Not to be confused with tiny pieces of sea glass that we find then drill a hole through, a true sea glass bead is an historic, once-in-a-lifetime find even for serious hunters.

These uber rare discoveries were actually glass beads that decades before had adorned a lampshade, hung from a woman's jewelry, or were even used as currency among coastal tribes and journeying seafarers for supplies trade.

Usually older than bottle glass which began washing ashore after bottle industrialization in the early 1900's, beads are likely hand made, one of a kind and sometimes originated from far off lands.

Though West Coast Sea Glass often sells loose items, we will always hang onto our "museum collection" of sea glass beads.