Imagine no longer! This was always my first thought about that:
Walnut. Not sanded flush to preserve the contrast.
Well, I did say “run toward the light”… 
Also, a bonus: My boss said the cutout circles was close to a favorite but it needed to be filled with gold or something.
Enter 1/16" brass rod, resize the holes for a kerf adjusted 1/16" and now I have inlaid friction-fit brass pips:
Walnut and brass.
For a more permanent installation I would epoxy them, but this will do for a proof of concept.