Often considered the rarest color of all, orange sea glass most likely originated from decorative tableware or unique art pieces. It was created by adding the chemical element cadmium, together with selenium, to produce shades of orange.
Sea glass is essentially broken glass from discarded items that have been polished and shaped over 20 years and up to 200 years by waves and weather. The legality of collecting sea glass depends on where you are located. It is illegal to collect sea glass on beaches located within U.S. state parks.
Pink and crystal (clear) are two of the rarest colors of Depression glass.
Purple bottles are unusual to find, because true purple glass was not commonly used, and in fact, most purple bottles found these days started off as clear bottles. This means that purple seaglass which is found typically was not from a purple vessel, but in fact started off as part of a clear bottle.
Black is the fifth most rare sea glass color. Black sea glass is actually not black, but a very dark olive green when held up to the light. Black glass dates back as far as the 1700s and was commonly used for beer and liquor bottles until about 1870.
The glass that ultimately becomes sun colored, purple sea glass was produced during a relatively short time frame (1880s til @1915) so it is considered rare. It is estimated that only one out of every 500 pieces of sea glass collected is this beautiful, soft lavender color.
Make no mistake, sea glass is a commodity. It has real value, with some individual pieces selling for up to $1,000 and more. Many factors must be present to sell sea glass for top dollar.
Some of the most collectible types & styles of antique and vintage glassware include Depression Glass, Carnival Glass, Milk Glass, Moonstone, Hobnail Glass, and Jadeite. One of the most popular styles of antique glass was a Hen on Nest, also known as Animal Dishes because of the variety of animals they come in.
However, red sea glass has always been rare to find because of how it's made. While there are different metals and metal oxides that change color when added into the mix, some red glass is created by using particles of gold. If you do find a red piece of sea glass it is likely from an old Schlitz beer bottle.
Bermuda's beaches and nature reserves are protected by law, which prohibits taking any coral, sand, rocks, or sea glass. “Tourists should follow the same rules as the pink sand, shells, and corals,” says Diel. “Please don't take anything off the beaches, as the airport and cruise ships will confiscate these items.”
Sea glass is used for decoration, most commonly in jewellery. "Beach glass" comes from fresh water and is often less frosted in appearance than sea glass. Sea glass takes 20–40 years, and sometimes as much as 100–200 years, to acquire its characteristic texture and shape.
On the rarity chart, sea foam is found in the common section, but certainly it is not a very common piece. The muted, calming colors of all the sea foam shades make it a collector favorite, and in general, the older the piece, the more value (even if only personal) the avid collector might attach to their glass.
4. There were very few black bottles produced in the 20thcentury, so black sea glass is almost guaranteed to pre-date 1900.
Pores & Texture - Are the main feature of real sea glass. Under a microscope or macro lens, these pores resemble small "c" shaped abrasions caused by years of tumbling in the surf with the different sizes of sand, gravel and hydration from decades of exposure to the water.
What Is Sea Glass? Sea Glass is well regarded as a symbol of renewal and healing, a metaphor for life. Sea Glass is simply glass, originally a bottle, dish or favored decorative object, no longer needed because it has served its purpose, outlived its usefulness or is broken and tossed in the trash.
Some of the more valuable colors are cherry red, black amethyst, and ice green. Take note of the iridescent quality of the antique glass to be sure there are no worn or uneven sections.
Take some time and look closely at the piece's shape, surface, weight, and quality—all potential clues for you. “Is the glass transparent or opalescent or iridescent?,” Robinson asks. “Is there any decoration that might give away what it is or who may have made it?” Look to see if the glass has been signed or marked.
Is "sun-purpled" glass a good investment? On the contrary, it is tantamount to purchasing a piece of damaged glass and the value is decreased as though it had a serious crack or chip.
In fact, when it comes to sea glass, taking it away is actually encouraged as it helps to clean up beaches. The colored fragments may look pretty but they're technically litter, which means you're free to take as much as you can carry.
Fitzpatrick says that a piece's characteristics and color can help identify its age and origin. Lavender dates to 1880-1920 because manganese, which creates this color, was used then. Bubbles appearing in glass, which was handmade, indicate a time frame of 1700-1800s.
Some if the best sea glass finds can be discovered after a storm. The tidal surges and bigger waves can churn up long buried treasures, so make sure to explore after storms for a better chance of finding unusual colours and interesting finds.
Colors of Sea Glass:
The most sought-after colors, like red and orange, are exceptionally scarce due to the expensive gold chloride additive required to achieve these hues in glass production. Genuine red and orange sea glass fetch high prices in the market.
Color and pattern, which helps identify both the rareness of the piece as well as its manufacturer. Some of the most valuable colors are cherry red, black amethyst, and ice green.
While red sea glass reigns as the rarest, there are several other colors that are also highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. Among these are shades like cobalt blue, orange, and yellow. Cobalt blue sea glass originates from early milk of magnesia bottles and certain types of ink bottles.