Good thing that Ardennes is producing nicer rocks as eBay has become less of a goldmine for vintages. Pickers are starting to know what a coticule is/looks for. We've gone from 50%+ of coticules being unidentified stones that can be snagged for a fair price to 95%+ of coticules I find being Id'ed and listed as coticules and 95% of those being listed for several times what they're worth (Particularly from Euro Sellers). I've picked up maybe 5 coticules this year, and paid basically my max for all of them. No truly special stones, no amazing scores, none of the luck I've had in the past on coticules. Honestly Arks, Washita's, even Thuri's have become more of a "score" market this year than Coticules.
And really cool ones? Loaded with manganese, or unbacked and thick, or tons of character? Get ready for a bidding war that will cost you some organs and limbs. Market has gone nuts on "special" Coticules as people see the well for vintages start to dry up.
And really cool ones? Loaded with manganese, or unbacked and thick, or tons of character? Get ready for a bidding war that will cost you some organs and limbs. Market has gone nuts on "special" Coticules as people see the well for vintages start to dry up.