Product Information
What is Charmouth Sea Glass ?
Sea glass begins as ordinary glass (bottles, jars, windows, or shipwrecked cargo) that found its way into the ocean. Once in the sea, the waves take over. Tumbled against pebbles and sand, battered by tides, and slowly etched by salt water, sharp broken glass is gradually worn smooth and its surface transformed into the distinctive soft, frosted finish we recognise as sea glass. This process takes 20 to 50 years at minimum, sometimes much longer.
The result is something that no factory can replicate: a piece of glass that has been entirely reshaped by nature, unique in colour, shape, and texture.
Why Charmouth?
Charmouth is a small village on the West Dorset coast, sitting at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching 95 miles from Exmouth in Devon to Studland in Dorset. The coastline preserves 185 million years of Earth's history in its cliffs, and is world-famous for its fossils. But fossils aren't the only treasure here.
Charmouth's beach is a shelved shoreline of pebbles, coarse sand, and rough surf, which creates ideal conditions for producing high-quality sea glass. The constant movement of the tide against the shingle grinds and smooths the glass over decades, creating pieces that are beautifully frosted and well-rounded.
Where Does Charmouth's Sea Glass Come From?
The glass at Charmouth has a fascinating origin. Much of it traces back to Victorian-era rubbish dumps that once sat on the clifftops above the beach. Before modern waste management, it was common practice to dispose of household waste near the coast. As Charmouth's cliffs have gradually eroded over the decades, that buried glass has tumbled onto the beach and into the sea, where the ocean has spent the time since slowly turning it into something beautiful.
A 2008 landslide east of nearby Lyme Regis also washed a significant portion of an old Victorian bottle dump directly onto the beach, adding to the abundance of glass in the area.
The likely sources include:
- Medicine and apothecary bottles, explaining the cobalt blues and rich aquas sometimes found
- Wine and beer bottles, the source of most green and brown pieces
- Ink bottles and jars, often smaller and thicker glass
- Household glassware and windows
- Shipwrecks and maritime debris, as Charmouth was a coastal hub with centuries of sea traffic
- Victorian glassware left by early holidaymakers, since the Jurassic Coast has attracted visitors for centuries
What Do the Colours Mean?
The colour of a piece of sea glass often hints at its age and origin:
|
Colour
|
Likely Source
|
Rarity
|
|---|---|---|
|
White / clear
|
Clear bottles and jars
|
Common
|
|
Bottle green
|
Wine and beer bottles
|
Common
|
|
Brown
|
Beer and medicine bottles
|
Common
|
|
Soft aqua
|
Old glass bottles, early glassmaking
|
Less common
|
|
Cobalt blue
|
Victorian medicine or poison bottles
|
Rare
|
|
Red / orange
|
Ship lanterns, old glassware
|
Very rare
|
The rarer the colour, the older the glass is likely to be. Cobalt blue and red pieces may be well over a century old.
Care Instructions
Your seaglass jewellery is handcrafted with care. To keep it looking beautiful:
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Avoid contact with water, perfumes, and chemicals
- Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Your piece has had coconut oil applied to make it shine, but you can reapply any oil at any time to achieve the same effect.
Sizing Guide
Necklaces: Available in 16" and 18" chain lengths or other lengths can be supplied on request.
Bracelets: Standard sizing with an optional add on extender chain.
Repairs & Replacements
We offer repair services for your Dorset Sea glass jewellery. Please contact us for assistance with repairs or replacement parts, I can make an earring to match if you have lost one.
Custom Orders
Interested in a custom piece? Get in touch to discuss your unique seaglass jewellery design.
Contact us : mailto:jane@southperrott.com