Collecting seashells is something most kids (and many adults) do. It’s a fun and seemingly harmless activity.
But some of the shells still have living creatures, and the shells themselves help keep beaches healthy and reduce erosion.
But we love picking up beach stones too, and you can often flip those for good money!
So let’s check out the most valuable beach stones.
Most Valuable Beach Stones Worth Money
1. Personalized Engagement Gift – Genuine Heart Shaped Beach Stones
As you hunt down the most valuable beach stones, don’t rely on your eye. Why not? Well, the prettiest isn’t always the priciest. For example, red jasper, green serpentine, and petrified wood stone will aggressively grab your attention. But you’ll rarely get $15 per carat for one.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: 1.5”
- Beach: Mediterranean, Israel
- Value: $59
That said, you can raise the value of beach stones by crafting them into jewelry, stone mats, or trinkets. This doesn’t have to be complex. Rocks that are naturally heart-shaped could be worked into a pendant or a souvenir for Valentines, proposals, weddings, or anniversaries.
2. Natural Holey Beach Rock, Hag Stone, Mystic, Magic, Fairy Wish
Beach stones (and river stones) are often smooth and round. The wind, waves, and currents toss these rocks about, and in the process, they sand down any jagged bits or sharp edges. But you can do this artificially using a rock tumbler. It softens sharp corners and adds glossiness.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: 3.5”
- Beach: Pacific Shore
- Value: $20
Finding hag stones can be a bit tricky and you really need to keep your eyes open. As the folks at Rock Chasing describe in their tips on how to find gems, a little focus, and patience can really go a long way. You are going to see a lot of rocks on the beach and only a few are going to be worth keeping but you will have to look at a lot of them. Often you won’t even be able to see the holes in the rock until you turn it over or clean off the sand and dirt.
But some beach stones are thought to have magical healing powers. People use them as amulets and protective charms. Hag stones fall under this category, and they have historical relevance. They’re mentioned in mythology and sometimes collected by modern-day mystics.
3. Huge 10 Flat Rocks, 6” to 7” Cairn stones, PNW, Wedding Stone
Curiously, not all beach stones were originally rocks. Some of these treasures started out as wood, tree sap (e.g. amber), or animal by-products (e.g. whale vomit aka ambergris). These items got petrified over time as they were hardened and/or coated with sediments and salt.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: 6 to 7”
- Beach: Mixed
- Value: $59.50
And depending on where you found the rocks, they might be curvy or streamlined. Flat rocks are common on river banks because inland currents are more compressed so they result in thinner stones. You can get a better price by selling a selection of larger flat rocks as a batch.
4. Silver Plated Beach Stone Pendant Necklace
The most valuable beach stones have high gemstone content. Some are even precious or semi-precious jewels. But other beach stones might be rounded bits of mollusk shells, bone, or even concrete. You’ll find lots of colored glass as well – you might confuse them for jewels.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: UK
- Value: $34.31
If you’re a skilled jeweler or a DIY designer, you could tumble those beach stones in a machine and convert them into premium-looking jewelry like this necklace here. Separately, the beach gems aren’t worth much but couched in silver, they’re marketable.
5. Flat Beach Stones from Spain
Where do beach stones come from? Well, if they’re precious or semi-precious stones like amethyst, they might come from underground rock caves. They get eroded and washed into the water, where nature tumbles them. This makes them rounder, smoother, and pricier.
- Colour: Brown
- Size: 1”
- Beach: Valencia, Spain
- Value: $63
They might also come from jewelry that people lost while swimming in the sea. Or from sunken ships over the centuries. Natural beach gemstones might be eroded from the ocean floor during tsunamis or hurricanes. And yes, you can buy a string of stones, just like pearls.
6. Beach Stone Beads Center Drilled White Light Grey Cream Surf Tumbled
As we said before, you might be buying your beach stones for crafting purposes. You could order them on a string like this, then unlink the individual beach pebbles and rework them into an item of your choice. You can even up-cycle these little stones into something pricier.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: 9mm (0.35”)
- Beach: Greece
- Value: $59
This bracelet has 43 beach pebble beads, so you can wear it as is or separate the stones to suit a different purpose. The stones are even in size and color so they may seem artificial, but they’re authenticated as natural stone beads. They were tumbled by waves of the Aegean Sea.
7. Big Hag Stone Tubes, Natural Holed Beach Stones, Protection Witches
A lot of us are drawn to the traditional beliefs of indigenous communities. So if you consider yourself spiritual (as opposed to religious), you may be drawn to Wicca, ayahuasca, peyote, out-of-body experiences, or even ocean-themed meditation. So hag rocks are up your alley.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: 1.5” to 3”
- Beach: Israel
- Value: $35.90
A selection like this one could have ethereal significance for you. The natural holes are the result of erosion and wave action, but also make them easier to string together. You could hang (or wear) these beach stones for protection or amplification during a healing ritual.
8. Natural Wood River Pebbles, Organic Smooth Wooden River Stones
Wood floats on water, but over time, blocks of wood can get petrified by currents. Petrified literally means turned to stone, though we more often use the metaphorical definition, meaning you’re scared to death. Origin? You got so terrified your body turned into solid rock.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Unknown
- Value: $69
River wood rocks and ocean wood rocks are hard, smooth, and solid, but you can still see the patterns left by the tree rings and wood grain. This collection of river wood pebbles comes in mixed shapes and sizes so you can sell them as a group. They have rich browns and yellows.
