One very special way to mark a wedding anniversary is with the gift of fine jewelry. Did you know that just like birthstones, there are corresponding gemstones for each anniversary year? And while diamonds are always appropriate for any anniversary, we’d love to help you select the perfect gemstone to mark your memorable occasion from this traditional list:
1st Anniversary: Diamond
What better way to celebrate your first year together than with nature’s most durable gem! Click here to learn more about what makes a diamond so unique.
2nd Anniversary: Garnet
This gemstone draws its name from its resemblance to the pomegranate seed and from the Latin word for crimson fruit, granatum. The garnet’s deep red color signifies eternal friendship and trust as well as loyalty and faith.
3rd Anniversary: Pearl
Used as an adornment for centuries, the pearl has been recognized as the emblem of modesty, chastity and purity. Traditionally known to symbolize a happy marriage, it is also appropriately associated with the wedding month of June.
4th Anniversary: Blue Topaz
A prelude to the fifth anniversary’s stone, blue topaz is available in hues that range from cool sky blue to deep Swiss blue. This sparkling gemstone symbolizes strength and intelligence and is also believed to have calming and curative powers.
5th Anniversary: Sapphire
According to folklore, the sapphire will protect your loved ones from envy and harm. Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. As the second hardest gemstone after the diamond, sapphire also represents the indestructibility of love and fidelity. Click here to learn more about the Sapphire.
6th Anniversary: Amethyst
It is said the amethyst has a sobering effect, keeping the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted. It has symbolized peace, protection and tranquility; and some say it can protect from treason and deceit. Amethysts have been coveted by royalty throughout the ages as symbols of wisdom, strength and confidence.
7th Anniversary: Onyx
Legend has it that one day Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. He left the clippings scattered around on the sand, and the fates (the three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis and Antropos, who control human destiny) turned them into Onyx so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish.
8th Anniversary: Tourmaline
Pink, orange, green, golden, or red, tourmaline occurs in virtually all colors of the rainbow and is thought to inspire creativity and hope.
9th Anniversary: Lapis Lazuli
Latin for stone and Arabic for sky-blue, lapis lazuli literally translates to azure stone. Lapis lazuli is a favorite among men.
10th Anniversary: Diamond Jewelry
Named after the Greek term for unconquerable, diamonds represent unequalled strength and determination, eternity and undying love.
11th Anniversary: Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones. During the 16th century, the Southwest Indians used turquoise as currency. They believed the sky blue colored gemstone could bring spoils to the warrior, animals to the hunter, and happiness and good fortune to all.
12th Anniversary: Jade
Jade has been treasured in China as the royal gemstone. While the beauty of Jade is reason enough to wear it, many revere its healing and mystical powers. Today, jade is worn as much as an amulet as fine jewelry. Its wearers believe in its protective properties and capacity to bring good health and luck.
13th Anniversary: Citrine
A bolt of energy and light, Citrine ranges in color from lemon-yellow to amber-brown; perfect colors for anyone. Citrine jewelry is especially popular for the flattering glow it casts on every complexion. A member of the quartz family, Citrine symbolizes truth and integrity.
14th Anniversary: Opal
Opal means “precious stone” in Sanskrit. With a range in color from milky white to black with flashes and bursts of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue, the unique formation of tiny spheres in each opal cause this magnificent play of colors. Given opal’s fiery flashes of color, it was believed that lightning brought the gem to earth. Opal has symbolized hope, innocence and purity through the ages.
15th Anniversary: Ruby
Prized by kings throughout the ages, the ruby has long been considered a powerful gemstone. Legend holds that rubies will protect their owners from all kinds of danger and misfortune. Extremely durable with luscious berry-red hues, rubies are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and love.
16th Anniversary: Peridot
Ranging in color from light yellow-green to deep olive, the versatile peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year. Admired for its sunlit glow, peridot symbolizes warmth and charity.
17th Anniversary: Watches
Watches can represent time spent apart and time captured together. It is very common to find watches with adornments such as diamond bezels, ruby cabochons, mother of pearl dials and gold or baguette markers.
18th Anniversary: Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl
Like the eye of a panther, cat’s eye chrysoberyl seems almost supernatural in origin. The color ranges from a honey-brown to an apple green with rich gold colors. With the strength and sharpness of the eye being the most important value factor, cat’s eye chrysoberyl has been known to be a powerful talisman that can direct fortune.
19th Anniversary: Aquamarine
Linked to the sea because of its distinctive blue-green hues, aquamarine was believed to protect sailors as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. Victorians gave this jewel to guarantee marital happiness and devotion and it is considered to be a universal symbol of youth, hope and health.
20th Anniversary: Emerald
Precious in every way, emerald is one of the most highly prized of all the gems. With its vibrant green tone, emerald is a symbol of rebirth, immortal love, wisdom and future success. It is also believed that the emerald will bring about good fortune and youth.
21st Anniversary: Iolite
By observing the sky through iolite, Viking navigators were able to locate the exact position of the sun on overcast days. Greek for violet, iolite is commonly known as the “water sapphire.”
22nd Anniversary: Spinel
Spinel occurs in almost every color. Bright red spinel, known as Ruby spinel, is the most valuable. In the past, there was no distinction between ruby and ruby spinel, as they look identical and are found in the same localities.
23rd Anniversary: Topaz
Available in a rich rainbow of colors, topaz is believed to have calming and curative powers. Prized for thousands of years, topaz is a stone of popes and leaders. It is also said to prove loyalty in friends and associates by changing colors in the presence of poison.
24th Anniversary: Tanzanite
Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, tanzanite possesses a rich violet-blue color for which the gemstone is treasured. As jewelry designers learned to love tanzanite, this gem has begun to be appreciated for itself rather than as a sapphire substitute.
25th Anniversary: Diamond
Undoubtedly, the diamond is the most brilliant gemstone. The ancient Greeks believed that they were splinters of stars that had fallen to earth. Representing unequalled strength and determination, diamonds also symbolize eternity and undying love.
30th Anniversary: Pearl Jubilee
Worn as an adornment for centuries, the pearl has been recognized as the emblem of modesty, chastity and purity. Appropriately associated with the wedding month of June as the month’s birthstone, the pearl also symbolizes a happy marriage.
35th Anniversary: Emerald
Precious in every way, emerald is one of the most highly prized of all the gems. With its vibrant green tone, emerald is a symbol of rebirth, immortal love, wisdom and future success. It is also believed that the emerald will bring about good fortune and youth.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
Prized by kings throughout the ages, the ruby has long been considered a powerful gemstone. Legend holds that rubies will protect their owners from all kinds of danger and misfortune. Extremely durable with luscious berry-red hues, rubies are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and love.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
According to folklore, the sapphire will protect your loved ones from envy and harm. Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. Sapphire represents the indestructibility of love and fidelity.
50th Anniversary: Golden Jubilee
Gold is rare, precious, and durable. What better way to honor such an important milestone that with gifts of gold jewelry?
55th Anniversary: Alexandrite
A remarkable gemstone, alexandrite actually changes color from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. Discovered in 1830 in Czarist Russia, it was named after Czar Alexander II on the occasion of his coming of age.
60th Anniversary: Diamond
Undoubtedly, the Diamond is the most brilliant gemstone. The ancient Greeks believed that they were splinters of stars that had fallen to earth. Representing unequalled strength and determination, diamonds also symbolize eternity and undying love. It is understandable why the diamond is the accepted stone to celebrate a milestone-wedding anniversary such as the 60th year.