It may be the glint of the sun on the smooth, polished surface of the sea glass that first catches your eye. A tiny splash of color in a wide field of white sand, calling you in for a closer look. This, that first look, the first unexpected sighting of a pile of mostly aqua, green, and blue-toned stones, is what causes many to fall in love with sea glass. This love leads some to scour the waterways looking for more, and others to various stores to purchase unique items that have been fashioned from nature’s marvelous generosity.
What is Beach Glass or Sea Glass?
It’s tempting to imagine cases of lost jewels on the ocean’s floor, some of which make their way to the shore to be collected as beach glass. The real explanation is a bit more mundane, but still fascinating. Sea glass, or beach glass as it is known in some places, is actually just glass that has gone through the ocean’s unique polishing scheme. The sea itself takes something potentially bad–in this case, bottles, glasses, plates and other items which have been dropped into its waters–and turns it into something beautiful and desirable. The glass eventually breaks up into smaller pieces, and each piece is tossed and tumbled through the ocean’s sand and water, sometimes for up to 30 years. The rough edges are smoothed and the shine of the glass is given a naturally frosted look–the look that characterizes sea glass.
What Color is Sea Glass?
The color of the original glass determines the color of the completed sea glass. Most bottles are in the bluish to greenish range, so quite a lot of sea glass is that beautiful aqua or teal color. On some occasions you may find a few amber pieces, or even jade green, but most are in the teal and turquoise range of hues. The coveted seafoam beach glass, which resembles an ocean spray, is also not as rare as one might think. If you are in the right place at the right time, you may even find purple or pink pieces that will complement your aqua sea glass perfectly.
Where to Find Sea Glass?
There is no one way of predicting where the sea will deposit the beach glass, but harbors and coves are often rich sources. On any beach, find out where the high tide line is, and begin your searches when it goes out. Make sure you have a jar or some other type of container, because you never know how much sea glass you are going to discover. If you find an area where the tide has deposited other types of shells and stones, look carefully–sea glass may be nestled in with everything else. After a storm is also a good time to search, though this may be when everyone else is out looking for beach glass as well. Because seafoam beach glass, as well as other colors of beach or sea glass, is so popular in custom jewelry and crafts, the competition can sometimes be a little fierce. Don’t worry, though, there will be other occasions to get your sea glass. As long as people keep putting glass into the ocean, the ocean will continue to, eventually, send it back.
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