From the sugar-white sands of the Emerald Coast to the shell-rich beaches of Southwest Florida, Florida is one of the best places in the United States to discover beautiful seashells. Whether you're an experienced shell collector or simply enjoying a sunrise walk along the shoreline, every shell tells a story of the ocean.
At Britt's Beach, beachcombing isn't just a hobby—it's the inspiration behind every handcrafted piece of jewelry I create. I travel beaches across Florida and beyond searching for unique seashells that eventually become one-of-a-kind necklaces, rings, bracelets, and keepsakes. Every piece is handcrafted and soldered in my home studio on Florida's Gulf Coast using shells I've personally collected or carefully selected. I don't outsource my jewelry overseas—the ocean is my inspiration, and I'm the artist behind every piece.
If you're ready to identify your latest beach find, here's a guide to 25 of Florida's most fascinating seashells.
The Florida Fighting Conch is one of the most recognizable shells found along Florida's Gulf Coast. Juveniles display incredible patterns and colors before gradually becoming smooth white adults.
Where to find it:
Perhaps Florida's most legendary shell, the Junonia is famous for its cream-colored shell covered in chocolate-brown spots. Finding one washed ashore is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many shellers.
Best chance after:
One of Florida's most elegant shells, the Lettered Olive resembles beautiful handwritten script across its glossy surface.
Found throughout both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, they're especially common after rough surf.
The Common Nutmeg gets its name from its textured surface resembling an actual nutmeg seed.
They're often partially buried in sand near deeper water.
Large, heavy, and incredibly beautiful, the Queen Helmet is one of the crown jewels of shell collecting.
Although uncommon on beaches, divers occasionally discover spectacular specimens offshore.
This unusual shell twists and bends as it grows, making every specimen unique.
Its sculptured appearance makes it one of my favorite conversation pieces.
Although technically not a shell but the skeleton of a sea urchin, sand dollars remain one of the most beloved beach discoveries.
Always leave living purple sand dollars in the ocean.
Florida's state shell is famous because it spirals left instead of right.
Large specimens can exceed a foot in length.
The Horse Conch is Florida's largest gastropod and another state symbol.
Bright orange animals often extend dramatically from their shells.
Named for its tulip-like shape and colorful markings, this shell is especially popular with collectors.
Smaller than the True Tulip but equally beautiful, featuring striking spiral bands.
Florida's state shell before the Horse Conch, the Scotch Bonnet remains highly prized among collectors.
Its intricate markings resemble tiny letters and symbols.
Remember that all cone snails are venomous when alive—never handle a live cone with bare hands.
One of the world's most beautifully patterned shells.
Its geometric design almost appears hand-painted.
These tiny spiral shells often wash ashore by the hundreds after storms.
Perfect for miniature shell collections.
One of Florida's most colorful shells, appearing in nearly every shade imaginable.
Children love collecting these vibrant little gems.
Thin, translucent, and almost golden, Jingle Shells shimmer beautifully in the sunlight.
Bright oranges, pinks, yellows, and purples make these among Florida's most colorful shells.
A rare and spectacular scallop recognized by its bold ridges and vibrant orange coloration.
Large heart-shaped shells commonly found after storms.
A graceful spiral shell commonly found along Florida beaches.
Recognized by its smooth, perfectly rounded shell.
These snails prey on clams by drilling neat circular holes.
Tiny but spectacular.
Their perfectly sculpted white spiral makes them highly sought after by miniature shell collectors.
Cowries have glossy, porcelain-like surfaces and were once used as currency around the world.
Although becoming more common in parts of Florida, they remain exciting finds.
While not native to Florida, this breathtaking shell is one of my favorite international finds.
Traveling to beaches around the world reminds me that every coastline has its own unique treasures waiting to be discovered.
If you want to come home with a bucket full of shells, timing matters.
The best shelling conditions are:
Some of my favorite shelling beaches include Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Marco Island, and Cayo Costa, but I've also found incredible shells while traveling to places like Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and other tropical coastlines around the world.
One of the most important parts of beachcombing is protecting the beaches we love.
Before taking a shell home:
Every shell plays an important role in the coastal ecosystem.
One of the greatest joys of beachcombing is that no two days are ever the same. Every tide brings new treasures, and every shell has traveled an incredible journey before reaching the shoreline.
At Britt's Beach, those journeys continue. Many of the shells that inspire my jewelry begin as discoveries on beaches just like these. Every necklace, bracelet, and ring is handcrafted by me in my Florida Gulf Coast home studio using genuine seashells and fine metals. I don't outsource production or have my jewelry made overseas—each piece is created by hand with the same passion that first inspired me to start beachcombing.
Whether you're searching for your first Florida Fighting Conch, hoping to find a rare Junonia, or simply enjoying a peaceful morning by the ocean, remember that every shell has a story—and every beach has something new waiting to be discovered.
