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How long to darken a La Grosse Blanche?

whitebar

whitebar

Active Member
Bart said:
That would indeed be most likely a La Grosse Blanche. It is the only layer extracted at the Ol Preu quarry, with a photosensitive effect.
Kind regards,
Bart.
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Bart said:
La Grosse Blanche 50X150 136EUR
Found it at the bottom of a box filled with other Coticules. It was very oxidized. That is typical for this layer: they turn chocolate brown when exposed to (sun) light (or just air?) for a prologued time.
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Bart said:
La Grosse Blanche is pale and creamy when not oxidized, with sometimes a few light brown lines that can't be felt.
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Bart said:
n°60 is a La Grosse Blanche. In the picture you can see that a smaller stone, stored on top of this one, had blocked the light. That's why part shows a slightly oxidized, brown color, and the rest remained creamy.
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Bart said:
4. La Grosse Blanche.
Pale colored Coticule layer, that turns deep brown when exposed to (sun) light for a prolonged time. Black manganese lines and dots may be present. Sometimes brown needle-spots, spread over part of the surface, resembling pores (although the surface is non-porous).
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I have read many posts about the darkening properties of the LGB layer when exposed to sunlight. Anyone have any idea how long it takes to get a nice dark brown color to develop again from a stone that has been lapped and thus lost its patina?
 
I own La Grosse Blanche, but since I keep it in a box I've no idea at all. But unless you plan to put it on a shelf as a decoration, or use it as a paperweight, every use of slurry stone will rub at least some, if not all, of the darkened layer.

regards,
Matt
 
To my knowledge, it has not been tested what exactly turns a La Grosse Blanche brown over time. Is it light, sunlight (UV), exposure to air? I don't really know for sure. The people at Ardennes have told me it is caused by light, without specifying sunlight or artificial light. I have one in a dark drawer and it does not show discoloration after a couple months of being there without use. Hence that seems to rule out air as a cause of discoloration through oxidation, unless 3 months is not enough. I could try putting it in direct sunlight for a day, with a piece of tape covering part of the surface, to see if there is a color difference at the end of the day.

I''ll post back in this thread.

Kind regards,
Bart.
 
Consider placing a cutout of a Playboy bunny on the surface and leaving it in the sun to tan. That's what the kids do these days.
 
I have a coticule that was sold to me as La Grosse Blanche. Quite honestly, I myself cannot confirm, but the seller is very reputable so I'm sure no deception was involved.
Mine is exposed to air and ambient light. No direct sunlight whatsoever. It is still the same color as when I bought it, so I have no idea if that means it is the named vein or it isn't.
As the sun increases in strength, I plan to expose it to direct sunlight just to see the outcome, although I'm still not sure if that will make certain an identification if it does turn color, or if it doesn't...

I'm happy with the stone, regardless...
 
Jarrod at The Superior Shave has written about observing a color change in La Grosse Blanche stones after few hours in the Florida sunshine. As soon as these miserable clouds leave the prolonged winter sky I was going to let my La Grosse Blanche catch some rays to see what happens B)
 
Thanks to everyone for their responses so far. The reason I asked this question is because I recently purchased an LGB combo stone that had been lapped by the seller. I have pictures taken of it both before and after the lapping. I lapped it a bit more after receiving it in order to remove a few scratches from the surface. There is no doubt in my mind that it is a LGB due to its appearance and its behavior on water. It has that characteristic soapy feel and leaves a very mild edge on a razor. I bought it as a finisher because I have several other coticules I'm happy with for other work. This LGB works just fine and I'm really happy with it but would like to see it return to its darkened state again because these stones look so amazing when they are darkened.

So far, I've had it out in the sun for about a week and there has been very little if any change. So, I guess I've started the experiment to see how long it takes and was just curious to see if anyone else had ever tried this before. I'll keep reporting in with updates once I know more. The Texas sun gets quite extreme in the summer months so if sun it the catalyst for this change then the stone will find itself in some intense rays later this summer.

Here are photos of the stone before and after lapping.

 
Thats a beautiful stone Steven, and the color change is quite startling, I have no experience with this layer, and have not seen a before and after like that before, thank you for sharing :thumbup:

What is surprising me is that different people are saying way different things about how long the stones take to change color, maybe they all vary? or maybe there is some other factor that influences the tanning that we dont yet fully understand?

Best wishes
Ralfson (Dr)
 
hi

I don't know why the LGBs oxidize quickly sometimes and other times not, but I'm starting to think it isn't because of just exposure to sunlight, but rather exposure to the general conditions that cause oxidation.

I've set them out in the sun near our office for a day with a penny atop and had a shadow by day's end. Another piece, set in the sun of my house on a window ledge, didn't darken after a month like that. I'll eat my hat if they're not both LGB; they are. So maybe the high humidity of the piece outside (it was a very muggy and sticky day w/ abundant sunshine) is what aided it.

I used to know a guy who lived on a sailboat...I'd wonder if it would darken kept under deck for a week or two with no exposure. I'm leaning towards yes.
 
what a nice mystery.:)

I can however confirm with utmost certainty that whitebar's Coticule indeed is a La Grosse Blanche. There is no doubt about it.

Kind regards,
Bart
 
Oh man, that is a sweet looking stone :w00t: I have a very similar looking La Grosse Blanche combination stone and it is a real gem - the edges are deliciously keen and wonderfully mellow.

EDIT: Here are some pictures of my stone, which used to be a bit wider ;)

LGB1.jpg

LGB2.jpg

LGB3.jpg
 
Nice stone Jeremy! I've heard these LGB combination stones are somewhat rare so it's nice to see another one.
 
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