Wood Inlay Descriptions O to Z
Available wood mentioned on this page:
- Ohia
- Osage
- Padauk
- Palm
- Pau Amarello
- Pink Ivory
- Purpleheart
- Redwood
- Robusta
- Snakewood
- Teak
- Tulip
- Walnut
- Wenge
- Zebra
Ohia Wood from the Ohia Lehua tree is one of the most cherished trees in Hawaii. It blooms the red Lehua flower which is the official flower of the Big Island of Hawaii. The flowers can also be found in yellow, pink, and white. A very hardy versatile tree that is said to be the first to grow after the lava flow, and can populate an entire lava forest in less than 100 years. The tree can grow from sea level to the rain forest and is spectacular to look at with its roots hanging suspended in the air collecting essential moisture. In 2015, a virus attacked the Ohia Forest on the Big Island and the ranchers and scientists are working hard to save it.
Osage Wood is light yellow and densely covered with russet-brown grain streaks. An extremely hard and durable wood, Osage played an important role in American History and is named after the Osage Indian Tribe. Used to make bows for hunting and later as wagon wheels and railroad ties, Osage is one of the longest-lasting, decay-resistant woods available. Today it is used for fence posts, tool handles, electrical insulators, and dyes.It is a shame that the fruit from the tree is not palatable and can make you vomit, as it is large and plentiful, and grows vastly in the United States.
Padauk is a deep reddish-purple with faint beige tones. It is our wood with the deepest crimson color and the sap is the same color. All Padauks are tropical rain forest trees of African and Asian origin and the wood is valued for its durability and decorative properties. Some species of Padauks are used medicinally to treat certain skin problems. The leaves contain a high amount of Vitamin C and are eaten as a leaf vegetable in some places.
Hawaiian Coconut Palm Wood is a highly decorated tropical wood, with wide multicolored markings resembling paint brush strokes covering the golden base wood. We offer two different types of palm; the red palm and the black. The Palm tree can grow in most climates from the desert to the rain forest and exists in fossils from 800 million years ago. In ancient cultures, the Palm tree was considered to be a symbols for peace, victory, and fertility; today it symbolizes a tropical getaway. The importance of this tree throughout history is substantial as proven by being mention time and time again in both the Bible and Quran. Today it is a very important economical resource for its many uses.
Pau Amarello is bright yellow or pale mustard and faintly decorated with tan multi-directional grains and smooth texture. Pau Amarello Trees are mainly found in Para, Brazil and grows to be more than 130’ tall. The leaves are generally 10’ long and when the tree blooms it is covered with white fragrant flowers. Read more about Pau Amarello in our blog:
Pink Ivory is extremely rare; some believe it to be rarer than Diamonds. The sacred wood of the Zulu Chiefs in South Africa, and it is said the Zulu King carries a staff made of this wood. In the 1800's on the royal Zulu family was allowed to adorn Pink Ivory jewelry and decor. The rarity is due to the tree’s slow growth rate; as it takes a hundred years to reach full size, making the farming of this tree costly. The pink color is caused from bands of tissue in the trees growth rings. The sapwood is almost white and the heartwood ranges from a faint pink to a hot red.
Prized for its vibrant purple color, Purple Heart from Central and South America has been the victim of over-harvesting and is now endangered where it was once abundant. Purple Heart is also used as a trade name by woodworkers referring to its color and related density. Purple heart is a lighter color when first cut and darkens over a short period of time after UV light exposure.
Our Redwood is from the sequoia forest in Humble, California. It is a creamy auburn color mixed with light brown undertones. The history of this majestic tree is said to go back 20 million years as the average lifespan is quite long, about 500 plus years, with some trees living 2000 years and it is believed they appeared on Earth just after the dinosaurs. . The tallest tree in the world is in fact a Redwood named Hyperion and it stands at about 380 feet tall. It was discovered in 2006 and its location is kept confidential to protect it. Today the Redwood forests have become tourist attractions and should be considered wonders of the world.
Robusta Wood is a creamy tan to golden brown brilliantly figured wood with bold wavy stripes and interlocking grain patterns. It is one of India's most important sources of hardwood and commonly used to make plates, which has saved the heavily populated country from a flood of plastic and Styrofoam pollution. Buddhist's believe it is the tree under which Buddha was birthed and it is said the trees around his bed turned white when he died.
Snake wood comes from a small rare tree found in the Central and South American forests. It is one of the rarest and most expensive woods on the market. So called for its snakeskin resemblance, a truly exotic wood with a deep red base wood and black and brown grain pattern.
Teak wood is well-known with woodworkers, carpenters, and craftsmen for its smooth grain texture and subtle color variations. It is one of the most durable woods even after being cut and unused for centuries and does not warp or rot. Teak wood can withstand the coldest winter or hottest summer weather including monsoon rains and tropical heat.
Tulip Wood has yellowish colored heartwood with interlocking stripes of salmon, violet, and rose. The Tulip Tree blooms with fragrant flowers in the spring and is Indiana’s state tree. Its abundance in Indiana makes it probable that Abe Lincoln cut down Tulip Trees to make his log cabin and Daniel Boone to make his canoe. The wood is hard and dense and pleasantly fragrant when cut.
Walnut Wood is an illustrious chocolate brown with crisp black grains; one of Hawaii Titanium Ring's domestic woods and the only dark wood from North America. We offer four types of Walnut inlays, including English Walnut(center), Claro Walnut(middle right), and Bastogne(right).
Wenge (pronounced wen-gay) is one of Hawaii Titanium Rings® darkest woods; deep brown, almost black with alternating tan and dark fine lines. An interesting fact about Wenge is that even though it has one of the darkest woods, its sap is a pale-yellow. An exotic hardwood from West Africa, Wenge's texture resembles the claw marks of a wild animal. The Wenge Tree is native to the Republic of Congo and when it blooms, it is covered with tiny pink flowers. It is one of the densest and heaviest woods and is commonly used for tool handles and musical instruments. Wenge wood is getting to be hard to find as regulated forests are becoming scarce.
Exotic Zebra Wood has a pale yellow-golden base with chocolate brown zebra-like stripes running throughout. Originally from "Mosquito Island", Zebra Wood is extremely threatened in its homeland by over harvesting and lack of reforesting. In America it is rare and expensive and generally used for smaller projects. Prada faced a crowd of protesting environmentalists for using Zebra Wood to construct their Manhattan Store. Prada has since promised never to use wood from endangered forests again.Great wedding band for those who like to live on the wild side.