My latest jewellery range looks like the kind of thing you might find on the beach—if you were really, really lucky.
I live just a few minutes from a gorgeous beach, so I’m there at least a couple of times a week. I love wandering along the shoreline, scanning the sand, and picking up interesting stones and little treasures. And yes, that absolutely includes sea glass.
Sea glass is beautiful. The thrill of spotting a frosted, wave-worn piece nestled among the pebbles never gets old. But here’s the thing—I don’t take it home to turn it into jewellery.
For me, most sea glass is better left on the beach. And here’s why.
1. Limited Shapes and Colours
Sea glass only comes in certain shapes and colours, and honestly, that’s part of its charm. I sometimes see pieces that have been drilled or sanded to make them more ‘jewellery-friendly,’ and it makes me a bit sad. They were already beautiful! Plus, drilling and sanding put a lot of stress on the glass, making it more likely to crack.
2. Glass Dust Is Awful
Drilling and sanding glass creates fine dust, and glass dust is seriously nasty stuff. I occasionally work with powdered glass for enameling, and before I even think about opening those containers, I put on a proper mask—not just a flimsy paper one. So when I see “how-to” tutorials for sea glass jewellery that don’t even mention how dangerous glass dust is… let’s just say, I don’t feel great about it.
3. I Don’t Glue Anything
When I make jewellery, I fuse glass directly to metal by melting it—so the two become one solid piece. No glue involved! Many sea glass pieces rely on glued-in findings, and over time, that’s the part most likely to fail.
4. The Beach Is for Relaxing
For me, beach time is about unwinding, not work. I’d hate to be there with the pressure of having to find specific pieces for jewellery-making. I love being able to explore freely—sometimes looking for fossils, sometimes just enjoying the waves. If I was on a sea glass mission, I'd be too busy staring at the ground to enjoy the bigger picture.
5. I Want to Leave It for Others to Find
Almost everyone I know loves stumbling across sea glass on the beach. But the thing is, it’s becoming rarer. We don’t use as much glass in packaging anymore, so less of it ends up in the sea. Plus, places like Seaham (famous for its sea glass) don’t have glass manufacturers dumping scraps into the ocean anymore—it’s all carefully recycled. So leaving those little treasures for someone else to find? That feels like the right thing to do.
6. I Get to Recycle Glass My Own Way
Making my own glass beads and charms means I can use recycled glass in a different way. I love working with old drinks bottles—wine and gin bottles give beautiful colours, and marmite jars? Surprisingly gorgeous! Sure, glass can in theory be recycled back into new bottles, but it doesn’t always happen. Turning it into jewellery that lasts for decades? That feels like a much better option.
7. Colour Is Everything
Before I worked with glass full-time, I dyed yarn for a living—so colour has always been a huge part of my world. With glass rods, I have access to an entire rainbow of shades I’d never find on a beach. Even better, I can combine colours to create exactly what I want.
8. I Can Create Shapes and Textures You’d Never Find on the Shore
Melting and shaping glass means I can add textures, swirls, and tiny details that just don’t exist in sea glass. Those little frosted glass balls, or charms with spiral imprints? You won’t find those washed up on the beach—but I can make them.
9. Longevity Matters to Me
Everything I make is built to last. Once I’ve finished a piece, it goes into a kiln to be annealed, which removes stress from the glass, making it stronger. Then, if it needs a frosted finish, it goes into a rock tumbler. And because my charms are fused directly onto little metal loops, they can handle hours of tumbling without coming loose. That’s the level of durability I want in my jewellery.
What Do You Think?
I know lots of jewellers who do use sea glass beautifully—it’s just not for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you collect sea glass? Do you like jewellery made from it, or do you prefer to leave it on the beach? Drop a comment below! 😊