Holding a piece of sea glass up to the light is my favorite little ritual before I buy—it tells you so much if you know what to look for. First, check the surface frosting: genuine sea glass usually has a matte, pitted finish from years of tumbling on rocks and sand. If the piece looks uniformly glossy or has perfectly even rounded edges, that’s a red flag for machine-tumbled glass. Use a loupe or strong zoom photo to inspect the edges; natural pieces often have irregularities, tiny chips, or a faint seam where the original bottle curved.
Next, examine color and rarity. Common colors like green, brown, and clear are cheap; cobalt
Blue, red, and certain oranges are rare and should be priced accordingly. Ask the seller about provenance—where it was
Found—because location affects rarity and legality. If you can, request a short video of the piece turned against white paper so you can see translucency and internal bubbles. Finally, be gentle with cleaning: warm water, a soft brush, and mild soap; avoid harsh acids or polishing unless you’re deliberately restoring. I always feel better buying when the seller shares photos of the find in situ or can describe the beach, and when the price reflects how long it likely
took nature to make that little
Jewel.