What is sea glass? Everything about rare shards and where to find them on Florida's beaches

Samantha Neely, Fort Myers News-Press
·3 min read

Among seashells, shark teeth, and sea creatures, collectors can add sea glass to the list of items to search for along Florida's shores.

Sea glass is one of the most beautiful and unique items to come out of the ocean, as well as one of the most rare.

Sought after by both professional beachcombers and casual vacationers, hunting for colorful shards of glass has become a growing hobby. Here's everything to know about sea glass and where to find it:

What seashells? A guide to rare shells: Expert lists 10 rare seashells you can find on Florida beaches. Good luck!

What is sea glass?

Sea glass is physically and chemically weathered glass found on beaches along bodies of salt water. The glass usually comes from broken bottles, glassware, shipwrecks, and other glass-turned trash.

They roll and tumble in the ocean, removing the sharp edges with every movement of the waves until the weathering processes produce natural frosted glass in an abundance of colors. The process can take from 30-50 and even up to 100 years or more, depending on ocean currents and tidal conditions.

What is the difference between sea glass and beach glass?

Just like sea glass, there is beach glass, which comes from fresh water and is often less frosted in appearance than its counterpart.

Where are the top Florida beaches to look for sea glass?

According to the beach guide website Neat Beach, the top Florida beaches for sea glass are:

  • Sanibel Beach

  • Captiva Island

  • Hutchinson Island

  • Jupiter Island

  • Jenson Beach

  • Jacksonville Beach

  • Cinnamon Beach

  • Navarre Beach

  • Siesta Key

Is collecting sea glass illegal?

The answer depends on where you're located.

On all beaches located within U.S. state parks, it is illegal to collect sea glass. If caught, one might be fined upwards of $500. On other beaches, it is legal unless indicated otherwise.

How rare is sea glass to find along beaches?

Since glass isn't as heavily used for bottles, jars, and other packaging that might end up in the ocean, sea glass has become harder to find along coasts.

Authentic sea glass has become more expensive, especially for those seeking particular colors over the years.

What are the rarest colors of sea glass?

Brown, green, and white are the most common sea glass colors since they come from discarded glass bottles. According to rarity charts, red, orange, teal, and turquoise are the most rare.

How can you tell if the sea glass is authentic?

With authentic sea glass ranging anywhere from $10 to $100 per piece, some have tried their luck at making sea glass to catch a quick buck.

To tell if a piece of sea glass is authentic, experts say that both sea and beach glass will have sometimes uneven but smooth edges. Fake pieces are typically rough and often too straight cut, very often found to be square shaped.

What can you do with sea glass after collecting it?

After collecting sea glass, many online offer ideas of how to display your treasures, including:

  • Filling a bowl to display

  • Making jewelry

  • Making decorative wall art

  • Mosaic art

  • Constructing a suncatcher

  • Making a holiday ornament

  • Adding to items of clothing

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Finding sea glass on Florida's coasts. What is it, what to do with it