Quote Originally Posted by JimmyHAD View Post
I've got a slue of them from all different layers. I haven't had one that wouldn't sharpen a razor well yet. They've been sold for a couple of hundred years with price based on standard, select or kosher. As Rob of Ardennes has posted on this forum these are cosmetic considerations only. Nothing to do with the efficacy of the stone. Current experts have said that of the mines long since gone, they don't know which vein is which. So suddenly, because someone says this vein is superior to that vein, they are going to charge a premium. I find that amusing but maybe I'm a skeptic ?
Thanks for the reply. I think you are probably right to be skeptical about the pricing. From what I can tell, the main interest between the layers is in how fast they work with slurry and with water alone. At one time, there was going to be a "Burton" series of coticules that were going to be sold based on the stones being different in some way, shape, or form. That project got nixed. I believe the increase in pricing is most likely due to Ardennes starting mining at a new mine.

Here is the info for those curious:

News from Ardennes Coticule - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone