How is sea glass formed

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Thunder Egg. Geology Mineral Researches Top Posts. Share on Facebook. Sea glass, on the other hand, is created by man and then refined by the nature, which is why it is so enchanting. For sea glass to be called authentic, it has to be made by natural forces. Authentic sea glass is not clear or shiny and it is not always perfectly shaped. It has a more weathered, natural look and feel.

Although naturally occurring sea glass comes in many shapes and sizes, some of the older, well tumbled pieces can be distinctly oval, triangular, teardrop and even heart shaped. Sea glass hearts are amazing, whimsical creations of nature, much revered by sea glass collectors. Some sea glass gems are flawless with no obvious dings or chips. Some show a pattern from a piece of dishware or an old automobile tail light or railroad warning lantern.

Others have visible air bubbles inside showing that perhaps they came from a hand-blown glass bottle. A frosty appearance is one of the biggest indicators of true sea glass, although not always.

The sea glass finish depends entirely on the weathering conditions is the sand fine or coarse, is the bottom sandy or rocky, etc. All these factors can affect the quality, shape, and surface appearance of Sea Glass. Technically speaking, there are two varieties.

One is sea glass and the other is beach glass. Beach glass is formed in freshwater areas, like lakes, rivers, and streams. When you think about a gemstone, you realize the reason for its popularity is its scarcity which creates its value. Sea glass, on the other hand, is rare by definition. Time and quality go hand in hand, so if you find a piece of sea glass that has been refined for over thirty years, it will be far more valuable than the original bottle or glass from whence it came.

Because they are not common, they are more desirable, even if they may not have an intrinsic value. Another reason sea glass is popular is that each piece is one of a kind. You can find a hundred pieces on the beach, and each one will be different, like a snowflake. Even parts of the same glass bottle will turn out differently, with each one having a particular shape, smoothness, and amount of frosting.

Yes and no, depending on the age, condition, size, shape, color and authenticity. There is tremendous amount of sea glass changing hands on social media sites, and other sales sites like Etsy and Ebay.

Search for sea glass on either of these and you will find upwards of 10, listings offering sea glass for sale. Make no mistake, sea glass is a commodity. Many factors must be present to sell sea glass for top dollar. The pricier pieces are normally purchased by jewelers and artisans hoping to sell them in one of their sea glass jewelry designs.

And there are many sea glass lovers out there who just like to display their beach found or purchased sea glass in a glass vase on the mantel. As always, beauty and value is in the eye of the beholder. Most likely this person is a sea glass purist, someone who appreciates the mystique and value of naturally occurring sea glass and the thrill of discovery.

A sea glass purist knows the value of genuine sea glass. Sea glass is originally made by man bottles and jars but refined by nature to become smooth frosty beach found gems. Nature acts like a big rock tumbler recycling our pollution!

It can take years in a constant surf environment for sea glass to "become" sea glass. A quality piece of sea glass has no shiny spots, is well frosted and has smooth tactile edges. See Our Valuing Page for more Info on sea glass quality. By The Sea Jewelry has been educating consumers about sea glass for 30 years. This page and it's contents were even used in a book considered the Jewelry makers bible Jewelry Making Through History.

If you have a special piece of sea glass that you would like us to turn into jewelry, please visit our Custom Order Page for more Info! We can make jewelry using your sea glass or ours and we offer just about every color in the world from the most common to the rarest sea glass pieces ever found!

These diminishing beach gems are becoming harder to find as glass is no longer used as it was in the past. Plastic was still a product of the future and recycling was non existent.

In coastal areas and islands, trash collection was also something that would not begin until the area developed. Back before the 's, coastal residents would bury their trash in the sand or simply toss it in the ocean thinking the sea was this vast indestructible entity. Today we know and act differently. With the advent of recycling and the wide use of plastic for beverages, sea glass is becoming increasingly harder to find.

A quality piece of sea glass has no shiny spots, is well frosted see Frost In Sea Glass Glossary and has smooth tactile edges. The sources for sea glass are finite.