Anniversary Gifts By Year

Anniversary Gifts By Year


The anniversary gift for year 1 is gold, and the anniversary gift for year 2 is garnet. Our chart tells you the best gemstone anniversary gifts by year.

IGS may receive customer referral fees from the companies listed in this page.

Anniversary Gifts By Year

Anniversary Jewelry


The concept of anniversary gifts is nothing new. Some trace it as far back as Ancient Roman times. Others say that the Victorian Era - a period that emphasized the importance of love in a marriage - cemented the tradition of anniversary gifts.

Unlike gemstones designated as birthstones, there is no official list of gemstones that should be gifted for wedding anniversaries. However, organizations like the GIA and Jewelers of America developed a list that has become an accepted guide. 

1st Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Gold Jewelry 

Many associate a gift of gold jewelry with the 50th wedding anniversary, but gold jewelry marks the first year of marriage, too. The gold jewelry symbolizes both happiness in the present and hope for the future. 

2nd Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Garnet Jewelry

Garnets represent the traditional second anniversary gift. There are over 20 species of garnets, and some are very rare. Imagine your loved one's surprise when you gift them a rare green demantoid garnet that sparkles more than a diamond!

3rd Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Pearl Jewelry

Pearls are considered to be the official third anniversary gemstone, making them a great third anniversary gift idea if you are looking for an elegant gift that still honors anniversary gifting traditions.

4th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Blue Topaz Jewelry

Blue Topaz is the official fourth anniversary gemstone. Blue topaz represents eternal love and loyalty, so it is only fitting to gift this gem on your anniversary to represent your lifelong commitment.

5th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Sapphire Jewelry

Sapphire is the official fifth anniversary gemstone, making it a wonderful gift to honor anniversary gift traditions with a twist of modern glamour. Sapphire is famous for its vivid blue color, but the gem also comes in a variety of colors ranging from a luscious pink to vibrant green. 

6th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Amethyst Jewelry

Amethyst is the official sixth anniversary gemstone. Amethysts have a rich history and symbolism, making them a wonderfully meaningful anniversary gift to represent your romance. The stunning purple gem is relatively affordable and an excellent choice to gift a gorgeous gem that won't break the bank.

7th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Yellow Sapphire Jewelry

Celebrate your seventh anniversary by expressing your love with a traditional seventh anniversary gemstone: a bright and happy yellow sapphire. This vibrant gem, available in various price ranges, makes a delightful and bold choice for jewelry.

8th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Tourmaline Jewelry

The official eighth anniversary gemstone is tourmaline, an incredibly versatile gem that be any color of the rainbow.  Tourmalines can be used in jewelry suitable for any individual at many different price points. 

9th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Morganite Jewelry

Morganite, the traditional gemstone for the ninth wedding anniversary, is a lovely and cost-effective choice with its soft pink hue. It is available in a variety of jewelry options, ensuring you can find a piece that suits every style, preference, and budget.

10th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Diamond Jewelry

The traditional gemstone gift for the tenth wedding anniversary is a diamond. Thanks to their inherent strength, diamonds can be worn in any design you can imagine. The options for a memorable and thoughtful gift are endless.

11th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Turquoise Jewelry

The traditional gemstone gift for an eleventh anniversary is turquoise. Turquoise is an incredibly versatile gem with a wide range of possibilities for a gorgeous gift with a perfect pop of color.

12th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Alexandrite Jewelry

Alexandrite is the official twelfth anniversary gemstone. This rare color-changing gem appears greenish in daylight and reddish-purple in incandescent light, symbolizing the transformation and growth of your relationship over these twelve years. Alexandrite jewelry makes for a meaningful and unique anniversary gift that captures the magic of your enduring love.

13th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Citrine Jewelry 

Citrine represents the traditional thirteenth anniversary gemstone. With its sunny yellow to orange hues, citrine brings warmth and positive energy to celebrate your thirteenth year of marriage. This affordable yet beautiful gemstone is available in various jewelry styles, making it an excellent choice for a thoughtful anniversary gift.

14th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Opal Jewelry 

Opal is the official fourteenth anniversary gemstone, making it a perfect choice to commemorate fourteen years of marriage. Opals display a mesmerizing play of colors that symbolize the many facets of your relationship. From elegant pendants to statement rings, opal jewelry offers endless possibilities for a memorable anniversary gift.

15th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Ruby Jewelry 

Ruby is the traditional fifteenth anniversary gemstone. Known for its deep red color, the ruby represents passion and love, making it an ideal gift to celebrate fifteen years of marriage. Ruby jewelry symbolizes the enduring flame of your relationship and serves as a testament to your lasting commitment.

16th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Peridot Jewelry 

Peridot is the official sixteenth anniversary gemstone. This vibrant lime-green gem symbolizes strength and good fortune, perfect for celebrating sixteen years together. Peridot jewelry offers a refreshing pop of color and can be found in various designs to suit any style preference.

