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Sea Glass is old glass products that were thrown into the sea. It takes decades for broken glass to “become” sea glass. The common colors of sea glass, Green, Brown & White are still in wide use today. Rarer colors of seaglass are pieces whose color has not been produced or used commercially for many years, as certain colors are more readily found in some areas. For Example, lavender glass can be a rarity in areas yet abundant in Maine & Canada.
- Common – White, Green, and Brown are found in most beach-combing locations throughout the world. Unique colors are Green, Brown, and White glass, with age, thickness, or patterning.
- Unique – Olive greens, pale amber.
- Somewhat Rare – Seafoam Green (light greens), Pale Aqua, Amber, Rarer Greens
- Rare – Cobalt Blue, Lavender, Aqua, Light Blue, Lime Green
- Rare and Ultra Rare – Red, Orange, Yellow, Gray, Teal, Pink, Aqua, Opaque Glass (Milk White, Jadeite)
- Treasure Chest Colors – Those pieces of glass that are so unique and usually maintain a pattern or shape of the source (i.e., bottle stoppers, marbles, embossed glass pieces, pattern glass, old glass tiles, bonfire glass, multi colored glass).
Where do they come from?
Common
Green Glass – Beer Bottles, Wine Bottles, Soda Bottles, etc.
Brown Glass – Beer, Whiskey, Clorox, Lysol, etc.
White or Clear – Limitless Sources.
Somewhat Rare
Seafoam Green – Coke Bottles, Wine Bottles, Rum Bottles, Window Glass, etc.
Cobalt Blue – Noxzema, Milk of Magnesia, Bromo, Evening In.
Rare
Lavender – Could be any bottle, jar, or glass product made with manganese.
Light Blue or Cornflower Blue – Pre 1900 Phillips MOM bottles, Bromo Seltzer, Vicks VapoRub, etc.
Lime Green or Chartreuse Glass – A glass I have yet to find an exact source.
Teal Or Turquoise – Seltzer Bottles, Decorative Glassware.
Red Sea Glass – Anchor Hocking Royal Ruby Glass Products.
“Home.” By The Sea Glass Jewelry, bytheseajewelry.com/the-colors-of-sea-glass/?srsltid=AfmBOor3INe-LlYVrXlBIhFyW0xZxUhxoIPAboOgpYKisYECicD26qAW. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Factors Affecting its Value
- Frosting: True sea glass has a powdery, matte, satin finish from decades of salt water erosion.
- Shape: Perfectly rounded, pebble-like shapes are more desirable than sharp, jagged shards.
- Age: Thicker pieces, or those with unique bottle markings (stoppers, necks), indicate older, more valuable glass
