Arctic Style & Tuxedo by Wonder

Collection Summary

Arctic Style & Tuxedo by Wonder Porcelain is a paired offering of two solid-color porcelain tile collections:

• Arctic Style comes in a crisp, bright white.
• Tuxedo comes in a deep obsidian black.

Both collections are made in polished and matte finishes. They share the same rectified field sizes (12×12, 12×24, 24×24, and 24×48), plus 2×2, 3″ hexagon, and diamond mosaics and a 4×24 bullnose. A Black & White mosaic combines the two colors.

The defining feature of the pairing is Tuxedo. Wonder Porcelain describes it as a domestically produced, true solid black porcelain, made in the same formats and thickness as its white counterpart.

Design & Aesthetic

The color story is deliberately binary. Arctic Style is a clean, bright white meant for simple, immaculate surfaces. Tuxedo is a light-absorbing obsidian black that reads as a solid field, with no veining or printed graphic. Both colors carry a V1 shade-variation rating, the most uniform classification. As a result, the surface character comes from color, finish, format, and joint layout rather than tonal movement.

Finish changes the effect considerably:

• Polished surfaces reflect light and sharpen the contrast between the two colors.
• Matte surfaces soften that contrast and let Tuxedo’s black read as a flatter, deeper tone.

Both colors share identical nominal sizes, a 9.0mm thickness, and rectified edges. That means Arctic Style and Tuxedo can be laid together in one field, such as a checkerboard, banding, or borders. Either color also works on its own as a monochrome surface. The Black & White mosaics carry the contrast down to a smaller scale.

Material & Craftsmanship

Both collections are porcelain with water absorption of ≤0.5%. All field tiles are rectified at a 9.0mm thickness, and the minimum recommended grout joint is 1/8″. The manufacturer describes Tuxedo as domestically produced. Its tearsheet presents the collection as the result of precise manufacturing aimed at a true, deep black, which is historically difficult to achieve in porcelain.

Design Applications

Wonder Porcelain positions the two colors as follows:

• Arctic Style: for projects that call for a simple, immaculate aesthetic and classic designs.
• Tuxedo: as a standalone statement surface, or paired in contrast with Arctic Style.

Specifying Arctic Style & Tuxedo

The two colors look like a matched set, but they do not have identical performance. When the two colors are combined in one installation, evaluate the field against Tuxedo’s values. In both colors, polished surfaces have a lower Mohs rating (4.0–5.0) than matte surfaces (7.0), so polished surfaces have lower scratch hardness. On solid-color tile, joints are highly visible. Grout color and joint width (minimum 1/8″) are design decisions as much as technical ones.

Product Specifications

Arctic Style

• DCOF: Matte ≥ 0.42
• Breaking Strength: ≥ 425 lbs
• MOHs: Polished – 4.0-5.0 | Matte – 7.0
• Water Absorption: ≤0.5%
• Chemical Resistance: Polished – Class E | Matte – Class A
• Abrasion Resistance: Polished – Class III | Matte – Class IV
• ANSI Classification: Polished – ID | Matte – IW
• Thermal Shock Resistance: Resistant
• Frost Resistance: Resistant

Tuxedo

• DCOF: Matte ≥ 0.42
• Breaking Strength: ≥ 325 lbs
• MOHs: Polished – 4.0-5.0 | Matte – 7.0
• Water Absorption: ≤0.5%
• Chemical Resistance: Polished – Class C | Matte – Class A
• Abrasion Resistance: Polished – Class II | Matte – Class III
• ANSI Classification: Polished – ID | Matte – IW
• Thermal Shock Resistance: Resistant
• Frost Resistance: Resistant

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Arctic Style and Tuxedo be installed together in a checkerboard or patterned floor?

Yes, dimensionally. Both are rectified, 9.0mm thick, and made in the same nominal sizes with the same 1/8″ minimum joint. Their performance values differ, however. A mixed field should be specified against Tuxedo’s lower breaking strength and abrasion ratings.

Should I choose matte or polished for a floor?

The matte finish is the only one with a published DCOF (≥0.42) and an ANSI IW classification. The polished finish is classified ID, has no DCOF rating, and has a lower Mohs value. For floors, matte is the finish supported by the published slip data.

Does polished Tuxedo perform the same as polished Arctic Style?

No. Polished Tuxedo is listed at abrasion Class II and chemical resistance Class C. Polished Arctic Style is listed at Class III and Class E. Compare the two directly before using polished Tuxedo where wear is a concern.

Does “frost resistant” mean these tiles are approved for outdoor use?

Not necessarily. Both collections are listed as frost resistant and thermal shock resistant, but the source documents do not state an exterior use classification. Confirm exterior suitability with the manufacturer before specifying.

Is there a mosaic that combines black and white?

Yes. Black & White is a mosaic-only colorway offered in 2×2, 3″ hexagon, and diamond formats. It bridges the two collections at a small scale.