Indian Ebony (Diospyros ebenum), also called Ceylon Ebony, is a true ebony from southern India and Sri Lanka that has long been used in place of Gabon Ebony. At first glance the two can be almost impossible to tell apart.It's jet black, often with subtle brown or muted orange streaks and occasional pale sapwood. The grain is straight or slightly irregular and the texture very fine, and its natural oils give it excellent polish and a deep luster.It's a little less hard than Gabon Ebony but still very hard and durable, and turners love how smoothly it works. It cuts cleanly with sharp tools and holds fine detail, though its oils mean gluing benefits from a solvent wipe first.Indian Ebony is used for high-end guitar fretboards, especially by players who want the look of ebony with a slightly softer feel, as well as for turnings, inlay, chess pieces and carving. Exports from South Asia are tightly restricted, so supply in the US is scarce, and it offers the look of Gabon Ebony at a somewhat more accessible price when you can find it.