Bird's eye maple is named for its characteristic pattern — tiny, circular, swirls that resemble the eye of a bird. These markings are formed by micro-structural anomalies in the tree's growth, and they are most commonly found in hard maple from colder climates.
For us at Ring + Grove, bird's eye maple is one of the most exciting materials because the pattern changes so dramatically from strip to strip. Two rings made from the same species of maple can look completely different simply because the grain pattern is unique.
Our Bird's Eye Maple with Silver Inlay is one of our most photographed designs, and it shows up often in social media features. If you have seen a bentwood ring on Instagram, there is a good chance it was made from bird's eye maple.