What is Sea Glass and Where Can You Find It?

ByBeachfrontDecor

I love sea glass. It’s a beautiful, shimmering reminder of the past. But what is it? Is it really from the ocean? How do you find it? And why can’t I seem to find any in my neighborhood beach town?! We’re here to answer all these questions and more!

What is Sea Glass?

If you’ve ever found a piece on the beach, it’s likely that you’re holding sea glass. But what exactly is sea glass? The literal definition of sea glass is any piece of manmade glass that has been tumbled in the ocean until it has become smooth and rounded. Glass that has been rounded off by the sand and waves of the sea is called sea glass. It is frequently discovered on beaches, especially close to places where there are plenty of people.

 
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Now that we know what sea glass looks like, where can we find it? Sea Glass can be found on beaches, in rivers and lakes as well as other bodies of water such as ponds and streams.

How to Tell if Sea Glass is Real

The first thing to look for is color. If a piece of sea glass has a purple or greenish tint, it’s likely not from the ocean. Another way to tell whether or not your sea glass is true—and this one takes practice—is by feeling its weight. The heavier a piece of “sea” glass feels in comparison with other pieces, the more likely it will be real (since real sea glass will have been tumbled in an ocean current).

Look for Wear Marks

Real sea glass will have a frosted or worn down surface, and the edges will be rounded. It should not have any sharp edges.

Sea Glass Color

Green, brown, and white are the most common colors of sea glass. And that is because these are the colors of glass that were used most often in the past. Sea glass with vibrant and bright colors is less common and might not be real.

Bubbles in the Glass

Since sea glass is made of broken glass, it should not have bubbles. If the glass has bubbles, that can be a sign that it was not made by people.

Glass Thickness

Because of the way the ocean erodes, real sea glass will be thicker than glass that was made in a factory.

Sea Glass Age

1 piece of sea glass will take years in the ocean. A piece of glass can become sea glass over the course of decades or even centuries. If the glass feels like it was a broken bottle in the ocean, it’s not real.

Where to Find Sea Glass in Canada?

You can find sea glass on the shores of Vancouver Island, British Columbia; Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Tofino and Nanaimo, Vancouver Island. You can also try Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island or Prince Edward Island. In addition to Canada, look for sea glass in Maine and New Brunswick. If you’re planning a trip to Quebec City, be sure to check out the beaches there too!

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Where to Find Sea Glass in USA?

  • Best beaches for sea glass in the USA:
  • Cape Cod, MA
  • Sagamore Beach, NH
  • Maine Coast
  • San Diego, CA
  • Fort Bragg, CA
  • California beaches
  • Glass Beach, HI and other Hawaii beaches

 
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Where to Find Sea Glass in Europe?

Now that you know what sea glass is and where it comes from, let’s go over a few places to find it. While there are specific beaches throughout Europe with an abundance of sea glass, you will find it at beaches in Portugal, Spain, England, France, Italy, Greece, and Iceland. However, a lot of the sea glass throughout Europe is green or brown and it is not fully eroded. Seaham Beach in Seaham, England is one of the most well known beaches with sea glass in Europe.

Where to Find Sea Glass in Australia?

Australia is a great place to find sea glass due to its sandy shores. There are many beaches in Australia that are well known for their sea glass, such as the Pacific Ocean beaches of Queensland, or South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula coastlines. Tasmania, Australia and Factory Beach, Robe, South Australia are known by sea glass collectors.

Where to Buy Sea Glass

There are several ways to find sea glass. You can find it at flea markets, in gift shops, or through online stores. In fact, you can even buy sea glass directly from Beachfront Decor!

Why is Sea Glass So Hard to Find?

The reason sea glass is so rare and hard to find is that it takes a long time for glass to break down in the ocean. It forms better in certain environments as well.

The sun’s UV rays, waves and sand are all constantly eroding glass, but at such a slow rate that only very small pieces of sea glass can be found on beaches where it washes up. In addition, sea glass isn’t constantly washing up on the shore and when it does people generally pick it up for themselves. Therefore, the demand being much greater than the overall supply is the main reason sea glass is so hard to find.

How Long Does it Take Glass to Turn Into Sea Glass?

Glass takes a certain period of time to become sea glass. Some major factors that impact  the length of time includes the type of glass, the location of the glass, and the environmental conditions. The action of the waves and sand in the water generally takes a few decades to a century or more before glass is worn smooth. The glass needs to erode, so there are some factors below that effect erosion.

Glass Type

The type of glass is one of the main elements that affects how long glass takes to convert into sea glass. Compared to other varieties of glass, tempered glass and is far more resistant to erosion.

Glass Location

The location of the glass is another crucial consideration. Glass will erode more quickly on a rocky beach than it will in a location with little wave activity, such as a sandy beach. Similar to this, glass discovered in an area with more sand than in one with predominantly rocks will disintegrate faster.

Weather

Weather, climate, and environment play a part in the process as well, with colder and harsher temperatures accelerating erosion.

 
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How Can I Make My Own Sea Glass?

You can make your own sea glass at home, but it takes a bit of time and patience. If you want to try this method, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Broken pieces of glass (preferably something that is clear or light-colored)
  • A jar with a lid (plastic or glass)
  • Water (about half a cup per broken piece of glass)
  • Vinegar

Conclusion

So there you have it, everything you need to know about sea glass. If you’re still not sure whether or not your shiny piece of beach treasure is real, you should be able to use the tips above to know. In addition, now you have some areas where sea glass forms and you can even try to make your own sea glass.

 

 
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