A Coticule stone is a natural sharpening stone sourced from the Ardennes region of Belgium, made of fine-grained quartz (garnets) embedded in clay. It is prized for its ability to create a sharp yet soft edge on razors, knives, and tools.

Coticule stones are ideal for straight razors, knives, chisels, and other tools requiring a fine edge. Their gentle abrasiveness makes them particularly popular for sharpening delicate tools like razors.

Coticule stones are designed to be used with water only. Adding a small amount of water creates a slurry that enhances the sharpening process. Oil should never be used, as it can clog the stone’s surface.

• With slurry: The stone has more abrasive action, ideal for shaping or repairing edges.
• Without slurry: The stone becomes less abrasive, perfect for polishing and refining the edge to razor sharpness.

Use a slurry stone (a smaller piece of Coticule) or a diamond plate to gently rub the surface of the stone, producing a fine paste. Adjust the amount of slurry depending on the level of abrasiveness needed.

Coticule stones don’t have a fixed grit rating, as they are natural stones. However, they are comparable to synthetic stones with grit levels ranging from 4000 (with slurry) to 8000+ (with water only).

Ardennes-Coticule offers 4 types of stones

• Coticule Yellow #8000
• Coticule Blue #4000
• Coticule combo Pyrenees #4000/1200
• Coticule combo Corundum #4000/1200

To clean a Coticule stone, rinse it with water after use and gently scrub it with a soft brush if necessary. Avoid using harsh detergents. Store the stone in a dry place to prevent damage.

Coticule stones are better suited for refining and polishing edges rather than heavy material removal. For severely damaged blades, start with a coarse stone before finishing on a Coticule. Use our double-sided stones for repairing heavily damaged blades. The Coticule combo Pyrenees for carbon steel or the Coticule combo Corundum for stainless steel.

Coticule stones are quite durable when used properly with water. Avoid dropping them or applying excessive pressure, as they can chip or crack due to their natural composition.

The garnet particles in Coticule stones provide a unique combination of sharpness and smoothness, creating an edge that is sharp enough for shaving but gentle on the skin. This makes it the preferred choice for maintaining straight razors.