How the Vault works

When testing is completed, these hones are returned to Ardennes Coticule, where they can be purchased by registred members of Coticule.be.

If you wish to make a reservation, please check for availability in this thread (link opens new window) at our forum.

Coticule.be doesn't sell hones. This is a website in support of the user base of this remarkable whetstone.
We feel that selling them at the same time could compromise our independency. Coticule.be does not take any profit on the sales of these hones. The sale, shipment and guarrantee is made by Ardennes Coticule, the sole operational Coticule mine/quarry in the world. All hones in the Vault were used to fully sharpen a minumum of three razors, using various methods. The edges are assessed during a real shave, according to a standardized procedure. That allows us to stand by the statements made about the listed hones, here in the Vault and in the Cafeteria (our forum).

The hones for the Vault are collected at Ardennes production facility, ever few months. At the same time the previous collection is returned and become available for purchase.

It is not so that the selection for the Vault is based on picking "better than average" quality. We are in fact trying to map Coticule properties according to the layers they are mined from, and the selection is aimed at diversity in the first place and at dimensions that seem popular among the members in the second place.
While it may appear to the general audience that the hones in the Vault are better than average, they are not. It just gives the future owner a head start in figuring out his particular specimen. When it comes to the final edge that can be reached, all Coticules work within very close range. The differences are certainly not significant enough for to possibly like the edge of one and dislike the edge of another.

Buying a hone of the Vault does not discharge the future owner from mastering the necessary skills for successful use.

Beware that this is not the fastest way to buy a Coticule. There are worldwide resellers of Coticules, and the opportunity to buy form Ardennes directly, if you can't wait for the hones to be made available.

If you are a reseller and would like to be add (or removed) from our list of places where one can purchase Coticules (link opens new window), please contact bart@c0ticule.be (replace the zero by the vowel "o").