What is Sea Glass?
The process of natural sea glass begins when broken glass of any type (bottles, jars, tableware, etc.) makes its way into the sea and shards settle onto the sandy ocean floor. Natural wave action transforms the ocean into Mother Nature's tumbler, rolling the glass over continuously for many years, often decades. Once the edges are smoothed and the surface frosted, these pieces are at last considered sea glass. Eventually, the sea glass makes its way onto the shore where wandering beachcombers search along the sandy coastline, under rocks and in crevices hoping to find these small treasures!
Is Sea Glass Easy to Find?
In today's world, where most products come in plastic containers and ocean dumping is prohibited, sea glass has become increasingly rare. Changing environmental practices make high-quality sea glass more difficult to find. While this benefits the environment, the supply of sea glass will decline without new material entering the ocean. In a few decades, sea glass may become incredibly rare, found only in special locations.
Natural vs. Artificial
Natural sea glass is glass that has spent time and a unique journey at sea. No two pieces of glass break in exactly the same way. Decades of dancing in the waves, tumbling on the shore and washing across the sand give each piece of natural sea glass its own shape, texture and personality. Artificial 'sea glass' comes from broken glass that has been machine tumbled, sand blasted, or immersed in acid-etching chemicals.
How Can I Tell if the Sea Glass is Real?
Real sea glass typically has a frosted appearance due to the natural "pitting" process, which occurs when the glass is worn down by sand and rocks over time. This process can't be duplicated by machines and results in unique, hydrated surfaces with small "C" shaped patterns. The level of pitting and smoothness can vary based on environmental factors such as the PH levels of the water and the type of sand or rocks in the area. Artificial glass tends to have a uniform texture and a satiny smooth surface, without “C”-shaped marks, embossed shapes, or other distinguishing features.​
What Gives Sea Glass its Value?
Sea glass is a unique and valuable commodity, with its worth varying widely based on age, condition, size, shape, color, and authenticity. The true value of sea glass lies not only in its beauty but also in the time and natural processes that have transformed it into a smooth, frosted gem, cherished by jewelers, artisans, and collectors alike.
Color Rarity
Color is an important factor in determining the value of sea glass. It can help date a piece of sea glass, and give us an idea of where it came from! The commonly found colors such as green, brown and white are labeled as such because these colors still have a source of new glass production. Colors that are labeled “rare” fall under this category because historically, this color was expensive to make, meaning not many (or any) common glass products were being made in this color source. Red, for example, required gold chloride to achieve the rich cherry color.
Sea Glass in Maine
Maine's coastline is a great place to find sea glass because of its rocky shores and turbulent waves, which create an ideal environment that polishes the glass into a frosted texture. The area's rich shipping history also means that the ocean often churns up antique treasures and tosses them ashore.