It's a very lightweight wood and feels like a very soft wood as my fingernail can dent the grain. I don't know why I was expecting it to be glossed, but I can easily apply a sealant. No problems with rotating as others have stated. Stud earrings are more difficult to get in the grooves and frankly a waste of space. Does work well with hoops and hanging earrings, so I will use it exclusively for those types. Overall, happy that I bought it.