The Complete Guide to Starting a Shark Tooth Collection

If you grew up combing the shoreline for shark teeth on family vacations or have recently fallen in love with the edgy styles of shark tooth pendants, you’ll know just how special those triangular beach finds can be. The only thing better than owning one or two of these marine treasures is curating an entire collection!

Whether you love the larger-than-life look of the megalodon tooth or prefer to collect an assortment of different tooth types, there’s no one right way to collect shark teeth. With the help of our guide, you can create a well-rounded and personal collection, whether you buy your fossilized specimens from a store or decide to hunt for fresh chompers yourself. 

Why You Should Start a Shark Tooth Collection

Investing time into a hobby you care about helps slow the hustle and bustle of the crazy modern world. Holding a single megalodon tooth and knowing it can be nearly 10 million years old can encourage you to take a second and connect to the past.

Whether you only own tiger shark teeth and megalodon teeth or collect any fragment you can find, a shark tooth collection can be valuable. In fact, some people collect purely as a monetary investment. With the right buyers, your collection could turn a pretty penny!  

Buying vs. Finding Shark Teeth

The age-old question for shark tooth collectors everywhere is: Is it better to buy or find your teeth? Buying from a reputable source can help you hunt down specific shark breeds and teeth to complete your collection while searching for yourself leaves more up to chance. Both have their time and place, and a fully dedicated shark tooth collector does a bit of both! 

At Whaler’s Locker, we can promise that each of our shark teeth is 100% authentic. Every megalodon tooth fossil and tiger shark tooth is one-of-a-kind, so as soon as it’s bought, we’re out of stock until the next one comes in. We also use a grading system to distinguish the price for each piece so you know just how great of a deal you’re getting.  

Fun Fact: Sharks Lose Their Teeth All the Time!

As you’re starting your shark tooth collection, you’ll notice a wide variety of both fossilized finds and freshly fallen teeth. Sharks can have anywhere from 5 to 15 rows of teeth, but because their teeth aren’t connected to their gums like ours are, they lose at least one tooth a week! But don’t worry—as soon as one falls out, another moves up to take its place. 

Step By Step Guide to Collecting Shark Teeth in the Wild

If walking up and down the beach with a keen eye seems more your speed, look for your shark tooth artifacts in the wild! Follow our five easy steps—who knows what you’ll find: 

Step 1: Choose Your Beach

The best beaches for finding the missing piece to your shark tooth collection are fossil-rich—but how do you find them? You could potentially find a megalodon shark tooth at any beach, whether you’re visiting Venice Beach, FL, (sometimes referred to as the shark tooth capital) or tooth-hunting in Hawaii, but a little research could point you in the right direction. Start by finding a beach undergoing restoration, as the dredging process rakes up new sand and sediment from the ocean floor regularly, offering new layers to sort through with each visit. 

When’s the Best Time to Look for Shark Teeth? 

Experts recommend looking for fresh shark teeth or aged fossils at low tide to access the largest searchable landscape possible. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with your favorite beaches, try to make it a habit to always stop by after a big storm when even more treasures have washed up on shore! 

Step 2: Keep an Eye Out for Dark Colors and Small Shapes

As you walk the shoreline and look at sandbanks, look for smaller, triangular shapes among the shells and debris. It’s extremely rare to come across a large, perfectly intact Great White tooth or megalodon tooth—most of the time, you’ll find small fragments or slim, t-shaped teeth that could easily blend in with rocks and sand.   

Fresh shark teeth tend to be whiter, while older or fossilized teeth are darker. When a shark’s tooth falls out, it digs into the ocean floor, preventing decomposition. It then absorbs the surrounding minerals, darkening the surface of the white-yellow tooth to a dark grey or black hue.

Step 3: Clean Off the Shark Tooth

After you find your precious treasures, soak them in fresh water for a couple of hours to wash away any pesky dirt or debris. Then, create a second bath of 1:1 apple cider vinegar and water, leaving your megalodon tooth to sit for about an hour. Finally, wipe the surface with a soft cloth or gentle sponge to remove any lingering stains, rinse, and let it dry. 

Step 4: Identify the Shark Tooth

Did you know that not all shark teeth look alike? Each breed has distinguishing features that can help guide you in the right direction as you try to identify shark teeth:

• Megalodon tooth: while the shark has been extinct for thousands of years, these large megalodon teeth are easily identifiable as they range from 3.5-7 inches long and have a thin black line separating the blade and the root. 
• Bull shark tooth: these teeth have a narrow apex and are slightly shorter with small, tapering serrations along the sides. 
• Sand tiger tooth: these teeth are easily distinguished by their high cusps, extra narrow size, and smooth edges. 
• Great white tooth: these teeth are known for being broad and flat triangles with coarse serrations along the entire blade. 
• Hammerhead tooth: unlike the others, these teeth have a uniquely square root, with consistent serrations from the top to the bottom. 

Step 5: Display Your Shark Tooth

Whether you have one or thousands, displaying your shark tooth collection is part of the fun! There are many ways to show off your finds, so it’s all about choosing one that best suits you and your home.  

Popular Methods for Displaying Shark Teeth:

• Turn each one into one-of-a-kind shark teeth jewelry.
• Fill a shadow box with each megalodon tooth and hang it on a gallery wall.
• Invest in a professionally lit glass display cabinet to fully exhibit your finds.

With a little help from the experts, you can finally begin your shark tooth collection. Browse the ever-changing options in our store to find fossilized shark teeth and stylish megalodon tooth accessories, or head to the beaches to find these prehistoric fossils and freshly fallen teeth for yourself—the choice is yours!