Are you panicking because you don’t know what to get your spouse for your upcoming wedding anniversary? No need to sweat! Jewelry is always a great option, and we’re here to help you choose a stunning piece! Whether you’re celebrating your first or 45th anniversary, check out our below guide to see which gemstone/metal is perfect for your special milestone!
1st Anniversary: Gold
You’ve made it this far, so celebrate with a piece of gold! This precious metal comes in 10kt, 14kt and 18kt. In its
natural form, pure gold is soft and often mixed with other metals — like silver, copper, platinum or palladium — to make it stronger. If you want something more unique to commemorate your first year, there are plenty of gold-colored gem options, such as citrine, yellow topaz, amber and yellow sapphire.
Love Connection: Why give gold for the first anniversary? The color is said to represent the sun, power of life and the glow around you as a newly married couple!
Jewelry Tip: Yellow gold may be the most common version of gold, but white gold and rose gold also exist. We suggest an anniversary band that will complement your spouse’s engagement and wedding rings.
2nd Anniversary: Garnet
The term “garnet” comes from the medieval Latin word for pomegranate, which explains why you see plenty of red garnets. But this gemstone is actually available in a variety of colors — such as green, orange, yellow, purple and red. Garnets have been a fashion statement since the Bronze Age and have been found in countries across the globe, including Brazil, Iran, Pakistan, India and the U.S. Today, Africa produces many garnets in the jewelry market.
Love Connection: Garnets are believed to bring happiness, good health and wealth to recipients. Some ancient cultures thought these stones would also provide peace of mind, calm an angry heart and erase negative feelings, like guilt. A perfect way to start another year in your marriage! Garnet is also the January birthstone, so it’s an even more ideal choice if your spouse has a January birthday!
Jewelry Tip: A garnet’s durability will vary depending on the type/color you choose, but it typically ranges between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale — a scale that ranks the durability of diamonds, gemstones and other minerals. This means garnets are more prone to damage than other gems, such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. We therefore advise against wearing garnets in a daily ring, which could easily scratch. Instead, they work well in earrings, pendants, brooches and other special occasion jewelry!
3rd Anniversary: Pearls
Pearls are precious gems that are created by mollusks, such as oysters and mussels, and found in bodies of freshwater and saltwater. You’ll often find white or cream-colored pearls, but they’re also available in a variety of
colors, including black, gray, yellow, orange, pink, lavender, green and blue.
In ancient times, natural pearls were typically found in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Chinese rivers and lakes, European rivers and the waters of what’s now known as Sri Lanka. Starting in the 16th century, pearls were also plentiful just off of Mexico, Central America and Venezuela. But it’s now extremely rare to find natural pearls due to centuries of “pearl fishing” (aka gathering/harvesting). Instead, there are alternative options, like cultured pearls (where a pearl farmer usually intervenes to start the growing process) and imitation pearls (typically a coated glass bead).
Love Connection: Historically, pearls have represented beauty, purity and humility. If you want to take your spouse back to the shy and innocent days of your relationship, a piece of pearl jewelry would be an excellent option! Pearl is also one of June’s birthstones. If your partner was born in June, they’ll cherish a pearl gift even more!
Jewelry Tip: Pearls come in several shapes, such as round, oval and pear. An ideal gem should be smooth and free of scratches. On the Mohs Hardness Scale, pearls only score between 2.5 and 3, making them truly precious gems! For comparison, diamonds score a perfect 10. We therefore recommend pearls for special occasion jewelry, like earrings and necklaces, so they don’t scratch or chip easily.
4th Anniversary: Blue Topaz
As the official gemstone of Texas and one of December’s birthstones, blue topaz has become the most common and affordable type of topaz in the jewelry industry. Most topaz starts out as colorless or pale blue, which means the stones undergo a treatment of heat and radiation to enhance their colors. High-quality topaz has been found in Brazil for more than two centuries. Today, it’s also mined in several other countries, including Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the U.S.
