On the southwesternmost coast of England, there exists a place which often transforms visitors’ view of our perpetually rainy and grey island nation.
Whether you’re a British citizen who has lived further north for an entire lifetime, or a tourist who has travelled down from the capital during the summertime, Cornwall exists despite our perennially cold country – instead thriving in its own Riviera-esque microclimate during the warmer seasons.
The Celtic nation has the Gulf Stream to thank for warm ocean current flows from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic – bringing with it warmer water and air which keeps general temperatures far milder than the rest of the UK. For those who have never made it down to the southwest and are relatably reading this article from the depths of a freezing studio flat in London, we know how difficult this can be to imagine.
A surfer’s paradise, the sandy beaches of Cornwall’s coast certainly do not look as though they belong in the United Kingdom. It makes sense, then, that life in Cornwall is vastly different to the remainder of the country, especially when the mornings become even brighter, days are longer and seasonal depression dissipates.
Many British families reside in the UK over the summer, flocking down south to enjoy beautiful cliffside walks, salty sea air and a piping hot Cornish pasty. Yet a lesser admired tradition to come out of the Cornish Riviera is that of jewellery.
With a history of tin mining stretching as far back as 2,500 years, Cornish residents remain fascinated by the natural materials available across the county to tinker with – despite the last tin mine closing in 1998. According to Cornish design house Inspire Makers, “This close connection to metals has nurtured an interest in the county in the jewellery that can be made from it. From mined metal to precious jewellery, we appreciate the provenance of the elements and the skill in creating something beautiful from them.”
One particular jewellery trend to come from Cornwall, which has recently received a new wave of popularity thanks to Gen Z, is pieces featuring delicate pops of colour in the form of sea glass. The beachcomber’s collectable is nothing more than a piece of perfectly eroded glass which has washed up from the depths of the ocean, so why are consumers so fascinated by the seemingly non-precious, yet highly sustainable, material?
Just like perfectly preserved seashells and fossilised starfish, those with an affinity for the ocean feel connected to its rhythmic lifeforce in keeping one of its creations close by. With #seaglasstok garnering a whopping 80.9 views on TikTok, a community of enthusiasts spanning the globe have connected via social media to share their ocean treasures.
From silver-clad designs referencing the county’s Celtic history to accessories designed for real-life mermaids, the creations that have come from the Cornish sea glass revival are breathtaking. We’ve curated a selection of some beautiful pieces from Cornwall-based designers below.
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Sea glass Pendant (Striped – St Mawes)
This unusually striped piece of sea glass was found in St Mawes before being set into a beautiful sterling silver bezel. Porth jewellery has a wonderful tradition of including a care card with every purchase, which features a small map of where exactly your piece of sea glass was beachcombed.
Buy now £75.00, Inspire Makers
Aqua Sea glass & Sterling Silver Charm bracelet
Featuring a contemporary, stylish chain design with a T-bar toggle, we love how the aquamarine sea glass complements this bracelet’s design without overwhelming it. A beautiful standalone piece, this bracelet would also look fantastic stacked with other designs.
Buy now £90.00, The British Craft House
Nalu Beads
Nalu produces a range of surf-proof gold and silver bracelets that can be paired with a vast selection of hand-crafted glass beads. While these beads aren’t technically sea glass, and the founder is from Devon, each design is inspired by areas surrounding the British coastline.
Buy now £40.00, Nalu
Aqua Sea Glass Necklace
Featuring a delicate branch of sterling silver which reaches out to clasp a rare piece of aqua sea glass, this gorgeous necklace has been handmade in the UK.
Buy now £24.00, Etsy
Personalised sea glass necklace
Available in white, seafoam green and aqua hues, this lovely pendant necklace can be customised to feature a name, meaningful word or short phrase at the side of the sterling silver bezel.
Buy now £52.00, Etsy
Cobalt Blue Sea Glass Pendant
Realised in a dazzling cobalt blue, what’s unique about this option is that a small heart shape has been sawn into the reverse of the disc-shaped bezel. As such, when the sea glass catches the light, a faint heart shape can be discerned behind it.
Buy now £62.99, Etsy
Sterling Silver Cornish Kadon Ring
Though this option doesn’t feature sea glass, lovers of Cornwall will be unable to resist its charm. ‘Kadon’ is Cornish for mountain range, which has been hinted at in the triangular engravements on this gorgeous, rectangular statement ring.
Buy now £29.00, NOTHS
Gold Sea Glass Hoops
For some reason, traditional sea glass jewellery is set with sterling silver. This makes finding gold, and gold-plated options increasingly difficult. Kate Jane’s Etsy storefront specialises in sea glass jewellery and thankfully has plenty of gold options for our golden girls – including these emerald-coloured, made-to-order sea glass hoops.
Buy now £19.50, Etsy
Cornish sea glass necklace, wire wrapped olive green pendant
The first silver bezel sea glass pendant we've come across which features an additional piece of complimentary sea glass fitted behind, this wonderfully rare piece would make a superior gift for any ocean lover.
Buy now £12.00, Etsy
Tiny Rare Orange Sea Glass Pendant Necklace Backless Bezel
We know, it’s shocking that this ultra-rare piece of orange sea glass isn’t actually a precious topaz or yellow diamond. We’re big fans of the fact that this pendant features a backless bezel, so that whichever way it twists and turns, you’ll always be able to view the sunset-orange sea glass.
Buy now £80.00, Etsy