Following along our Britt's Beach Shell Encyclopedia series where we spotlight shells from around the world! Britt's Beach Shell Encyclopedia
Shop handcrafted shell jewelry: Collections - Britt's Beach
By Brittany, Founder and Artist of Britt’s Beach
There is something magical about watching the sun rise over clear Caribbean water while tiny footprints begin appearing in the sand beside your own.
For me, some of my favorite memories are not only about finding beautiful seashells. They are about who I am sharing those moments with.
As the founder and artist behind Britt’s Beach, I spend countless hours beachcombing coastlines in search of seashells, sea glass, colors, textures, and inspiration. While many people first discover me through my jewelry, I want Britt’s Beach to feel personal. I want you to know the family, the adventures, and the hands behind every piece.
So, I would love to introduce you to my two favorite little beachcombers: my children, Isla and Koa.
Together, we have explored some incredible beaches, but one destination that has completely stolen our hearts is Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
Located just off the coast of Cancún, Isla Mujeres feels like stepping into another world. The water glows in shades of turquoise, sapphire, and seafoam, while soft white sand stretches along the shoreline.
For our family, mornings often begin before most people are awake.
Coffee for mom and dad.
Excitement for Isla and Koa.
Buckets in hand.
And all four of us scanning the shoreline to see what treasures the tide may have left behind overnight.
Those quiet mornings have become some of our favorite family traditions. There is something peaceful about walking beside the water together, listening to the waves and searching for the smallest signs of ocean life.
One of the greatest gifts the ocean has given me is the opportunity to teach my children to slow down and appreciate nature.
Instead of rushing past the tiny things, we stop.
We look closely.
We admire the colors.
We wonder what sea creature may have once called a shell home.
Sometimes the smallest shell becomes the biggest treasure.
Watching Isla carefully notice tiny shells that most people would walk right past reminds me why I fell in love with beachcombing in the first place.
Koa is always ready for the next exciting discovery, whether it is a colorful shell, a piece of coral, a sea creature in the shallows, or tropical fish swimming nearby.
Those moments are far more valuable than anything we could ever buy.
People often ask where I find inspiration for my handmade beach jewelry.
The answer is simple.
It comes from these family adventures.
It comes from warm sand beneath our feet, waves rolling onto the beach, sunlight reflecting across the water, and the excitement of discovering something beautiful that the ocean created.
Every beach has its own personality. Every shoreline offers a different color palette, texture, and feeling.
Many of the natural colors found throughout Britt’s Beach—from soft seafoam greens and shimmering whites to brilliant turquoise blues and iridescent shell tones—are inspired by places like Isla Mujeres.
The ocean begins the story.
I carry that story home and continue it in my studio.
One of the most important things to know about Britt’s Beach is that every piece is personally handcrafted and soldered by me, Brittany, in my home studio on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Britt’s Beach jewelry is not sent overseas to be produced.
It is not sourced from factories in other countries.
It is not made by anonymous artists and then sold under my name.
At Britt’s Beach, I am the artist—and so is the ocean.
I personally select the shells, sea glass, opals, sterling silver, and other materials used in my designs. I shape, solder, polish, finish, and inspect every piece myself.
When you purchase from Britt’s Beach, you are supporting an independent Gulf Coast artist, a mother, a beachcomber, and a truly small American business.
You are purchasing something that has passed directly through my hands—from the first spark of inspiration to the final polish.
That is what Stay Local means to me.
It means supporting real artists.
It means knowing who made your jewelry.
It means choosing craftsmanship over mass production.
It means your piece was created with intention in a home studio near the same Gulf Coast waters that inspire so much of my work.
Isla Mujeres is full of beautiful marine treasures for anyone willing to slow down and look carefully.
Some of the small treasures we enjoy spotting along the shoreline include:
One thing I love about beachcombing is that every tide is different.
Some mornings the shoreline seems almost empty.
The next day, it can look as though the ocean decorated the beach overnight.
That unpredictability is part of the magic. You never know what the sea may reveal.
One lesson I always try to teach Isla and Koa is that beachcombing comes with responsibility.
Not every shell is ours to take.
If a shell is occupied by a living animal, we gently leave it where we found it. A beautiful shell is still someone’s home.
We also make an effort to pick up litter whenever we see it because caring for beaches helps protect the marine life we love.
When visiting Mexico, it is especially important to respect local conservation rules and travel regulations. Shells, coral, sand, and other natural items may be protected or restricted from being removed or transported. For our family, the most meaningful treasures are often the photographs we take, the memories we make, and the inspiration I bring home to my studio.
The ocean has given our family countless memories.
Taking care of it is our way of saying thank you.
My creative process begins long before I light my torch or begin soldering.
It begins while walking beside the water with Isla and Koa.
It begins while snorkeling, studying natural colors, admiring the shape of a wave, or noticing the iridescence inside a shell.
Later, back home on the Gulf Coast of Florida, those memories begin to take shape at my workbench.
A curve in sterling silver may remind me of a wave.
An opal may capture the glow of Caribbean water.
A shell may become the centerpiece of a one-of-a-kind ring, bracelet, or necklace.