Love Connection: The calming shade of blue topaz is said to represent a harmonious marriage. Throughout history, various cultures thought blue topaz could offer strength and prosperity as well as eliminate angry thoughts. Residents of India have long believed that wearing the stone above your heart will guarantee beauty and a long life. If you and your partner are looking for a long, strong marriage, you can’t go wrong with the gift of blue topaz!
Jewelry Tip: In its natural form, topaz can often be found in long, cylindrical pieces. Therefore, it looks best in oval and pear shapes. Although blue topaz scores an 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, it’s not as tough as you might think. Therefore, we recommend saving blue topaz jewelry for special occasions and choosing pieces that will experience less wear and tear, such as earrings, pendants and brooches.
5th Anniversary: Sapphire
Sapphire is the September birthstone and a precious gem that belongs to the family of corundum minerals, just like
rubies. In fact, sapphires and rubies share much of the same chemical makeup. When corundum is red, it’s called a ruby. When it’s another color, it’s often referred to as a sapphire. Blue sapphires are extremely popular colored stones, but sapphires are also available in a wide range of colors, such as pink, orange, yellow, green and purple. They’re plentiful in Kashmir, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand and the U.S., specifically Montana.
Love Connection: In ancient Greece and Rome, elite members of society believed that blue sapphires protected people from harm and envy. These durable stones have also long symbolized sincerity, truth, faithfulness and one’s soul — making them a wonderful choice for your strong bond!
Jewelry Tip: Sapphires are very durable gems, scoring a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means they can withstand daily wear and look gorgeous in rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
6th Anniversary: Amethyst
Amethyst is part of the quartz family and is most recognized for its various shades of purple, from lilac to deep plum. The diverse shades of color that you may see in a single amethyst stone is due to its unique angles when cut. This gorgeous gem, which was once a rare find, has been admired since Alexander the Great ruled in ancient Greece. While amethyst can be produced in labs today, they have also been found in mines in Russia, Brazil, Africa and the U.S., particularly in Arizona.
Love Connection: St. Valentine, the Roman clergyman often associated with love, reportedly wore an amethyst ring featuring a carved image of Cupid. According to legend, amethysts could calm lovers brimming with passion and bring strength and wit to those wearing them. Purple also symbolizes the color of royalty. If you love your spouse more each day, this stone is a lovely choice! Fun fact: Fittingly, amethyst s also the February birthstone!
Jewelry Tip: Amethyst is a fairly durable gem, scoring a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. While amethysts can tolerate daily wear and tear in rings, earrings and other jewelry, it’s important to regularly polish your piece, as it could start to dull over time.
7th Anniversary: Onyx
Typically known as the black gemstone, onyx is a type of chalcedony, which is a mineral in the quartz family.
Chalcedony and therefore onyx have been found in jewelry since the days of the ancient Asian region of Mesopotamia. During the late 1800s, it was a popular gem, especially for those in mourning. This gemstone can often be found with few imperfections and parallel layers of different colors. However, it’s rare to find natural black chalcedony, so almost all onyx that you see has been treated to alter its color. In addition to black, onyx is available in a variety of shades.
Love Connection: Throughout history, this beautiful gem has held a variety of meanings. But when it comes to relationships, onyx represents transformation. It’s said to bring happiness, regeneration, heal old injuries and change bad habits. If you and your partner need to start fresh and fix a few things in your relationship, the gift of onyx is a good starting point!
Jewelry Tip: Onyx is a durable and scratch-resistant gem, scoring a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This makes it an ideal choice for everyday rings, earrings, pendants, etc.
8th Anniversary: Tourmaline
Tourmaline is one of October’s birthstones and a gemstone featuring one of the widest color ranges. It was first
discovered by a Spanish conqueror in Brazil during the 1500s and was actually mistaken for emeralds for multiple centuries. Today, tourmaline can be found in several countries, such as Brazil, Afghanistan, Kenya, Madagascar and the U.S., specifically California and Maine.
