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WHAT IS SEA GLASS?
What Is Sea Glass?
Sea glass is naturally weathered glass shaped by the ocean over many years. Broken glass fragments are smoothed and frosted by waves, sand, and time, creating unique pieces with soft edges and a matte finish.
How Sea Glass Forms
Sea glass forms when discarded glass is carried by the sea and gradually worn down by tides and sand. Over time, the sharp edges disappear, leaving behind the smooth, frosted appearance that makes sea glass distinctive. Each piece is unique, shaped entirely by nature, and carries with it a quiet history of its origin.
Seaham: A World-Renowned Source
I personally collect the sea glass I use from my local beach in Seaham, an English coastal town on the North Sea that is world-renowned for its abundance and quality of sea glass. The beach here is particularly special due to its industrial past, dating back to as early as 1853, when glassmaking factories disposed of waste glass directly into the sea. Today, these remnants have been transformed into beautiful treasures that wash ashore with each tide.
Colours and Rarity
The variety of sea glass found in Seaham is remarkable. While clear and green pieces are the most common, it is also possible to find rarer colours such as blue, aqua, turquoise, yellow, red, and even “multis”—pieces that contain multiple colours fused together. Each find feels like part of a treasure hunt, with every shard offering something different in colour, texture, and shape
The Beauty of Individuality
What makes sea glass so special to me is its individuality. No two pieces are ever the same. Each one has its own story, its own curves, and its own character shaped by decades of natural forces. This is why I choose to work with the pieces exactly as I find them, designing around their organic forms rather than altering them. The result is something truly one-of-a-kind—a balance between raw nature and crafted design.
From Shore to Jewellery
Using sea glass in my jewellery allows me to preserve and share these small pieces of history. What was once discarded becomes something meaningful again, carrying both the beauty of the ocean and the passage of time. Every piece I create begins with something I’ve discovered myself along the shores of Seaham, making each design deeply personal and connected to the place I call home.
Charlene x
