Every year of marriage warrants a celebration. Whether it’s your first, fifth, twentieth, or longer, a special wedding anniversary gift is one of the best ways to recognize the occasion.
With roots in Ancient Rome and medieval Germany, tradition calls for a unique theme for each anniversary — often a specific gemstone or metal with a deeper meaning. You may notice, however, that some themes repeat. For instance, diamonds are gifted for both the 10th and 30th anniversaries. Think of these as opportunities to upgrade or add another coordinating piece of jewelry to your partner’s collection.
Below, we cover all the gemstones and metals used to celebrate each passing year of marriage, including options from Kwiat as well as the renowned source for antique jewelry, Fred Leighton. In addition to carrying its own signature collection of antique-inspired designs, Fred Leighton curates vintage jewelry from the world’s most iconic eras.
1st Anniversary: Gold
Shining and resplendent, it seems only right to commemorate a couple’s first year together with gold. The metal represents the preciousness of marriage and because of its association with wealth and fortune, acts as an auspicious symbol for the years to come.
Compared to other milestone anniversary gifts, gold is very versatile since many options exist: yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Consider choosing from the wide selection of Kwiat gold pendants for this important first anniversary.
2nd Anniversary: Garnet
Garnets carry a lot of meaning as the official gemstone for your second wedding anniversary. According to Greek mythology, Hades swept away Zeus’s daughter Persephone to the underworld. To win her over, he presented Persephone with a pomegranate — the delicious seeds of which enticed her to spend three months in the underworld every year.
Because they resemble pomegranate seeds, garnets are said to represent attraction and determination. As a nod to Hades and Persephone’s romance, what better way to celebrate your two-year wedding anniversary than with garnet jewelry?
3rd Anniversary: Pearl
At three years, elegant and luminescent pearls are the gift of tradition. Unlike other stones created deep within the earth, these gems are formed by shelled mollusks — think oysters, clams, and mussels. Their creation can take anywhere from as little as six months to as long as several years.
Pearls are said to symbolize wisdom gained through experience — much like the relationship lessons learned in your first few years of marriage. Because of their connection with time, it seems only appropriate for pearls to feature prominently in vintage jewelry designs.
4th Anniversary: Blue topaz
Blue topazes sparkle with the pastel hues of a cloudless day. Throughout history, this bright gemstone has been associated with peace, compassion, and clear-headed communication. It’s no wonder — looking at blue topazes certainly evokes tranquility.
To capture this healing energy, take a look at the Fred Leighton contemporary blue topaz collection, which is inspired by antique aesthetics.
5th Anniversary: Wood
Compared to the other anniversary themes, wood may feel out of place. But as the marker of five years of marriage, it symbolizes strength and stability — like the biggest oak trees that face all the elements. For an anniversary gift, you can find gorgeous wooden jewelry that’s accented with gold or silver, perhaps even a diamond or two.
6th Anniversary: Amethyst
Amethyst crystals are a purple variety of quartz. The regal and eye-catching stone is the subject of a lot of folklore, like the ancient Greeks’ belief that it prevents drunkenness. But as the birthstone for the month of February, amethyst is also commonly associated with love and romance. Since purple and yellow sit opposite of one another on the color wheel, amethyst often dazzles when set in gold jewelry.
7th Anniversary: Onyx
In stark contrast to most other anniversary gems, onyx is a dark-colored opaque stone that’s sometimes characterized with white bands. Traditionally, it symbolized strength and fortitude, with some believing that onyx absorbs negative energy. Others like to think of onyx stones’ alternating black and white lines as representing the love of two complementary partners. Either way, onyx creates striking jewelry with its dark hues against bright metals.
8th Anniversary: Tourmaline
Tourmalines are nature’s most colorful gemstones, appearing in more shades than any other. In fact, these stones get their name from the Sinhalese word tourmali, which translates to “mixed stones.”
One of the most popular color combinations is watermelon tourmaline, which features, as you might guess, a pink interior and green outside. While there are many meanings ascribed to tourmaline, it’s often associated with calm, sympathy, and understanding.
9th Anniversary: Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a one-of-kind stone. Its captivating deep indigo color is usually marked by flecks of gold-colored pyrite or white calcite, making it resemble the night sky. However, the most treasured pieces of lapis lazuli are a solid, even color.
Traditionally, lapis lazuli symbolizes wisdom, truth, and honor. Whether you opt for a contemporary or vintage style, these celestial stones make for beautiful earrings, pendants, and other types of jewelry.
10th Anniversary: Diamond
Reaching a decade of marriage calls for diamonds, the world’s most popular gemstone. There’s perhaps no better way to commemorate the occasion than with a diamond solitaire pendant. Kwiat Tiara® cut diamonds outshine other round brilliants of the same carat weight. They are mounted in airy platinum settings that let in maximum light to amplify their sparkle.
11th Anniversary: Turquoise
Turquoise’s distinctive sea-green color makes it a head-turning stone in any piece of jewelry. According to Native American groups, it’s said to give protection. Many other cultures regard turquoise as a healing stone. Either way, for couples honoring their 11th year together, turquoise stones create a sense of calm and wonder.
