Sea Glass Jewellery Made in Cornwall: Natural, Handmade, Ethical

Why do so many people love hunting for sea glass? Maybe it’s the mystery of what it once was — a fragment of old tableware, a bottle tossed overboard, or glass worn by the sea for decades. Maybe it’s the joy of discovering something smooth, frosted, and one-of-a-kind. Or maybe it’s because sea glass jewellery offers a chance to wear something shaped entirely by nature.

At Sennen Jewellery, our new collection of sea glass jewellery is made using genuine sea glass found along the Cornish coastline. Each piece is carefully selected, shaped, and finished by hand in a small Cornish workshop, using traditional skills, recycled silver where possible, and a lot of patience.

In this post, we’ll explore what sea glass is, how it’s transformed into jewellery, and what makes it so special — here in Cornwall and around the world.

What Is Sea Glass?

Sea glass is discarded glass that’s been tumbled by the sea. Bottles, jars, tableware, and even shipwreck remnants break down over time, softened by salt, sand, and motion. The result? Smooth, frosted pieces with rounded edges and no sharp corners — natural gems formed by time.

Most seaglass is green, clear, or brown. Rarer finds include blue, lavender, and deep red — often linked to older or unusual glass sources. The thrill of discovery is a big part of its appeal. Every piece has its own history, and no two are ever the same.

The Making Process: Turning Sea Glass into Jewellery

Creating sea glass jewellery takes more than just finding the right shape. Each piece must be matched with a setting that highlights its natural form without overpowering it. That means slow, steady work — often starting with careful sorting, shaping, and gentle polishing.

Drilling sea glass requires precision. The process uses specialist tools and water to cool the glass as it’s drilled. It’s easy to crack, so our maker takes it slow — allowing time for the material to reveal its final form.

From simple necklaces to stacked rings and mixed-metal earrings, each design is guided by the glass itself. Some seaglass jewellery designs feature clean lines; others bring together two pieces for contrast in colour or shape.

Who Makes Our sea Glass Jewellery?

Our sea glass collection is created by Gemweyth Sea Glass Jewellery, an independent maker based in Cornwall. Gemweyth — the Cornish word for jewellery — is the work of Becky, a talented, self-taught designer who has been collecting seaglass since childhood.

Inspired by Cornwall’s coastline and her own beachcombing adventures, Becky’s designs reflect both curiosity and craftsmanship. She often wonders where each piece of glass began its journey — a shipwreck, a Victorian bottle, or perhaps something more everyday. That imagination runs through her jewellery, which is made in small batches using sea glass found on local beaches, often paired with recycled silver.

Her workshop practice is careful and considered, with every piece designed to let the glass speak for itself.

Where Our Sea Glass Comes From

All the sea glass found in our collection is collected along the Cornish coastline. None is bought in bulk or imported. Instead, our maker gathers only what they need — by hand, from public beaches and coves, at low tide or after storms.

Collecting seaglass is legal in most areas because it's classed as waste. However, it's best to avoid protected or private land and follow a “leave it better” rule: pick with care, and leave the shore as clean as possible.

➡️ Interested in collecting your own? Check out this guide to the best sea glass beaches in the UK.

Why Sea Glass Comes in Different Colours

The colour of sea glass can reveal a lot about its past — and that’s part of what makes it so endlessly fascinating. Many collectors and makers enjoy researching where each colour may have originated.

• Pale green or clear: These are among the most common colours, often from drinks bottles, wine bottles, jam jars, or household glass. Their ubiquity means they’re more readily found on almost any beach, but that doesn’t make them any less lovely — they often have great clarity and smooth shapes. A rare find is Moonlight-toned glass, which glows faintly in low light and seems to shift in colour. These shades are especially beautiful under a full moon.

• Brown or amber: These tones typically come from beer bottles, medicine jars, and 20th-century utility glass. Brown seaglass tends to hold its colour well, and it's often associated with coastal pubs and trade routes.

• Blue: Deeper cobalt blues may have originated from Milk of Magnesia bottles, Noxzema jars, or vintage art glass. Electric and deep blues are harder to find and highly prized for making statement jewellery.