Some of the most popular hues include pink, red, green, blue and violet. Hints of iron and possibly titanium could be responsible for producing green and blue colors, while manganese is responsible for red, pink and possibly yellow shades.
Love Connection: Each tourmaline color symbolizes different qualities. If you’re buying one for your spouse, we recommend a pink or green tourmaline. Pink stones represent love, compassion and gentleness, while green stones represent courage, strength and stamina. All of these characteristics are essential for a long, happy marriage!
Jewelry Tip: Tourmaline ranges between 7 and 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, meaning it’s fairly durable and appropriate for daily wear in the form of rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants. These gems can tolerate light and most chemicals, but be advised that heat can cause damage.
10th Anniversary: Diamond
These precious gems are made of carbon. Two types of diamonds exist, natural and lab-grown, but only trained
gemologists and sophisticated equipment can tell the difference. Natural diamonds are one-of-a-kind, as they were formed billions of years ago below the Earth’s surface. As the name suggests, lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory, but they’re still real diamonds!
Love Connection: Due to a strict international grading system, only about 30% of diamonds mined across the world qualify to become gems. Since natural diamonds are rare and durable, you can compare them to your unique, strong bond! The intense heat and pressure that initially formed natural diamonds can also be likened to the ups and downs of married life. Yet, you always pull through the hard times together!
Jewelry Tip: Diamonds score a perfect 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making them the most durable of all gemstones. They can therefore be worn daily in all types of jewelry and look stunning for special occasions. You might consider a diamond anniversary band that complements your spouse’s engagement and wedding rings!
11th Anniversary: Turquoise
One of the December birthstones, turquoise is a gemstone that can be found in a variety of blue and green shades, with the finest color being likened to the blue sky or a robin’s egg. Although turquoise doesn’t exhibit the sparkle and clarity that other colored gemstones have, it’s instead valued for its color and long history.
Turquoise is reportedly one of the world’s oldest gems. Remnants of turquoise jewelry were discovered in Egypt and China, dating back thousands of years. This stone has been mined in Iran, China and the U.S. — mainly dry, empty areas where acidic, copper-rich groundwater reacts with certain minerals.
Love Connection: A common belief is that turquoise will bring health, good fortune, peace and protection from evil to recipients. In Europe specifically, a turquoise ring represents a “forget me not” gift. A subtle, sweet reminder that you’ll always be there for your spouse!
Jewelry Tip: Turquoise ranges between 5 and 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, meaning it’s a softer gem than other popular stones. In fact, acids can damage turquoise, while things like makeup, skin oils and perspiration can discolor the stone. We therefore recommend saving your turquoise jewelry for special occasions.
13th Anniversary: Citrine
As a November birthstone, citrine is a form of quartz that’s often seen as a transparent, yellow-to-orange gem. Citrine
in its natural form is rare. Therefore, most citrine in the jewelry market is actually amethyst that has undergone a heat treatment to alter its color. This stone is affordable and typically lacks visible imperfections inside of the gem.
Citrine was a popular choice for Scottish jewelry during the Victorian era, but it has often been confused with topaz throughout history. Today, it can be found in Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay. Brazil is home to much of the heat-treated amethyst that looks like citrine.
Love Connection: According to legend, citrine provides fortune and warmth to the recipient and has the ability to calm tempers. If you and your spouse are looking forward to a wonderful, harmonious year ahead, start with a beautiful citrine piece!
Jewelry Tip: Citrine scores a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and is therefore a fairly durable gem. This stone can withstand daily wear and tear, so it’s suitable for all types of jewelry, from rings to brooches.
14th Anniversary: Opal
The opal is one of October’s birthstones and a precious stone known for flashing a rainbow of colors when viewed from various angles. This concept is commonly called “play-of-color.” India is reportedly the first site of opals that were delivered to the Western world. These gemstones have been mined in several locations, including Australia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Peru, Turkey and the U.S. Mexico is specifically recognized for providing fire opal (yellow, orange and red shades of the gem).
