It’s All About The Wood
Have a look at the various wood species we have available to craft your ring. We will be adding more wood species soon, so check back often.
Hawaiian Koa
Name(s) – Koa, Hawaiian Koa
Scientific Name – Acacia Koa
Location – Hawaii
Description – Koa is the second most common tree in Hawaii. It is a large tree, generally growing to a height of 49-82 ft and a width of 20-39 ft. The color can vary, but is generally a golden or reddish brown. In Hawaiian, the word Koa means
warrior. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great create canoes and weapons from this wood, giving it it’s name.
Santos Rosewood
Name(s) – Santos Rosewood, Pau Ferro, Morado, Bolivian Rosewood
Scientific Name – Machaerium scleroxylon
Location – Brazil and Bolivia
Description – Santos Rosewood is actually not a rosewood at all, even though it is similar. The grain is typically straight with the color varying from a deep brown to a reddish/orange. This would is often used to make high end furniture and flooring, as well as musical instruments, including pianos and guitars.
Macassar Ebony
Name(s) – Macassar Ebony, Striped Ebony, Ebony
Scientific Name – Diospyros celebica
Location – Southeast Asia
Description – The grain of Macassar Ebony is usually straight with a striped pattern. It can be reddish brown to brown with black stripes. When a finish is applied, it can appear almost black. It is a scarce wood and highly sought after. Some typical uses include accents in high end furniture, billiard cues and fingerboards in guitars and other stringed instruments.
Walnut
Name(s) – Walnut, Black Walnut
Scientific Name – Juglans nigra
Location – Eastern United States
Description – There are actually many different species of Walnut spreading much of the world. The most commonly used species of Walnut include Black Walnut, English Walnut and Claro Walnut. Although each have their own unique characteristics, they are all very similar. Black Walnut has typically straight grain and a light brown to dark brown color with darker brown streaks. Walnut is extremely popular in the woodworking community in all ranges of projects due to its rich colors and ease of workability.
Cherry
Name(s) – Cherry, American Cherry, Black Cherry
Scientific Name – Prunus serotina
Location – North and South America
Description – Cherry is a wood that is very popular in the woodworking community for its ease of workability and it’s colors. The wood has a pinkish brown color initially, but darkens to a warm reddish brown over time with exposure to light. Cherry is used in everything from high end furniture to cabinets to flooring. It is also used for the smoking of foods.
Bubinga
Name(s) – Bubinga, Kevazingo
Scientific Name – Guibourtia demeusei
Location – Africa
Description – Bubinga is an extremely hard African wood with a variety of beautiful grain patterns. The color varies from a light red to a dark reddish brown with darker black streaks. It is used in a variety of musical instruments, including harps, bass guitars and drums. Bubinga is also a favorite in high end furniture.
Kingwood
Name(s) – Kingwood
Scientific Name – Dalbergia cearensis
Location – Brazil
Description – Kingwood is one of the densest rosewoods from Brazil. This wood is typically only used in smaller projects and as accents in larger projects due to its scarcity and the fact that it comes from a smaller tree. The grain is usually straight and the colors are a dark purple to reddish brown with dark black streaks.
Sapele
Name(s) – Sapele
Scientific Name – Entandrophragma cylindricum
Location – Africa
Description – Sapele is a golden to dark brown wood from Africa. It is often used as a substitute for Honduran Mahogany due to its similar appearance, higher availability and lower cost. Sapele is commonly used in flooring and trim work, but is also used in musical instruments. It has even been used as accent pieces in some automobiles including Cadillacs.
Indian Rosewood
Name(s) – Indian Rosewood, East Indian Rosewood
Scientific Name – Dalbergia latifolia
Location – India
Description – Indian Rosewood has a dark brown to purplish brown color with dark brown/black streaks. It is a heavy wood that can be very resistant to rot. Indian Rosewood has been used extensively in high end furniture and musical instruments.
Maple
Name(s) – Maple, Soft Maple, Red Maple
Scientific Name – Acer rubrum
Location – Eastern North American
Description – There are many different species of Maple…too many to identify here. However my locally source Maple is of the Red Maple variety. In most species of wood, the heartwood (innermost wood) is typically the part that is harvested for use due to grain patterns and color. In the case of Maple, the sapwood (outermost wood) is most commonly harvested for use. This sapwood is usually a very light golden brown to almost white. Maple is used in everything from furniture and cabinets, to pallets and instruments. It’s even used to smoke foods and is a source of your favorite syrup.
Sources: The Wood Database and Wikipedia