Thread: Old rock coticule

I just aquired this old rock coticule .. there is some more writing under the "old rock" stamp but it is ineligible .. also there appears to be rough saw marks still visible under running water .. possibly unlapped .. would I be best to keep as it is considering it's apparent rarity ?? Thanks for any advice and information

Pretty sure the writing underneath is supposed to say made in Belgium. The stone would be worth more with the stamps.

Nice looking stone.

For me seeing no box or label looses the collector value. Any stone could be stamped easily.

I would use it but that is just me.

I would use it. Mine produced fantastic edges.

Originally Posted by Christian1

Pretty sure the writing underneath is supposed to say made in Belgium. The stone would be worth more with the stamps.

The lower text does say "made in Belgium" .. the saw marks are still slightly visible under running water , guessing it has never been lapped , was found in the back of a farmers shed 😊

My way of thinking, if I have other rocks then the stamp stays unless I really want to try the stone.
Looking at my answer I see I wasn't of much help
Nice find by the way.

I wouldn't hesitate to lap and use it, stamps be damned. Take pictures, then lap it and enjoy the stone for its purpose.

I've taken pictures and then said goodbye to vintage stamps on valuable Japanese natural stones, lapping and honing without shedding a tear. They are natural honing stones, meant to be used, not just admired. My attitude has always been "I'm so glad I have been blessed to have this - now can I live up to it? Can I do some justice to the people who bothered to preserve this and hand this down for me, and expected me to learn and use it properly as they did?"

You have a great find there, thanks for sharing pictures. That is a thick, old school, natural Coticule. One of the thickest I've ever seen. Is it a decent stone? Who knows, until you try it. But I can tell you with some certainty that they're not mining natural Coticules out thick like that one anymore, because they just don't exist anymore, they're mined out. That this one survived intact is an indicator that it has some juju, people don't bother to preserve stones that suck. It will last the rest of your life and then some. So you're starting out ahead of the game, that is a very cool stone.

Be grateful for what you were lucky enough to get, and don't hesitate to learn and use it how it was meant to be used. It may be a doorstop, or a honing gem. Have fun finding out! You can pay no greater honor to the stone and the men who mined it, than to use it.

Nice stone, looks like the one I inherited from my great grandfather, I treasure it greatly.
Personally I'd use it as it is intended to.

I'm considering selling it as it's hard financial times .. could anyone please give me a idea as to it's value (I know it's a subjective thing) ... I understood that one sold for abit a while ago on these forums . Thought best place to start ...

Originally Posted by Cory78

I'm considering selling it as it's hard financial times .. could anyone please give me a idea as to it's value (I know it's a subjective thing) ... I understood that one sold for abit a while ago on these forums . Thought best place to start ...

One way to assess sell value is to search eBay completed sales. That's all we can say here.

Normally your post would be deleted as we don't allow valuations or sales talk on the open forums but as it seems you're new from your post count, just consider this a friendly warning & please folks, keep any replies on value to PM.