17th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Watches 

For the seventeenth anniversary, the tradition shifts from gemstones to timepieces. A fine watch represents the precious time you've spent together and the moments yet to come. Whether you choose a classic design or a modern smartwatch, this gift symbolizes your continuing journey through time as a couple.

18th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Cat's Eye Jewelry 

Cat's eye is the traditional eighteenth anniversary gemstone. This fascinating gem displays a narrow band of light that resembles a cat's eye, symbolizing focus and clarity in your relationship. Cat's eye jewelry makes for a distinctive and meaningful eighteenth anniversary gift.

19th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Aquamarine Jewelry 

Aquamarine is the official nineteenth anniversary gemstone. With its serene blue color reminiscent of calm waters, aquamarine represents tranquility and clarity. This beautiful gem makes for a refreshing and elegant nineteenth anniversary gift that captures the peaceful harmony of your relationship.

20th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Emerald Jewelry 

Emerald is the traditional twentieth anniversary gemstone. This lush green gem symbolizes growth and prosperity, making it a perfect gift to celebrate two decades of marriage. Emerald jewelry represents the flourishing nature of your relationship and makes for a luxurious and meaningful twentieth anniversary gift.

21st Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Iolite Jewelry 

Iolite is the official twenty-first anniversary gemstone. With its violet-blue hues, iolite represents vision and clarity, symbolizing the clear path you've created together. Iolite jewelry makes for a beautiful and meaningful gift that celebrates twenty-one years of marriage with subtle elegance.

22nd Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Spinel Jewelry 

Spinel is the traditional twenty-second anniversary gemstone. Available in a variety of colors from deep red to cobalt blue, spinel offers versatility and beauty. This underrated gem makes for a unique twenty-second anniversary gift that stands out while honoring the tradition of anniversary gemstones.

23rd Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Imperial Topaz Jewelry 

Imperial topaz is the official twenty-third anniversary gemstone. With its warm golden-orange to peachy-pink hues, imperial topaz represents loyalty and friendship—foundations of a lasting marriage. This precious gem makes for a stunning and meaningful twenty-third anniversary gift.

24th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Tanzanite Jewelry 

Tanzanite is the traditional twenty-fourth anniversary gemstone. This rare blue-violet gem, found only in Tanzania, symbolizes the unique and special nature of your relationship. Tanzanite jewelry makes for an exquisite twenty-fourth anniversary gift that celebrates the rarity of your enduring love.

25th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Silver Jubilee 

The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary is known as the Silver Jubilee. Silver represents the brilliance and radiance of your relationship over a quarter century. Silver jewelry, often combined with meaningful gemstones, makes for a classic and sophisticated gift to mark this significant milestone.

30th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Pearl Jubilee 

The thirtieth wedding anniversary is celebrated as the Pearl Jubilee. Pearls, formed over time through persistence and patience, symbolize the beautiful results of your thirty-year journey together. Pearl jewelry makes for an elegant and timeless gift that honors three decades of marriage.

35th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Emerald Jewelry 

Emerald returns as the official thirty-fifth anniversary gemstone. This precious green gem represents renewed growth and vitality, perfect for celebrating thirty-five years of marriage. Emerald jewelry symbolizes the continuing flourishing of your relationship after more than three decades together.

40th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Ruby Jewelry 

Ruby is the traditional fortieth anniversary gemstone. The deep red color of ruby represents the enduring passion and love that has sustained your relationship for four decades. Ruby jewelry makes for a luxurious and meaningful gift that celebrates this remarkable milestone.

45th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Sapphire Jewelry 

Sapphire is the official forty-fifth anniversary gemstone. Known for its durability and stunning blue color, sapphire represents the strength and beauty of your relationship after forty-five years. Sapphire jewelry makes for an elegant and meaningful gift that honors this impressive achievement.

50th Year Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Golden Jubilee 

The fiftieth wedding anniversary is celebrated as the Golden Jubilee. Gold, precious and enduring, symbolizes the invaluable nature of fifty years of marriage. Gold jewelry represents the culmination of a half-century journey together and stands as a testament to your enduring commitment and love.

AnniversaryGemstoneReady-to-wear Gift IdeasCustom Made Gift Ideas
1stGold Jewelry
2ndGarnet
3rdPearls
4thBlue Topaz
5thSapphire
6thAmethyst
7thYellow Sapphire
8thTourmaline
9thMorganite
10thDiamond
11thTurquoise
12thAlexandrite
13thCitrine
14thOpal
15thRuby
16thPeridot
17thWatches
18thCat's eye
19thAquamarine
20thEmerald
21stIolite
22ndSpinel
23rdImperial Topaz
24thTanzanite
25thSilver Jubilee
30thPearl Jubilee
35thEmerald
40thRuby
45thSapphire
50thGolden Jubilee

Never Stop Learning

When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.

Become a Member

Get Gemology Insights

Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!