In my humble opinion, marble or a genuine stone tile is going to give you the most authentic, timeless look. You can’t go wrong with something like a Carrara marble tile with gray veining.
I don’t think this look will ever age, and when the tile does age–the patina will just make it look even better. Every lovely European space that inspired me the most had stone tile for the checkerboard design, no matter the color combo.
Ceramic or porcelain tile tends to be the most budget-friendly option, generally speaking. To me, it doesn’t quite have as much of an authentic feel, but I found some images that prove it can still be lovely.
Image credit: Seeking Lavender Lane
Image credit: Seeking Lavender Lane