I totally agree with Russel.

Natural stones are totally variable.

The chinese 12K is a big heavy hone that is a bargain and it does a really good job.

Some natural hones are better some are worse but generally, the natural hones are nicer to use.

In the recent "new escher" threads I have been responsible for causing some of your confusion.

My Escher is better than my coticule and I have said so loud and clear. Quite clearly other members have coticules that are better than their Eschers.

Do you know I'm so sad, I will go and buy a new coticule just to see if I can better the Escher.

Or maybe, just maybe, I will buy a japanese finishing stone off Old School before they have all gone.

All these finishing hones are fantastic and often it can be the skill of the user more than the hone.

You will not go wrong with the Chinese 12k and if you buy a more expensive natural stone and don't like it, you will be able to trade it on the classifieds and not loose much at all.