Some pieces of wood refuse to give up their secrets easily, and this was one of the toughest I've ever turned. But sometimes, once you get it turned, I realize that it was simply protecting its inner beauty just because it was so incredible. That was the case with this piece of afzelia burl, a rare species from Southeast Asia.

Honestly, I wish you could see it in person so that you could turn it in your hand and marvel at the wide range of colors and the 3-D effect of the ripples and rays!

The pen model is the Perfect Fit, which features an elegant center band, smooth operation and high-quality Parker refill.