural, non-repetitive onyx appearance.