Scottish Island Sea Glass Collection

Treasures from Atlantic and North Sea Shores

Sea glass doesn’t form in factories or workshops. It starts as broken bottles and jars that find their way into the ocean, where waves and salt water tumble the sharp edges for years until what emerges is something entirely different – frosted, smooth fragments that look like gemstones when wet. In Scotland’s islands, where the Atlantic batters the western shores and the North Sea rolls against the east, this transformation happens in some of the wildest waters in Europe.

The makers in this collection walk island beaches looking for these fragments. They know which shores the tides favour, which colours are rare, how the glass from the Atlantic’s rougher waters develops a different frosted texture than pieces from the North Sea. They collect what the ocean offers, then turn these found treasures into jewellery and art using traditional techniques that require patience and considerable skill.

This collection brings together seven pieces made from sea glass collected in Skye, Shetland, Tiree, Lewis, and Colonsay. Each item uses glass fragments that spent years being shaped by Scottish seas before being found, cleaned, and carefully crafted into something you can wear or display.

Why This Collection

Sea glass comes in colours that tell you about its origins. Clear and green glass – the most common – comes from bottles that held wine, beer, soft drinks. Brown glass held beer and spirits. Blue is less common, often from old medicine bottles or vintage glassware. The aqua-green shades favoured in this collection might have been perfume bottles, decorative jars, or vintage tableware.

Rare colours like red, orange, or yellow are prized because they’re uncommon – perhaps from old car lights, warning lanterns, or decorative glass from decades past. The makers in this collection work with what the sea provides, which means availability shifts with the tides and seasons. What you see in each piece is what the ocean offered up after years of transformation.

What Makes This Collection Different

The sea glass market includes imported glass sold as “sea glass” that was actually tumbled in factories to fake the frosted appearance. It includes items “inspired by” sea glass that contain no actual sea glass. It includes jewellery where the “found on Scottish beaches” claim is vague at best.

This collection features makers who tell you exactly which island they work on, which specific beaches they collect from, what techniques they use. When Salka Jewellery says the glass came from Lewis beaches, you know it’s true because they’re a family business living in Lewis. When Hazel Rose says she collected the glass in Colonsay, you can verify she lives there and has done since she started beach combing in 2015. The provenance is genuine, and the making happens in island workshops you could visit if you travelled there.

Caring for Sea Glass Items

Sea glass jewellery requires minimal maintenance. The glass itself is inert and durable, though the sterling silver settings benefit from occasional polishing. Avoid harsh chemicals that might damage the silver. Remove jewellery before swimming or bathing. Store pieces in the provided pouches to prevent scratches.

Sun-catchers and framed displays need even less attention. Keep them out of the direct path of hands or pets that might knock them. Clean glass gently with a soft cloth if dust accumulates. The jute cord on sun-catchers may eventually need replacing if exposed to strong sunlight for years, but the glass itself will last indefinitely.

Perfect for

Daily Reminders

The pendent and bracelet are pieces you wear or use every day, carrying a small connection to Scotland’s islands wherever you go. They’re practical items with stories attached.

Gifts for People Who Have Everything

Sea glass jewellery and art works well for people who don’t need more possessions but appreciate things with genuine provenance. Each piece comes with a story about where it was found and how it was made.

Marking Occasions

The bangle or pendants make meaningful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or celebrations. They’re special enough for important moments but wearable enough for regular use.

Bringing Light Into Homes

The sun-catchers and framed displays are about capturing and transforming light. They work in windows, conservatories, or any space where natural light will bring out the colours.

Scottish Connections

For people with Scottish heritage or who’ve visited the islands, these pieces offer tangible connections to specific places – not generic “Scottish” items but objects made from materials found in named islands by makers who live there.