• Aqua or turquoise: Often mistaken for pale blue, this colour usually comes from old soda bottles or fruit jars and has an unmistakable seaside feel.

• Purple and lavender: Some clear glass turns lavender with long exposure to sunlight, due to manganese used as a decolouriser. It’s subtle but beautiful.

• Red, orange, and teal: These are among the rarest — sometimes from car head lights, old lanterns, or depression-era glassware. Their rich tones and rarity make them incredibly sought after.

• Black: Often mistaken for stones, black sea glass is typically very dark green or brown — originating from Victorian wine bottles or even earlier glasswork.

Knowing the colour origin adds a layer of inspiration to the design process — and for collectors, it brings a sense of discovery that never gets old.

Custom Sea Glass Jewellery in Silver or Gold

Most of our jewellery is crafted in silver, but we also take on custom commissions in gold. If you’ve found your own seaglass, or want to mark a special occasion with a one-off gold seaglass jewellery piece, we can help you create something unique. Each commission is handmade by our talented metalsmith at his Cornish workshop, who can also make custom pieces in both silver, Cornish tin and platinum.

Sustainability and Ethical Jewellery Making

Our jewellery is made slowly and carefully, using natural, found, and recycled materials. No overproduction. No unnecessary packaging. Just thoughtful making with respect for the sea, the shore, and the amazing stories behind every piece.

Sea Glass Around the World

Sea glass is a global phenomenon — and some places are famous for their abundance of it. The reasons vary: some beaches lie near old dumping grounds, some were near ports, and others are shaped by unique tides or histories.

• Glass Beach, Fort Bragg (California, USA): Probably the most famous sea glass location in the world, this beach was once a coastal dump site. Decades of wave action ground the debris into smooth, colourful fragments. It’s now a protected area, and visitors are no longer allowed to take glass — but the sight of a shore glinting with lovely worn-down seaglass is still remarkable.

• Seaham Beach, County Durham (UK): Located on England’s northeast coast, Seaham is known for its stunning multicoloured glass pieces. These come from a Victorian bottleworks factory that dumped waste glass into the sea. The result? Rich, rounded “end-of-day” gems, often swirled with multiple colours — a rare and amazing find.

  

  Seaham sea glass, image by Diana Parkhouse

  
  

• Kauai and other Hawaiian islands: Some Hawaiian beaches are known for pastel and aqua-toned sea glass, shaped by strong tides and volcanic rock shorelines. Locals often incorporate these pieces into traditional crafts and jewellery.

• Japan’s Sea of Japan coast: Particularly around the Noto Peninsula, glass from sake bottles and floating buoys often washes ashore. The blues and greens here are sought after by collectors.

• Nova Scotia (Canada): The Atlantic coast of Canada produces a variety of well-worn, frosted seaglass, often with deep winter weathering and a unique finish that speaks to the quality of time in the water.

What these locations share is the accidental beauty of human history meeting natural forces. They’re reminders that nature can create something extraordinary — even from discarded fragments. That’s part of what makes sea glass jewellery so compelling: it’s shaped by both place and time, and connects the wearer to beaches and stories far beyond Cornwall.

Our Favourite Sea Glass Jewellery Designs This Season

Cornish Sea Glass Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver

These handmade 925 sterling silver stud earrings each feature a 5mm piece of hand-carved sea glass, shaped by the sea and finished by hand in Cornwall. Available in a range of colours, they're a lovely choice for everyday wear and make a timeless coastal-inspired gift.

Sea Glass and Starfish Charm Necklace

This delicate necklace pairs a smooth sea glass charm with a 10mm Tibetan silver starfish, set on an aluminium finding. Available in a range of tones and finishes — we recommend the sterling silver snake chain for a polished, versatile look.

Sea Glass Inspiration

From windswept beaches to the workbench of a Cornish workshop, each piece of sea glass jewellery carries its own story — one shaped by time, the tide, and the skills that brought it to life.

It’s not just about how a piece looks, but how it’s made — with care, quality and craftsmanship, and with the kind of thoughtfulness that inspires people to keep, gift, and wear it for years to come.