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Ventura, CA--A small jewelry store in Ventura is drawing attention for accepting sea glass as a form of payment, allowing customers to exchange collected pieces for store credit or cash.

[Image via iStock.com/Rachael Griffin]

According to a report by CBS Los Angeles, the shop, Betty Belts, has developed a system in which beachgoers bring in sea glass collected locally and from other regions. The store evaluates the pieces based on quality, color, and authenticity before assigning value.

Owner Donna von Hoesslin-Pu'u said in the report that the practice has been in place for years but recently gained wider attention after a TikTok video posted by an employee received more than 500,000 views. She noted that the increased visibility has brought in more participants to the exchange network.

Collectors can trade sea glass for store credit, opt for a smaller cash payout, or have the material incorporated into custom jewelry. The report noted that certain colors, such as blue and turquoise, are considered more valuable due to their relative rarity.

The store also screens submissions to ensure authenticity, as imitation sea glass has become more common in the market.

One collector described the process to the outlet as a way to turn a personal hobby into something practical, noting that exchanging glass for jewelry adds value to her time spent collecting.

Watch the report by CBS Los Angeles here.