Wedding Anniversary Jewelry Gift Ideas by Year
Celebrating a wedding anniversary is more than marking time — it’s a way to reflect on the journey two people have shared. Across many cultures, each anniversary year is associated with a unique material or gemstone, symbolizing the evolving nature of love and commitment. These traditional gifts help express the memories, milestones, and meaning that grow over time. In this guide, you’ll find a year-by-year breakdown of the most recognized anniversary jewelry traditions, featuring timeless metals and meaningful gemstones.
1st Wedding Anniversary Gift: Gold Jewelry
The first year of marriage is often seen as a golden chapter. Gold, a symbol of value and resilience, represents the early joys and shared beginnings of your life together. While yellow gold is the classic choice, many couples opt for white or rose gold to match personal preferences. A simple gold bracelet, elegant band, or fine necklace makes a fitting tribute to your first anniversary.
2nd Wedding Anniversary Gift: Garnet Gemstone Jewelry
Garnet is traditionally associated with the second year of marriage, reflecting passion, warmth, and emotional depth. Though deep red is the most recognized hue, garnets also come in green, orange, and other vibrant tones. Whether in a pendant, bracelet, or earrings, garnet jewelry is a beautiful way to honor two years of growing love and connection.
3rd Wedding Anniversary Gift: Pearl Gemstone Jewelry
Pearls, long admired for their natural elegance, are the traditional gift for a third wedding anniversary. Often viewed as symbols of harmony and sincerity, pearls can range from classic white strands to baroque or freshwater styles with a more contemporary flair. They shine especially well in white gold or platinum settings.
4th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Topaz Gemstone Jewelry
Topaz brings brightness and calm to the fourth anniversary. Known for its wide color range — from golden tones to vivid blues — topaz adds both vibrancy and versatility to jewelry. Blue topaz, in particular, is a popular choice for its tranquil hue and clarity. With a hardness that suits daily wear, it’s an ideal gemstone for rings, studs, or pendants.
5th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Sapphire Gemstone Jewelry
Five years of marriage is a meaningful milestone, and sapphire makes a perfect gift. Traditionally linked to wisdom and loyalty, sapphires are most commonly found in blue but are available in a wide palette of colors. Their durability and brilliance make them a lasting choice for rings, earrings, or additions to a wedding stack.
6th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Amethyst Gemstone Jewelry
Amethyst, with its striking purple hue, is the gemstone of choice for six years. Associated with clarity and peace, this gem has royal roots and timeless appeal. Amethyst jewelry adds bold color and sophistication to any collection, especially when paired with white metals like platinum or white gold.
7th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Onyx Gemstone Jewelry
For the seventh anniversary, Onyx offers a dramatic and stylish option. This jet-black gemstone is polished to a mirror-like finish and often symbolizes strength and grounding. Onyx suits bold and sculptural designs, making it a popular pick for medallion necklaces, signet rings, or contemporary cuffs.
8th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Tourmaline Gemstone Jewelry
Tourmaline is celebrated on the eighth anniversary for its vibrant variety and deep symbolism. Associated with insight and creativity, this gem comes in an array of colors, with pink and green being the most common. Watermelon tourmaline — featuring both hues in a single crystal — is especially unique and makes for a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece.
9th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Lapis Lazuli Gemstone Jewelry
Lapis lazuli, known for its rich blue color and golden specks, is the traditional gemstone for the ninth anniversary. It has been prized for thousands of years for its connection to truth and knowledge. Whether crafted into a pendant, bracelet, or ring, lapis pairs beautifully with yellow or white gold settings.
10th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Diamond Gemstone Jewelry
A decade of marriage calls for a timeless celebration, and diamonds are the perfect way to mark ten years. Representing endurance and clarity, diamonds can be added to a wedding band, worn as studs, or featured in a new custom piece. Some couples also choose to upgrade their original engagement ring at this stage, passing the old one down as a cherished heirloom.
15th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Ruby Gemstone Jewelry
Fifteen years of shared life and love are beautifully symbolized by rubies. Known for their intense red color and association with passion and devotion, rubies are both regal and resilient. They make striking center stones in rings or can be accented with diamonds in bold statement pieces.
20th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Emerald Gemstone Jewelry
Emeralds are the traditional choice for the twentieth anniversary, representing growth, renewal, and balance. Their lush green color stands for a bond that has deepened over time. From vintage-inspired rings to clean, modern pendants, emerald jewelry makes a thoughtful and elegant gift.
25th Wedding Anniversary: The Silver Jubilee
The 25th year of marriage is honored as the Silver Jubilee. Silver is not only a symbol of clarity and reflection but also a versatile material for designing meaningful jewelry. Personalized rings, engraved pendants, or a coordinated silver jewelry set can help mark this quarter-century celebration.
30th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Pearl Gemstone Jewelry
Pearls make a second appearance at year thirty, this time representing wisdom and grace acquired over time. If your third-anniversary gift was pearl jewelry, consider updating it into a fresh new design or adding a complementary piece. Pearls remain timeless and continue to hold emotional significance even decades later.
40th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Ruby Gemstone Jewelry
At forty years, ruby returns as the gemstone of choice — a nod to its powerful symbolism of enduring love. If rubies were given on your fifteenth anniversary, this occasion offers a chance to expand that sentiment with a matching or upgraded piece, creating a treasured set that tells your story over time.
50th Wedding Anniversary: The Golden Jubilee
Fifty years of marriage marks the Golden Jubilee, and nothing suits the occasion more than gold. Whether you choose yellow, white, or rose gold, this anniversary deserves a heartfelt gift — a gold ring, bracelet, or heirloom-quality necklace that celebrates a lifetime shared.
60th Wedding Anniversary: The Diamond Jubilee
Diamond gifts return for the sixtieth anniversary, a testament to the strength and brilliance of a long-lasting union. Whether your partner would appreciate a tennis necklace, diamond studs, or a new piece to complete a jewelry set, this is the perfect moment to honor a love that has stood the test of time.
70th Wedding Anniversary: The Platinum Jubilee
Platinum, a metal known for its resilience and rarity, represents the seventy-year mark — the Platinum Jubilee. This cool-toned metal pairs effortlessly with diamonds or colored gemstones and works well in sleek, elegant designs. Platinum jewelry reflects a marriage that has endured through every chapter of life.
Conclusion
Choosing an anniversary gift isn’t just about the occasion — it’s about honoring the time, growth, and love shared over the years. Whether you’re celebrating one year or seventy, jewelry offers a beautiful way to express what words often can’t. Let each piece reflect your journey and continue the story you’ve built together.