THE SUBTLE ART OF SEA GLASS COMBING

THE SUBTLE ART OF SEA GLASS COMBING 

Worn by waves, recycled by the sea, sea glass is a product of both nature and man.  Bottles, jars and glass carelessly discarded are tumbled by the ocean to form these colourful gems of the shore. 

Also known as beach glass, mermaids tears, ocean glass and trash glass ... all are precious finds.  

From the ocean, they're referred to as sea glass ... from fresh water sources, beach glass. 

It's not "JUST GLASS" ... It's Sea Glass!

Sea Glass is a reverse gem.  Traditional gems (diamonds, rubies, emeralds) are made by nature and refined by man. 

These treasures were originally made by man (bottles and jars) but refined by nature to become smooth frosty beach found gems.  "Genuine" sea glass is natural found glass, just the way it's picked from the beach.  

These ocean stars begin as bottles and glass, are tumbled and tossed on the shore, broken, then smoothed by waves and currents. Nature acts like a big rock tumbler recycling our pollution. 

It can take 7-10 years of rough and tumble, to "become" sea glass.  A quality piece has no shiny spots, is well froste, with smooth tactile edges. 

They're becoming harder and harder to find due to the change in wide use of plastics in the mid-60's.  Prior, everything came in glass bottles or jars, then tins cans. 

Older colours of sea glass like blues, reds and aquas are becoming smaller and smaller, as they continue to age and breakdown.  The most common are green, white and brown.

The rarest?  Pink, aqua, cobalt and cornflower blue, opaque white (milk glass) and purple (amethyst). 

The ultra rarest? Orange, turquoise, red, yellow, black, teal and gray. 

Collected the world over, these precious prizes can't be reproduced by artificial means. The frost and pitting of genuine sea glass is how you tell it's made by nature. 

Serious collectors detest sharing their favourite and beach beachcombing spots, but here's a few, voted by the few beachcombers who spilled the beans!

1.  GLASS BEACH, FORT BRAGG, CALIFORNIA

THE place to beachcomb for sea glass, located in Mendocino County - removing large quantities of it are now discouraged.

PHOTO:  Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA 

2.  SEAHAM BEACH, SEAHAM, ENGLAND

Attracting serious beachcombers from as far away as Alaska and Australia, the town was once home to the Londonderry Bottle Works and sits on the wild North Sea. 

3.  DAVENPORT BEACH, DAVENPORT, CALIFORNIA

The locals call this Shark's Tooth Beach and Shark Fin Cove.  Just 4 hours south of Fort Bragg, it's known in the glassing world for it's unique and famed patterns. 

4.  HEADLANDS BEACH STATE PARK, MENTOR, OHIO

Known for it's excellent variety of colours, textures and well-frosted pieces.

5.  MONHEGAN ISLAND, LINCOLN COUNTY, MAINE

With a current population of less than 100, this former artists' colony, is loaded with sea glass.  Located 10 miles off the coast of Maine, you'll need a ferry or boat to get there. 

6.  SOURIS BEACH, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Located in Souris Beach Provincial Park, you're best to get here with the sun for the best pickins.  This fresh and immaculate beach offers a boardwalk and a few quaint shops. 

7.  SIMMONS ISLAND, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN

Another Great Lakes winner, this beach on Lake Michigan offers up some fabulous beach glass booty, but also a variety of fossils, corals and many other ancient treasures. 

8.  HAMBURG BEACH, HAMBURG, NEW YORK

Located  on good ol' Lake Erie, many have hauled pounds (yup, you heard me right!) of beach glass after a couple hours of combing. 

9.  QUEENS BEACH, SCARBOROUGH, AUSTRALIA

Found on the eastern coast of Australia, it's Queensland's best glassing beach.  It also boasts a notable walking path. And yet another reason to go Down Under!

10.  PARQUE COLON (COLON PARK) AQUADILLA, PUERTO RICO

Both sides of the river mouth yield tons of goodies, along with the beautiful clear waters. 

First day walking down the beach in Puerto Vallarta this past February, I came across this little heart-shaped gem ... just in time for Valentine's.   What are the chances?! 

Photo: Heart Shaped Sea Glass from the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, MX 

Have you got any favourite spots you can share with us?  I'd love to hear from you ... and if you've got a photo to share, I'll post it too!

Need my help to planning that next Glass Combing vacation?  CONTACT ME cause Planning A Vacation Makes You Happy (me too!).

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