Love Connection: Residents of Europe have long believed that an opal symbolizes purity, hope and truth. Romans thought the gem also represented love. To put it simply, opals are the perfect gift for the love of your life!
Jewelry Tip: Opals range between 5 and 6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and therefore aren’t as durable as other gemstones. Similar to pearls and turquoise, we suggest wearing opals only for special occasions. Stick to pieces that won’t chip easily when worn, such as pendants and earrings.
15th Anniversary: Ruby
A ruby is a beautiful, red gemstone that’s said to be one of the rarest among popular colored gemstones. It’s part of
the corundum family, a mineral that’s actually colorless in its natural form. Of all species in the corundum family, rubies are the most valuable due to their rarity. The finest gems range from a pure, vibrant red to a somewhat purplish-red color. The deep red color is a result of chromium in the stone. The more chromium that’s present, the deeper the color.
Rubies have existed for centuries and were reportedly traded in ancient China thousands of years ago. But despite their long history, rubies were often confused for other gemstones, such as tourmaline and garnet, until 1800. Notable rubies have hailed from Myanmar, the Himalayas and northern Vietnam, while others have been found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Kenya.
Love Connection: Representing the color of love and passion, rubies have long been associated with wealth and success. But they have symbolized many other qualities in cultures throughout history, including good health, wisdom, power, youthful energy and the ability to calm anger. If you and your spouse want many more years of a successful marriage, ruby jewelry is an ideal gift!
Jewelry Tip: Rubies are incredibly durable, scoring a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Only diamonds score higher with a perfect 10. That means rubies can be worn in all kinds of everyday jewelry, from striking rings to pendants.
16th Anniversary: Peridot
Peridot is a green-colored gem that comes from the magnesium-rich mineral, olivine. It’s also the modern August birthstone. You’ll typically see yellowish-green shades of peridot jewelry, but the preferred shade is pure green without any touches of yellow or brown. The stone gets its iconic color from iron, which is an essential part of peridot’s composition. Round and emerald-shaped peridots are most common, but you can also find them in oval, pear, cushion, triangular and marquise shapes.
Most peridot formed under extreme heat and pressure, and volcanic eruptions brought it to the Earth’s surface. Other gem-quality peridots were created from meteorites containing olivine! The Egyptian island of Zabargad is the oldest recorded location of peridots, dating back thousands of years. Today, the stone can be found in China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tanzania and the U.S., specifically Arizona and Hawaii.
Love Connection: Those who wear peridots have long used them as protective gems, to ward off evil spirits and “terrors of the night.” The stones are also believed to represent strength, balance, peace and health, while emitting positive energy and love. If your spouse has been your rock, you can’t go wrong with a peridot piece!
Jewelry Tip: Peridots are similar to quartz gems, ranging from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. As softer gems, they can’t endure daily wear. They’re also susceptible to damage from acid and acidic perspiration. We therefore advise against daily rings, but peridot is perfectly suitable for earrings, pendants and other special occasion jewelry!
19th Anniversary: Aquamarine
This beautiful blue-green gemstone is part of the beryl mineral family and is known as the gem of the sea. It’s
also one of March’s birthstones. The shades of color reflected from the stone can range from very light to moderately dark. Lighter shades of aquamarine tend to have better clarity, while darker shades are cloudier. Oval and emerald cuts tend to complement the stone’s color and clarity. Aquamarine is the state gem of Colorado and can be found in other dry places, like Brazil, Pakistan, Madagascar, Kenya, China and the Ukraine.
Love Connection: When it comes to folklore, aquamarine is usually associated with water. But the gem has significance for relationships too, representing faithfulness and a pure soul. This stone also provides happiness in marriage and serves as a token for people who have remained young at heart. Remind your partner that you have only had eyes for each other with an extraordinary gift of aquamarine!
Jewelry Tip: This gem ranges between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making it a durable stone for daily use. That means it can be worn in everyday rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants as well as special occasion jewelry.
