Originally Posted by
OLD_SCHOOL
Even though there are high grit synthetics out there, there is still no comparison or substitution of natural hones. I'd take any one of my natural hones over even a 100k hone, if they existed.
Unlike synthetic hones which can be mass produced permanently, natural hones are limited in numbers. Take ones from Kyoto for example, today there are only two mines/quarries still in operation, eventually the hones that come from mines which are shut down, will become an even rarer commodity than they already are. Prices can only remain the same or increase. Fortunately because I do not own a business, I do not have to pay overheads, or middlemen etc, I am the first to supply high quality Japanese naturals at the lowest prices, that even the average Joe van afford. As for other vendors that do operate business, they will never be able to make their prices lower without driving their business into the ground.
There are synthetic diamonds out there these days too, but they certainly haven't brought down the cost of natural diamonds. It's kinda the same thing.