Gemstones are considered by some to have special properties,
attributes and energies, believing that good luck, health and success can be achieved through the giving and wearing
of them. Traditionally, different gemstones have been assigned to different wedding anniversaries, in a similar
way to anniversary gifts, to bestow good fortune onto the marriage.
|
The custom of giving certain gifts according to the number of years of marriage probably dates back to the Germans in
the Middle Ages, where a wife was presented with a silver wreath after twenty-five years and a gold wreath after
fifty years. This custom has grown and spread over the years, becoming popular in the Victorian era. The basis
behind the gift giving was probably that stability should be rewarded and that the longer the marriage lasted, the
more valuable the gift should be!
Traditionally not every year is commemorated, with variances between the UK and USA. There has been a move in
recent years to modify the traditional list and assign gifts to more anniversaries. Our table shows the
traditional list. |
Sterling Silver and
Multicolour Freshwater Pearl Necklace
|
| Year |
Anniversary Stone |
Traditional Anniversary Gift
|
| |
|
UK |
USA |
| 1st |
Gold Jewellery |
Cotton |
Paper |
| 2nd |
Garnet |
Paper |
Cotton |
| 3rd |
Pearl |
Leather |
Leather |
| 4th |
Blue Topaz |
Fruit
& Flowers |
Linen |
| 5th |
Sapphire |
Wood |
Wood |
| 6th |
Amethyst |
Iron |
Sugar |
| 7th |
Onyx |
Wool |
Copper
or Wool |
| 8th |
Tourmaline |
Salt |
Bronze |
| 9th |
Lapis Lazuli |
Copper |
Pottery |
| 10th |
Diamond Jewellery |
Tin |
Tin or Aluminium |
| 11th |
Turquoise |
|
Steel |
| 12th |
Jade |
Silk |
Silk |
| 13th |
Citrine |
|
Lace |
| 14th |
Opal |
|
Ivory |
| 15th |
Ruby |
Crystal |
Crystal |
| 16th |
Peridot |
|
|
| 17th |
A Watch or Carnelian |
|
|
| 18th |
Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl |
Porcelain |
|
| 19th |
Aquamarine |
|
|
| 20th |
Emerald |
China |
China |
| 21st |
Iolite |
|
|
| 22nd |
Spinel |
|
|
| 23rd |
Topaz |
|
|
| 24th |
Tanzanite |
|
Opal |
| 25th |
Silver
Jewellery |
Silver |
|
| 30th |
Pearl
Jubilee |
Pearl |
Pearl |
| 35th |
Emerald |
Coral |
Coral or Jade |
| 40th |
Ruby |
Ruby |
Ruby |
| 45th |
Sapphire |
|
Sapphire |
| 50th |
Gold Jewellery |
Gold |
|
| 55th |
Alexandrite |
|
Emerald |
| 60th |
Diamond |
Diamond |
Diamond |
| 65th |
Blue Sapphire or Blue Spinel |
Blue Sapphire |
|
| 70th |
Sapphire Jubilee |
Platinum |
|
| 75th |
Platinum |
|
Diamond
or Gold |
| 80th |
Ruby Jubilee |
Oak |
|
|
