The wonders of Sea Glass

For me, sea glass jewellery isn’t just a business—it’s a lifelong obsession.

I’m the kind of person who can’t walk a shoreline without my eyes glued to the tide line. Whether I'm on a cold, rugged UK coastline or a sunny beach abroad, my bag will always contain a handful of found treasures. I’ve spent my life hunting for these ocean-tumbled gems in every country I visit, driven by an insatiable interest in their history and the pure romance of their transformation.

At Wildcoast Silver, every piece of recycled sea glass I set into sterling silver is a tiny, tangible piece of that global journey and a reminder of the power of the ocean.

But what exactly is the story behind that beautiful, smooth shard you're holding?

⏳ From Trash to Treasure: How Sea Glass is Formed

Genuine sea glass is one of nature’s perfect examples of renewal. Its formation is a slow, multi-decade process—a true testament to the relentless, beautiful work of Mother Nature.

1. The Beginning: Discarded History

The journey begins when discarded glass—fragments of old bottles, tableware, or even glass from historic shipwrecks—find their way into the sea. That’s why every piece of sea glass I find carries a historical clue, dating back anywhere from 20 to 200 years!

2. The Tumbling Process

Once submerged, these sharp fragments are relentlessly tumbled, churned, and sanded by the waves, tides, and abrasive sea floor. This constant grinding motion is what gradually smoothes every single edge, creating the perfectly rounded, polished shape I look for. This long, turbulent process is why beachcombing for these pieces feels like finding true buried treasure!

3. The Signature Frosting

The ocean's saltwater is the final, crucial ingredient. Salt water is highly alkaline, and over many years, it leaches out the soda and lime content in the glass. This chemical weathering process is what creates that beautiful, soft, signature frosted sea glass surface that I cherish and that gives my jewellery its unique, tactile appeal.

🎨 The Mystery of Colour: What Your Sea Glass Says About History

The colour of a piece of sea glass isn't just a colour—it’s a historical fingerprint, instantly revealing its original source. The majority of what I find comes in common colours like white/clear, brown, and green, typically originating from everyday items like beer and soda bottles dating from the 1940s to the present. Moving into slightly rarer finds, the beautiful aqua/seafoam pieces often come from older Coca-Cola bottles, Mason jars, or vintage medicine containers made before the 1950s. The really exciting colours, like cobalt blue, are rare because they often came from expensive items like poison bottles or old Bromo-Seltzer jars dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. And when I find red, orange, or yellow—these are ultra-rare, usually coming from things like navigation signal lights or expensive tableware, making them the true jewels of the tideline.

💚 Why Wildcoast Silver Chooses Sea Glass

At Wildcoast Silver, my commitment to sustainability is as strong as my passion for the beach.

• Ethical Sourcing & My Favourite Hunts: Every piece of genuine sea glass used in my designs is hand-collected on my adventures. While I’ve searched coasts around the world, my favourite finds come from the rugged UK coastline. I’ve spent countless hours beachcombing the famous Jurassic coast, the beautiful shingle of Charmouth Beach in Dorset, This process is a true labour of love, ensuring your piece is sourced with care and respect for the coast.

• A Symbol of Renewal: I see sea glass as a powerful metaphor. It starts as something broken and is transformed by the harsh environment into something beautiful and unique. It reminds me that beauty and a fresh start can emerge from anything.

• The Perfect Pairing: I pair this eco-friendly sea glass with recycled sterling silver to create pieces of jewellery that are not only stunning but carry a minimal environmental footprint.

When you wear a sea glass pendant or a pair of sea glass earrings from Wildcoast Silver, you are wearing a piece of the coast, a fragment of history, and a statement about your commitment to sustainable, meaningful style.

Ready to wear a piece of the Wildcoast?

Browse my latest collection of handmade sea glass jewellery set in recycled silver and find your perfect ocean treasure today.