Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year: Jewellery Ideas

Many couples follow a tradition that gives each wedding anniversary a material. The list differs by country, and nobody is obliged to follow it. Here is a common version, with jewellery ideas to go with it.

The traditional list

| Year | Traditional gift | |---|---| | 1st | Paper | | 5th | Wood | | 10th | Tin or aluminium | | 15th | Crystal | | 20th | China | | 25th | Silver | | 30th | Pearl | | 40th | Ruby | | 50th | Gold | | 60th | Diamond |

In plain words: the first anniversary is paper, the fifth is wood, the tenth is tin, the fifteenth is crystal, the twentieth is china, the twenty-fifth is silver, the thirtieth is pearl, the fortieth is ruby, the fiftieth is gold and the sixtieth is diamond.

Jewellery ideas by milestone

First anniversary

A simple piece with an engraved date, such as a slim bracelet or a pendant. A small gift that marks the first year.

Fifth anniversary

A diamond pendant or studs. It is a good moment to begin a collection that you build on each year.

Tenth anniversary

A significant piece. A band, a bracelet or a pendant, perhaps combining the date you married with a stone.

Fifteenth and twentieth

An upgrade to a ring, or a piece to mark how far you have come. See anniversary bands and eternity rings: a guide.

Twenty-fifth

A landmark. See 25th anniversary jewellery ideas.

Thirtieth and fortieth

Pearl and ruby are traditional, and coloured stones can be set with diamonds in a pendant or earrings.

Fiftieth

Gold, of course. A gold piece with diamonds is a fitting golden anniversary gift.

Sixtieth

Diamond. A diamond piece marks a rare milestone.

You do not have to follow the list

Many couples choose a diamond piece for any anniversary. What counts is the thought.

Choosing the piece

• Think about what your partner wears.
• Plan a budget. See how to set a diamond jewellery budget.
• Plan for engraving or a personal detail.

Anniversary collection

Our anniversary collection gathers pieces suited to milestones.

Planning ahead

For custom or engraved pieces, plan a few weeks ahead. See how custom jewellery design works.

Presentation

Anniversaries invite a ritual of their own: the same restaurant, the same song, a letter. Tie the gift to it. Our guide to how to present a jewellery gift has ideas for wrapping and words.

Common questions

Do all countries follow the same list? No. Lists differ, and some years have more than one material.

What if I do not like the traditional gift? Choose what your partner will enjoy.

Is jewellery appropriate for early anniversaries? Yes. A simple piece for the first year is a lovely start.

Combining tradition with taste

If the traditional gift for your year is a material you do not want to give, you can nod to it in another way. For a silver anniversary, you might choose a white-metal piece. For a pearl anniversary, a pendant with a single pearl beside a diamond. For a ruby anniversary, a small ruby in a setting with diamonds. The tradition is a starting point, and the gift can be modern.

Planning for the next anniversary too

Choose pieces that work together over time. A first-year pendant can be joined by earrings on the fifth and a bracelet on the tenth, so that by the twenty-fifth you have a set that reflects your years. Keep a note of what you gave each year, and keep the invoices together. See what to keep with your jewellery.

Find a gift

Browse our diamond jewellery, or book an appointment to choose together.