Keep in mind the Coticule is a natural stone and as everyone knows it comes in different grades? Different grades alright or is it that as time goes on the deposit is producing inferior stones and those inferior stones have different characteristics which we assume are different grades.

Also keep in mind a classic Coticule is a very hard dense rock. If your talking a coticule you can scratch with your fingernail, in my book that a very different beast probably a stone that has really not gone through much of a metamorphism process. Also consider that a Coticule in many respects is a dual action sharpener. It's not just that it releases garnets but as you hone, the garnets that are exposed at the surface and within the matrix are also honing in a different manner than the loose stuff rattling around on the surface.

Personally I've always considered it a finisher and I use it with water and am very satisfied with the result.