About Sea Glass

What Is Sea Glass?

• Sea glass, or beach glass, is simply glass that has been smoothed over time. It acquires a frosted surface that feels soft to the touch.

How Is It Made?

• After the glass finds its way into the water, the tides, waves or the current sweep the glass back and forth over sand. Over time, the shiny surface of the glass is worn away.

Colors

• The most common colors are green, clear and brown. Colors like blue are harder to find, and more highly prized.

Uses

• Because of its beauty, artisans use sea glass in jewelry, picture and mirror frames, and in mosaics.

Artificial Sea Glass

• Since is getting harder to find sea glass (with the diminution of littering), some people make sea glass in rock tumblers. It is possible to tell the difference between real and artificial sea glass using a microscope.

Fun Fact

• Sea glass may be the only case in which littering produces something of beauty.