20th Anniversary: Emerald
Like aquamarine, an emerald is a striking green gemstone that’s part of the beryl mineral family. It’s also May’s birthstone. The most coveted emeralds have a vivid bluish-green to pure green tint, which is a result of impurities with chromium and vanadium. The gem’s pure green hue is often considered the definition of green and an ideal shade for springtime. Emeralds have existed since the days of Egyptian pharaohs, and some of the finest stones have come from Colombia for more than 500 years. They can also be found in Brazil, Zambia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Love Connection: Emeralds have often symbolized the renewal of life and provided comfort, energy and intelligence to the recipient. Some have even thought the stone has the ability to predict the future and uncover lovers’ false promises. If you and your spouse have always been true and are excited to start this new chapter of your marriage, kick off the new decade with emerald jewelry!
Jewelry Tip: Although it’s more likely to chip and scratch than diamonds, an emerald is a rather durable gem, ranging between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means you can safely wear it in everyday and special occasion pieces.
24th Anniversary: Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a beautiful blue, violet and purple gemstone that’s a member of the zoisite mineral family. It reflects three
colors, depending on the viewing angle. As one of the December birthstones, it’s found in just one place: near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The gem was named after the country once it was discovered there in the 1960s. Most tanzanite stones receive heat treatments to maximize the blue and violet shades and remove/reduce any yellow, green or brown tones. Deep violet-blue and sapphire blue tend to be the most valuable colors.
Love Connection: These gems are said to help in expressing suppressed feelings and increase strength, trust and possibilities. If you have something important to tell your spouse after 24 years of marriage, do it with tanzanite!
Jewelry Tip: Tanzanite ranges between 6 and 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. While it’s resistant to normal heat, light and chemicals, it could still crack with extreme heat or sudden temperature changes. We therefore don’t recommend this stone for daily rings, but tanzanite looks gorgeous in earrings and pendants for special occasions.
35th Anniversary: Emerald
Congratulations on reaching this milestone anniversary! Give your spouse another emerald to celebrate! Emeralds are also given for 20th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these bold, green gems above.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
If you’ve made it this far in your marriage, congratulations! Your spouse will adore another ruby! Rubies are also given for 15th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these striking, red gemstones above.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
You and your spouse have gotten through plenty of ups and downs together. And you wouldn’t want to go through them with anyone else. Celebrate this special day with a gorgeous sapphire! These stones are also given for the 5th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these stunning, durable gems above.
55th Anniversary: Alexandrite
This rare gemstone is one of the June birthstones and a member of the chrysoberyl mineral family. Its nickname is “emerald by day, ruby by night,” as it changes color depending on the light source. For example, alexandrite can reflect bluish-green shades in daylight or under fluorescent light and switch to brownish or purplish red shades when near a candle flame. The way in which the gem absorbs light causes this effect. Alexandrite was first spotted in Russia in the 1800s. Now, much of the gem’s supply comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka and East Africa.
Love Connection: Since this stone reflects different colors, each shade has different meanings. The green shades represent qualities, such as growth, hope, peace and serenity. The red shades represent things like energy, power and passion. People who wish to be guided by their heart may choose to wear alexandrite at night when the stone appears red. If you want to express your love to your longtime spouse, give the gift of alexandrite after the sun sets!
Jewelry Tip: Alexandrite scores an 8.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making it a rather durable gem. It’s therefore an appropriate choice for daily rings and other jewelry that’s subject to wear and tear.
60th Anniversary: Diamond
Diamonds are truly forever, just like your marriage! You can’t go wrong with diamond jewelry, regardless of the anniversary you’re celebrating! Diamonds are also given for 10th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these precious gems above.
75th Anniversary: Sapphire
You and your spouse have officially learned the secrets to a long, happy marriage. What an incredible achievement! A gorgeous piece of sapphire jewelry would be perfect to celebrate such a milestone! Sapphires are also given for 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these stunning, durable gems above.
80th Anniversary: Ruby
Your marriage has withstood an amazing test of time! Commemorate this special day with a piece of ruby jewelry! Rubies are also given for 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries, so learn more about these striking red gemstones above.
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