Every piece of Britt’s Beach is made slowly and intentionally. Because I create each design myself, no two handmade pieces are ever exactly alike.
That individuality is something I treasure.
In a world filled with mass-produced products, knowing who made something matters.
Britt’s Beach is not simply a name placed on jewelry created somewhere else.
Britt’s Beach is me—sitting at my workbench, soldering sterling silver, polishing shells, setting stones, testing clasps, finishing edges, and making sure each piece is ready to become part of someone else’s story.
It is Isla and Koa beside me on beach walks.
It is our family discovering new shorelines together.
It is the Gulf Coast, the Caribbean, and every ocean color that inspires me.
It is handmade beach jewelry with a real person, a real family, and a real story behind it.
When someone wears a piece from Britt’s Beach, I hope it reminds them of their own favorite beach vacation, childhood shell hunt, family adventure, or peaceful morning beside the ocean.
Jewelry can be beautiful.
But memories are what make it meaningful.
My goal is to create pieces that feel like more than accessories. I want them to feel like tiny pieces of the shoreline—handcrafted into something you can carry with you wherever life takes you.
Thank you for supporting Britt’s Beach and allowing me to share a little piece of our family’s adventures with you.
Every order supports my work as an independent artist and helps me continue creating from my home studio here on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Britt’s Beach has always been about more than handmade beach jewelry.
It is about slowing down.
Exploring the shoreline.
Supporting local artists.
Finding beauty in nature.
Making memories with the people you love.
And remembering that every shell truly has a story.
I cannot wait to share more beachcombing adventures with you—from the Emerald Coast of Florida to beautiful beaches around the world.
At Britt’s Beach, Brittany is the artist—and so is the ocean.
See you on the next shoreline.
— Brittany, Wyatt, Isla & Koa
When visiting Isla Mujeres, try exploring the shoreline shortly after sunrise or after changing weather, when fresh tide lines may appear. Always leave occupied shells where you find them, follow local conservation guidelines, and check current customs and travel regulations before attempting to bring any natural beach items home.
Every adventure begins with the water.
Some of the most unforgettable memories aren't made in a jewelry studio—they're created on the water, surrounded by still reflections, golden light, and the quiet rhythm of nature.
One of those moments was captured with a GoPro camera while paddleboarding on a YOLO Board, where the Britt's Beach Opal Wave Ring was worn during an unforgettable sunrise adventure. It's a reminder that the best jewelry isn't just beautiful—it's made to become part of life's greatest experiences.
At Britt's Beach, every piece of jewelry is inspired by the sea.
The Opal Wave Ring was designed to reflect the graceful curves of rolling ocean waves and the mesmerizing colors found beneath the surface of crystal-clear water. Handcrafted in sterling silver and featuring a brilliant Australian opal, the ring captures flashes of turquoise, deep blue, emerald green, and violet—colors that constantly shift just like the ocean itself.
Whether you're paddleboarding at sunrise, searching for seashells along the shoreline, snorkeling over reefs, or simply watching the tide roll in, the Opal Wave Ring is designed to go wherever your adventures take you.
The paddleboarding adventure was filmed using a GoPro camera, perfectly capturing the peaceful experience of gliding across calm water as the morning sun reflected across the surface.
Wearing the Britt's Beach Opal Wave Ring during that adventure felt fitting. The ring was inspired by the ocean, and there's no better place for it than surrounded by the very waters that influenced its design.
For me, jewelry isn't meant to stay tucked away in a jewelry box.
It's meant to travel.
It's meant to collect stories.
And it's meant to remind you of the places that make you feel most alive.
A YOLO Board represents more than paddleboarding—it represents slowing down, exploring new places, and appreciating the beauty around you.
Whether you're paddling through a quiet coastal bay, a hidden spring, or the emerald waters of the Gulf Coast, every trip offers a new perspective.
That adventurous spirit perfectly reflects what Britt's Beach is all about.
For years, I've traveled to beaches around the world searching for beautiful seashells and ocean treasures that inspire my jewelry collections. Every handcrafted piece carries a little bit of those experiences with it.
The flowing wave design symbolizes everything the ocean teaches us:
Combined with the vibrant fire of Australian opal, the design reflects the ever-changing beauty of the sea.
Just like every wave is unique, every handcrafted Britt's Beach ring is one of a kind.
The Britt's Beach Opal Wave Ring is handcrafted in sterling silver with care and attention to detail, making each ring as unique as the adventures it accompanies.
It's created for those who feel at home:
No matter where the water takes you, carry a little piece of the ocean with you.
Because the best adventures aren't measured by miles traveled—they're measured by the memories you bring home.
And sometimes, those memories are captured one paddle stroke at a time.
The Britt's Beach Opal Wave Ring is inspired by the movement, beauty, and freedom of the ocean. Whether you're exploring the Gulf Coast, traveling to tropical beaches, or spending the day on your favorite paddleboard, it's designed to become part of your journey.
From sunlit shores to ocean floors, discover timeless beach jewelry for bummin' in the sun.
