So your anniversary is right around the corner and you’re scrambling around trying to find the perfect gift. You’ve looked at the lists of anniversary gifts and for some reason, paper, iron or pottery just don’t make the cut for a romantic, lasting gift of love. One gift that is always appreciated is jewelry and there is a whole list of gemstones associated with each anniversary. Similar to birthstones that align with the month of your birth, anniversary gemstones align with the number of years you’re married, or have been together. Another option for anniversary gifting that you can never go wrong with is jewelry, especially when it’s personalized with a gemstone that corresponds to your anniversary year.
The First Five Years
Year One: The traditional gift is paper. Although not a gemstone, gold is associated with the first anniversary because it represents prosperity and the value of a new shared life.
Year Two: Cotton is the traditional gift and the gemstone is garnet. Garnet symbolizes passion, love and devotion, three feelings that may become deeper over the years. When we think of garnet, we always think of red, which is the most abundant and affordable color, but there are also orange varieties, and green garnets as well.
Year Three: Leather is the original gift assigned to year three anniversaries and the gemstone is pearl, for purity, wisdom and honesty, three characteristics that make a marriage stronger over time. Pearl is also the gem for the 30th wedding anniversary.
Year Four: This is the year of flower or fruit gifts. Blue topaz is associated with the fourth anniversary. It is linked to good communication, which leads to a better understanding between partners creating a more harmonious marriage. You can go for a piece of jewelry with blue topaz, or choose vintage jewelry with a floral or fruit theme.
Year Five: Wood is the suggested gift for the fifth anniversary. The gem sapphire, one of the most popular stones, marks both the fifth and 45th anniversaries. Sapphires are said to bring loyalty, wisdom and faithfulness to a marriage, all of which help to deepen trust. You’ll also find jewelry made from wood often embellished with precious metals or gemstones, if your partner likes something a little bit edgy.
Anniversary Gifts for Six through Ten Years
Year Six: The conventional sixth anniversary gift is iron and the gemstone is the very lovely amethyst. It comes in a range of purple hues from lavender to violet and represents stability and tranquility, two features everyone wants in a marriage.
Year Seven: Copper is the original sixth anniversary gift and inky black onyx is the gemstone. Onyx is often found in vintage jewelry from the Art Deco period. The gem is associated with protection, strength and resilience, all of which are considered attributes to help build a strong marriage.
Year Eight: Typically, bronze is the gift for the eighth anniversary and you can sometimes find jewelry made from that metal. The gem is tourmaline, a stone that comes in a range of colors. One of the most renowned tourmalines is the Paraiba Tourmaline, which is a particular shade of bluish green that comes from the Paraiba mines in Brazil.
Year Nine: Pottery is the traditional gift to mark nine years. The gem is lapis lazuli, a richly colored blue opaque stone frequently found with gold flecks or veining created by pyrite as the stone is forming. Lapis is linked to truth, wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. It is said to promote wisdom between couples due to shared life experiences.
Year Ten: Tin is the anniversary gift for the tenth anniversary, but its gemstone is the sparkling diamond, which is symbolic of lasting love and commitment. A diamond anniversary band that can be stacked with other rings or worn on its own is sure to be a welcome gift. It is also the gem for the 60th wedding anniversary, if you’re lucky enough to be married for that long.
The Big Anniversaries
Year 15: Glass is known as the fifteenth anniversary gift and the gem is ruby, a stone that is about passion, protection and high energy. During the Middle Ages in Europe, people believed that wearing ruby guaranteed a life of good health, prosperity, wisdom and success in love. Ruby is also the gem for the 40th anniversary.
Year 20: China is the traditional gift, while emerald is the gemstone connected to the twentieth anniversary. With their lush green color, emeralds are indicative of growth, renewal and deep, lasting love. It is also the gemstone for the 35th wedding anniversary.
Year 25: Silver is associated with the 25th anniversary. It is a metal that is associated with “the best”, such as a sterling reputation. Silver develops a patina over time that enhances its beauty, the same way the beauty of a long lasting marriage is enhanced through the years by love that grows deeper over time.
You may want to start your own anniversary ritual and build a very special jewelry collection by gifting a gemstone jewel for each anniversary. Whether it’s a ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings or brooch, each piece will hold a special meaning in the hearts of both the one giving the gift and the recipient, all while creating a jewelry collection built on love.
Top: Kadarius Seegers, courtesy Unsplash.
Cultured pearl, diamond and 18-karat gold ring, circa 1980s; Sapphire, diamond and 18-karat white gold floral earrings; Green tourmaline, diamond and 18-karat gold cocktail ring, by Cindy Royce, circa 1980s; Emerald cut diamond and platinum eternity band; Burma ruby, diamond, 18-karat gold and platinum necklace, signed Tiffany & Co.
Authored by Amber Michelle