What is Sea Glass?

For me, there are not many things more exciting than the feeling of walking along the beach and catching a glimpse of a stunning piece of sea glass glinting up at you from the surface of the sand. But where does it come from?

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Sea glass begins its life most often as old bottles that have found their way into the sea or been left on the shore. In recent years, the increase of plastics and the decrease in the use of glassware mean that genuine sea glass is becoming increasingly rare.

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Genuine sea glass is created when man-made glass makes its way into the ocean, where it is tossed and turned by the currents, and gradually broken down over many decades, Its sharp edges are smoothed by rocks and sand, creating the beautifully smooth and frosty appearance that sea glass is known for. The surface is further eroded and smoothed by the high pH of the ocean, which can create the little c-shaped pits often seen, and further enhance the frosted finish.

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Sea Glass is beautifully known as 'Mermaid Tears', inspired by the legend of a mermaid who fell in love with a sailor, and called upon the ocean to save his life when he found himself in danger during a storm. To change the course of nature was forbidden, and as punishment, Neptune banished her to the bottom of the ocean for eternity, and to this day her gleaming tears are said to wash up on the beaches as sea glass - an eternal reminder of true love.

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I feel that part of what makes sea glass so special is that natural processes that have refined and polished our waste over many years to create something beautiful. Each piece of sea glass is completely unique and has its own story of where and how it originated and its journey to where it is today... a little like us!