Sea Glass: Gems from the Sea

I know that when most people hear the word “gem,” they think of diamonds, emeralds and rubies. But for me, I also think of sea glass. This is glass that has been pummeled in the ocean for years, resulting in a smooth, frosty appearance. Searching for these mermaid’s tears (as they are sometimes referred to) is one of my passions. Sometimes this involves just strolling along the beach, seeing what the ocean offers up. At other times I’m descending 200 foot cliffs with ropes (or without!) and gearing up in my wetsuit to brave the waves with my mesh scooper in search of the ultimate treasure.

This past Sunday, a group of us were out in force during the king tide at a beach near Santa Cruz, California. The recent storms had taken out massive amounts of sand, and for the first time in 2 (long) years, there was the possibility of finding sea glass. Digging huge holes near the edge of the tide was our strategy that day, and unbelievably, the find of a lifetime was made! Here’s the top and bottom views of my new baby (Thanks, Jeff!) photographed by Bev Jacquemet, friend and author of The Sea Glass Rush. (This is a fabulous book if you’re interested in sea glass, and it features finds from northern California.)

sea glass multi
sea glass multi
Not only does this piece have an amazing amalgamation of colors, but it’s huge in the realm of sea glass. To give you an idea of how large it is, here’s a couple photos of it in my hand. (which I snapped myself)

sea glass
There are very few places in the world where you can find “multis,” which are pieces of sea glass with more than one color in it. You find them near glass factories or glass artists’ studios, where they used to throw their scraps in the sea. One of the most famous places, which is on my bucket list to visit, is Seaham, England. Their multis are called “end of day” glass, as that’s the trash they dumped into the ocean after their long work day.

Even the smallest multi is a gem in its own way, with its striations and depth. Bev shot this one with some of the smaller pieces Jeff and I dug up.

sea glass multis
I could go on and on about sea glass, gems from the ocean, but I’ll leave it at that for today. Many thanks to Bev for her images in this article. If you’re intrigued by her work and want to find out more, then I highly suggest following her on Facebook — it’s a visual delight! You can even e-mail her at [email protected] to order a signed copy of her book.

14 thoughts on “Sea Glass: Gems from the Sea”

  1. It’s an amazing find. I have been with Amy on many sea glassing excursions and find them addictive. I have never even dreamed of finding something so large and lovely. Wow, Amy and Jeff!!!

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  3. Amy, thanks for all of the lovely compliments. Your article is beautifully written. We had such a fun day & I am so happy you got to take home the prize!

    Reply

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