Beach Treasures 2: Grading beach/sea glass

Grading glass

Sea glass is graded according to its smoothness and shape.

Grades range from A, best, to D. Grade A is the hardest to find, D is the most plentiful (after glass which is freshly broken or really hasn’t had long enough and should be tossed back in the water to get some more tumbling!)

Grade A is ‘jewellery grade’. The piece is thoroughly frosted and has thoroughly rounded edges, with no nicks or broken edges, and the size and shape is suitable for jewellery. Even with a large collection of grade A pieces, it is very unlikely than any two will be a perfectly matching pair.

Grade B is quite well frosted and rounded, but with more defined edges and there may be one or more visible defects. It might still be usable for jewellery, if the defect is hidden by the mount or wire-wrap. The shapes may be more lumpy or uneven. Sometimes, that can work in its favour; you may find pieces which are like triangles, arrowheads or hearts.

Grade C is usually thought of as the better ‘craft’ grade. Pieces are quite evenly frosted, may have chips or defects on both sides, distinctly angular edges and one edge may be rough or cracked. Pieces may not be flat. Note that the grooves on the neck of a bottle are considered defects, and the curve of the bottle neck would put a piece in this grade. That said, I think the grooves and slight curve can make a very interesting, usable and wearable piece. You can also make ‘defects’ such as raised letters work in your favour.

Grade D is a lower craft grade, but it is still good for craft projects such as mosaics, pictures, light-catchers and simply filling a vase or jar so that the light shines through it. It may not be as frosted, it has chips, defects, rough, shiny or sharp (broken) edges. This grade includes larger pieces which may also be a strange shape. Pieces with an edge sharp enough to cut should only be used in something like a mosaic, where the sharp edges can be embedded in grout and do no damage.