9. Natural Beach Stones, Holed Tube Protection Rock, Unique Sand Stone
Unless they’re verified gemstones or semi-precious materials like jasper or agate, you won’t make much money from raw beach rocks. If they’re healing stones or ritual stones, the cost shoots up a bit. But if they have unusual shapes, they might be valuable as a decorative piece.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Israel
- Value: $35.90
The stones in this batch are mixed in shape and size. One of them is a hag stone, sometimes called fairy, crick, holey, holed, or Odin stones. They’re popular as witches’ amulets for spiritual protection. The other stones in the set are small balls. One has a cute S-curve to it.
10. Gift For Couple, Bridal Shower, Engagement gift, Romantic Gift
Heart-shaped beach stones make great gifts. They can be particularly romantic if you found the stone yourself, or if you personally put it together. It’s a simple idea. Find a natural heart – extra points of it’s a holey heart. Find a vintage key to go with the heart. Add a cute quote.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: 1”
- Beach: Israel
- Value: $55
If that seems like a lot of work, you could buy this ready-made gift. It executes the concept and mounts the stone (and its key) on a marble slab. You can use concrete – it’s cheaper, but faux marble or marble-print tile feels more elegant. Now you can claim the key to their heart.
11. Beach Diving Treasure Rocks Tsawwassen BC WEST COAST Beach Dive
You may have heard them described as firestones. Or pudding stones. These beach stones are a mix of shiny, semi-precious metals naturally glued together by quartz. The process takes decades, maybe even centuries, and the glimmering bits can sparkle in certain light.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Tsawwassen BC, Canada
- Value: $30
These rocks can have a speckled appearance due to the crystals locked inside them. And the outer surface might be jagged or smooth. They range in color from milky white to cream to pink. This collection combines quartz beach stones with others from the shale or slate family.
12. Drilled Pebbles from the Latvian Baltic Sea Coast, Craft Supplies
Earlier, we looked at a string of 9mm pebble beads. You can buy these DIY bracelets in different sizes, so you can find one made with 12mm stones. Or you could ask for a specific color. But if you prefer asymmetric rocks, the collection here is more pleasing.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Baltic Sea
- Value: $58.74
They’re not natural fairy rocks – the holes are mechanically drilled. But that means the holes are smaller so this set is more versatile as the raw material for your craft studio. The set combines shapes, colors, and sizes, but they’re all flat pebbles that are easier to work with.
13. Natural Holey Beach Rock Hag Stone Pen Holder Wiccan Healing Amulet
Odin stones are valued for their mystic abilities. But even contemporary witches and mystics have to live within this mundane plane. Which means they sometimes require practical tools like paper clips, files, and pen holders. Luckily, this fairy stone relic offers both in under 3”!
- Colour: Grey
- Size: 3”
- Beach: Monterey, California
- Value: $20
The stone has multiple holes, possibly from the steam in underground geysers. Or from the rush of water in a sub-current. Either way, the holes are perfectly placed to secure your stationery. And since it has so many, the protective properties of the stone are heightened.
14. Shore Stone Mat, Grounding, Foot Massage, Pebble Carpet
Beach rocks can be therapeutic, both visually and texturally. Think of a hot stone treatment – except it’s cold, and it’s on your feet. If you have a bunch of beach stones piling up, consider gathering them and making a massage mat at home. Or you could click and order this one.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Mixed
- Value: $72
Whether you’re buying or building your beach stone mat, flat rocks are ideal. It’s easier to pick those that have matching depths and a glossy finish. Some beach rocks can be rubbed with olive oil or sunblock to make them shinier, but be sure it won’t damage the stone itself.
15. Giant “Indian Healing Stone” or “DeeDeeite” Rhyolite Sphere
It’s possible to get lucky and find a truly valuable gemstone along the beach. Some of the priciest ones include chlorastrolite and rhyolite. While it may be tough to authenticate, this beach ball is said to be an example of a genuine rhyolite healing stone found on the beach.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: 5.49” Diameter
- Beach: Avila, California
- Value: $395
If you read the descriptive notes, this healing stone has a rich backstory. It’s even nicknamed DeeDeeIte, for the lady that found it. It wasn’t spherical when they found it – they had to work it into its current shape. But it’s a fluorescent beach stone with traces of chalcedony.
16. Beach Stone Cairn Necklace
Unless you’re an expert, it can be hard to differentiate naturally tumbled gemstones from sea glass. Sea glass might come from shipwrecks, sunken rings and bracelets, or even from dumpsites. When a hurricane or tsunami comes through, it leaves a lot of glass and porcelain too.
- Colour: Mixed
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Unknown
- Value: $60
But sea glass isn’t just colored silica. To qualify, the glass has to have stayed in the haves long enough to have its jagged edges worn down. You’ll often find clear or amber sea glass, but blue, red, or purple are rare. Green falls somewhere between – not as common or as rare.
17. Sand Concretion Rock Beach Nature’s Sculpture Fairy Stone Lot of 3
You might find an intricate piece of coral and mistake it for a beach stone. But sometimes, nature’s tumbling action can create rock sculptures that rival the most hyperactive polyps. This set of three is a good example, with all its nubs, curves, grooves, and protruding parts.
- Colour: Grey
- Size: Mixed
- Beach: Vermont
- Value: $35
You can sometimes find a piece like that that has natural holes too. That can add to its use as a healing stone or amulet. But otherwise, these amorphous beach rocks are good for décor and have high aesthetic appeal. The flat side makes a good base for mounting or pedestals.
Do you have any tips on spotting the most valuable beach stones? Tell us in the comments!
valuable pebbles