How to Buy Sea Glass

Weigh Your Options

• 1

  Attend a sea glass convention or an arts and crafts festival as an opportunity to buy sea glass. Although they do not occur often, sea glass conventions provide a good opportunity for buyers to get up close and personal with the product, as well as an opportunity to meet the seller, ensuring quality glass.

• 2

  Visit an auction site like eBay to bid on the desired type and quantity of sea glass. An auction site provides the chance for buyers to purchase sea glass at lower prices or in bulk.

Prepare Ahead

• 3

  Decide whether you want to purchase artificially made or genuine sea glass. Your decision will affect your choice of seller and will also affect the price. Artificial sea glass (made in a tumbler) may be your only option if you are on the lookout for a large collection of sea glass in a very rare color.

• 4

  Choose to purchase a variety of colored sea glass, sea glass of similar colors or a collection of all one color. If you are using the sea glass to make jewelry, you may wish to use nearly identical colors.

• 5

  Ask yourself how you plan to use the sea glass and buy accordingly. Some people make crafts out of sea glass, while others purchase pretty items simply to put them on display. Others turn glass into jewelry.

Be a Smart Buyer

• 6

  Know that the naturally occurring "C" pattern will not be found on artificial sea glass.

• 7

  Research common prices for the type of sea glass you are looking to buy to make sure you are not overcharged. You can form a good idea of current market values by perusing numerous online auction sites like eBay.

• 8

  Beware of online sellers who use fuzzy photos or photos that appear to be "stock" images.