We come to contact with wood daily. This can range from furniture, firewood, toothpicks to paper. Everyone can tell that there are many different types of wood and because there are trees almost everywhere, it is easy to be misled into thinking that wood is cheap. Yes, wood is generally not an expensive material, but some types are quite costly. The value will depend on several aspects and given that some of the types of wood are very rare, it makes sense that it will cost a fortune to purchase them. That said, which are the top 10 most expensive woods in the world?
There is more to wood than meets the eye. The price of timber, for instance, may vary based on its strength, attractive aesthetic or just its rarity. As a result, you may need some expert knowledge of the most expensive woods in the world before you buy wood or its products. With no experience, you can easily get reaped off by being sold cheap wood and made to believe that it is expensive. Know your wood, and no one will ever take advantage of you in this area.
Most expensive woods in the world
The following are the top 10 most expensive woods in the world:
1. Bocote - $32.99/board feet
The Bocote, belonging to the Cordia, is the most expensive wood. Cordia is a rare type of flowering plant that is part of the borage family. Cordia makes up to around 300 classes of the shrubs and trees. These shrubs and trees can be found anywhere on the globe but are most common in the hotter regions of the earth.
The Bocote can be used in many ways because of its incredible grain and attractive appearance. It is widely used in furniture, musical instruments, gunstocks, boats and small turned objects among many other uses.
2. Bubinga - $18.99/board feet
Bubinga is yet another species of a flower-bearing plant belonging to the Guibourtia group. This species is common in swampy areas but can also be found in some flooded forests. The Bubinga trees mostly grow near river banks or lake coasts.
One of the notable advantages of this wood is the wide range of colour variation available. The Bubinga trees are large, and this means the wood can produce large slabs for making tabletops and other uses such as turnings, veneer and beautiful furniture. The wood is hard and lasts long without cracking or warping.
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3. Dalbergia - $14-16/board feet
Dalbergia plant is part of the genus Albertina. Albertina is commonly identified as a great genus, and it ranges from small-sized to medium trees. It also forms part of the shrubs and pea family known as the Barefaced. This genus is extensively distributed in tropical areas of the Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar and South of Asia.
Dalbergia wood is preferred to Brazilian Rosewood when it comes to making acoustic guitars. The wood is quite beautiful and can also be used in fine furniture and flooring. Dalbergia is one of the most expensive timbers in the world because of the tough terrain in which it is found.
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4. Purple Heart - $11.99/board feet
Deriving its name from its colour, Purple Heart has the best kind of 20 board feet. The wood comes in different widths hence providing with enough wood for perfect furniture finishing. Purple Heart is well surfaced, and its dull colour contributes to its aesthetics. As this wood ages, it continues to change its colour and eventually becomes dark-brown with only a few traces of purple.
This can be prevented by using a finish on the wood to inhibit UV light. Purple Heartwood is suitable for heavy construction, furniture, flooring, and boatbuilding, among other uses. Its advantages include beauty, strength and the fact that it is water-resistant. It is one of the most expensive wood flooring products.
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5. Lignum Vitae - $5/pound
Lignum Vitae is a wood known for its beauty and ranges from a variety of olive greens to dark browns. It has a smooth fine texture with an oily feel to it. This wood is not only durable for the outdoors but also withstands other dangers such as insect attack. The high natural oil content of the wood can be polished hence resulting in a beautiful lustre finish with a lot of ease.
Lignum Vitae is available in many different hues ranging from a light olive shade to darker greens and sometimes almost black. This wood has a pleasant light fragrance when it is being worked. It is usually used in making small mallet heads, bearings, tool handles and turned objects.
6. Pinky Ivory - $7-8/board feet
Pinky Ivory is sometimes called the Red Ivory. This is a rare African wood often seen in billiard cues and knife handles. It is also in high demand because of its medicinal uses. This type of wood requires polishing to improve its shine.
It varies in colour from deep red, brownish pink to bright pink. The most valuable and expensive of these kinds are those with bright pink shades. Pink Ivory is considered to be very durable, but it is not generally used where weathering is a concern.
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7. Sandalwood - $20,000/Kg
Sandalwood is one of the world’s most expensive wood and is part of a class of scented wood. It is the source of many oils which is why it is special.
The wood has fine grains which play an essential role in it retaining its perfume for a very long time. Sandalwood is, however, not the same as other aromatic woods because of its unique ability to hold and maintain its fragrance for years.
8. Agar - $10,000/Kg
Agar is a dark heartwood obtained from the Aquilaria tree. The tree exists for over 3000 years and is famous for its pure oil. This oil has an exceptional natural aroma that makes the wood even more likeable.
The oil can be extracted from the wood for other uses, but the tree is gradually becoming extinct, which is why it is costly. The aroma of the wood can last for decades which is why it is recommended for furniture. The oils extracted from the wood can be used in perfumes as a fixative and in the cosmetic industry to make soaps.
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9. Ebony - $10,000/Kg
Ebony is sometimes called Black Timber because of the colour of the wood. There is little variation of Ebony wood. The wood produces final products that are uniform and beautiful. Ebony wood has a high density with a lot of smoothness and polishing.
It is common in harpsichord keys, guitar picks, and cello fingerboards. The wood is not only durable but also insect-resistant, which is why it is a luxury wood. It is perfect for small items the likes of carvings, pool cues and musical instruments.
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10. African Blackwood - $10,000/Kg
The African Blackwood is a rare kind of wood whose application is common in musical instruments. It is also faced with the threat of extinction which is another factor why it is expensive. African Blackwood has utility value making it a popular choice regardless of its cost. The wood is almost completely black with little variation in its colour.
The wood has fine pores which do not require any filling. It has a straight grain which makes cutting the wood fairly easy. The wood is ideal for turning due to its ability to hold and show intricate details clearly. It is considered to be one of if not the hardest wood in the world and products made of it last very long.
There are more than enough reasons why you should not go for any wood products when buying. Any buyer ought to look at basic aspects such as durability, colour, scent, uses and cost. Do not always go for the cheap types of wood which will give you poor quality products. Remember cheap is expensive. Sometimes the key is finding the right wood product however costly it may be and be contented that it will last a lifetime. This is why everybody should know the most expensive woods in the world.
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