Koa Wood Watches - Not Your Father's Wood Watch

If you want to give a gift that embodies the spirit and beauty of Hawaii, a perfect choice is a watch of koa wood. Prized by carvers and craftsmen all over the world, koa only grows in these islands and has a special significance in the native culture.

The ancient natives of the Hawaiian Islands made outrigger canoes and surfboards from a wood with a strikingly beautiful grain. They called it the name they used for their warriors, koa or "without fear." Though the warlike connotation is gone now, this magnificent wood is still called by that name.

Koa is a variety of acacia tree concentrated mainly on Oahu, Hawaii and Maui. Botanically it seems to have appeared from nowhere, since there are no clear relatives of it anywhere else in the world. While similar trees grow on a few other Pacific islands, it's not clear that they are related to koa and there is no conclusive evidence that there is any connection between the species.

Koa is a king among woods. It looks great and lends itself to several modern applications. One of the uses for koa wood is the manufacture of stringed musical instruments, since it's a tone-wood with excellent resonating properties.

Its excellent carving properties also make it a good candidate for making small, detailed art objects. For most people this brings to mind figurines and paperweights, but to a watch designer it means something else entirely. To someone in that profession, koa wood is a watch waiting to happen.

Wooden watches are unusual because there aren't many manufacturers making them. Making watches from wood requires exceptional skill and a sheer love of the wood. It also helps if you have a material that is ideal for the job. To be good watch material, a wood has to first look good, but it also has to have a texture that makes it easy to carve into small, detailed shapes. Just any old wood won't do, since many kinds will crack and splinter during carving. Koa has exactly the right texture for making fantastic watch cases and bracelets, and when you combine that with its lustrous colors and durability, it makes it the perfect choice.

Koa watches are anything but ordinary. The subtle glow of the wood is a sure attention-getter certain to get compliments and start conversations. Suddenly all those designer watches made of metal or plastic seem like gaudy toys. Anybody who sees a koa watch knows they are looking at something out of the ordinary.

The next time you need a gift idea, think koa. It's exceptional, stylish and it only comes from Hawaii.