12th Anniversary: Green jade
In Chinese culture, green jade is valued as a symbol of beauty, goodness, and virtue. Though some may confuse it with emerald, jade is set apart by its soothing lighter green hues. Plus, unlike an emerald, jade is almost always carved into beads or cabochons rather than faceted. In jewelry, jade often takes a circular shape to represent the sun or eternity.
13th Anniversary: Citrine
From light yellow to deep amber, citrine stones evoke warmth and sunshine. For this reason, they often represent joy and positivity.
Given such happy symbolism, think of your citrine wedding anniversary jewelry as a pleasant reminder of all the high moments of marriage.
14th Anniversary: Opal
Luxurious opals are one of nature’s finest masterpieces. Thanks to light diffraction, their pearly surfaces create a shimmering kaleidoscope of color.
Because of their enchanting appearance, opals have traditionally been associated with desire and intense emotion. With that in mind, opal jewelry makes an apt way to recognize a fiery and enduring love after 14 years.
15th Anniversary: Ruby
Thanks to their vivid red color, rubies have traditionally been associated with love and passion, making them especially appropriate for a couple’s 15th milestone anniversary. The finest rubies are a deep red, although pink hues are also highly prized.
For a gift that captures the momentousness of the occasion, consider an exquisite ruby ring design from Kwiat, from bold statement rings to minimalist eternity bands.
16th Anniversary: Peridot
Also known as the August birthstone, peridots are associated with good fortune, healing, and the opening of one’s heart. Unlike most stones that are formed in the Earth’s crust, they originate deep in the mantle’s molten rock before rising to the surface through volcanoes and earthquakes. Even more unique, the striking gem has been detected in meteorites. Considering its extraordinary origins, peridot makes for unparalleled one-of-a-kind jewelry.
17th Anniversary: Carnelian or timepiece
You can go in one of two directions for your 17th wedding anniversary —by celebrating with a fine piece of carnelian jewelry or a dignified timepiece. If you choose the latter, Fred Leighton can source the vintage watch of your dreams, whether that’s Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, or another maker. Please get in touch with the Fred Leighton concierge for personal assistance.
18th Anniversary: Cat’s eye
The mesmerizing cat’s eye stone is so named because of its curious reflection of light, reminiscent of a feline’s eye. These gems made for popular engagement ring stones in the Victorian era, but are still popular today when it comes to celebrating a couple’s 18th wedding anniversary. People especially enjoy wearing cat’s eyes as a talisman against evil.
19th Anniversary: Aquamarine
Aquamarine crystals dazzle and enchant with their sublime hues. Historically, people have imagined these stones as the treasure of mermaids and thus capable of protecting those at sea.
They’re not only for ocean goers, though. Because these stones are said to bring peace, aquamarine jewelry is valued for creating love and satisfaction.
20th Anniversary: Platinum
Like gold and wood, platinum also features as a wedding anniversary theme. Its extreme strength makes it perfect for celebrating two decades together — not to mention, its prestige as the most expensive precious metal.
As an unbreakable and unending string, a platinum line necklace is the best way to symbolize and celebrate 20 years of marriage.
24th Anniversary: Tanzanite
The exceedingly rare tanzanite, which doubles as the 24th wedding anniversary theme and December birthstone, is mined in only one place on Earth: at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its lush purple is said to symbolize truth, intellect, and dignity — crucial elements for a long-lasting partnership. Commemorate the milestone occasion with one of Kwiat’s tanzanite-accented pieces of jewelry.
25th Anniversary: Silver
More durable than gold, sterling silver is rightfully used to celebrate a couple’s 25th wedding anniversary because it stands the test of time. Since it’s lightweight yet strong, silver is exceptional for everyday necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. Even better, silver jewelry’s neutral color makes it incredibly versatile. Fred Leighton offers many contemporary and vintage design options to choose from.
30th Anniversary: Diamond
Diamond appears once more to honor three decades together. Consider celebrating the occasion by upgrading your wedding band with a brilliant diamond eternity ring.
35th Anniversary: Emerald
Considering the rare geological circumstances needed to form them, emeralds are the perfect gemstone for marking 35-year anniversaries. Colombian emeralds are particularly unique given their vibrant green hue, which creates something of a glowing effect. These distinctive gemstones make for luxurious pieces of jewelry, especially in diamond-accented settings.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
In addition to the 15th anniversary, rubies are used to honor four decades of marriage. Because of their bold color, they often make exquisite pieces of statement jewelry. Fred Leighton has sourced vintage ruby pieces from a variety of time periods, including Art Deco, Edwardian, Victorian, and mid-20th century.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
Said to symbolize love and fidelity, sapphires are one of the hardiest gemstones, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This perhaps makes them all the better for celebrating your 45th wedding anniversary — sapphire jewelry represents an enduring love and commitment.
50th Anniversary: Gold
Just like diamonds and rubies, gold repeats as a theme for the landmark 50th anniversary. To honor five decades of marriage, consider one of Fred Leighton’s antique-inspired gold bracelets.
No matter which anniversary or occasion you are celebrating, Kwiat has one goal: to help you mark the milestone with jewelry of unmatched beauty and quality. For one-on-one assistance in choosing the absolutely perfect gift, get in touch with the Kwiat concierge.