There’s nothing quite like celebrating a wedding anniversary - a birthday for your love. Celebrating wedding anniversaries is a cherished tradition that allows us to reflect upon and look forward to the future of the most meaningful journey in life. One of the most meaningful ways to mark these special milestones is by gifting anniversary jewelry. Each year of marriage is associated with a specific gemstone or metal, symbolizing various aspects of love, commitment, and shared experiences. Today, we’re going to take a look at the significance of wedding anniversary stones and metals.
Introduction to Wedding Anniversary Stones
Though the idea of gift giving for wedding anniversaries goes back to ancient Roman times, gift giving for wedding anniversaries as we understand it dates back to the Victorian era when marrying for love, as opposed to arranged marriages for the benefit of the larger family, became more normal.
Each anniversary stone carries its own symbolism and significance, reflecting different aspects of a couple’s relationship. From the early years marked by optimism and growth to the later years that celebrate enduring love and commitment, the stones chosen for each anniversary offer a way to express heartfelt sentiments. They also serve as reminders of the couple's journey together, celebrating the milestones they have achieved and the challenges they have overcome. You may notice that some stones repeat. For instance, pearls are gifted for both the 3rd and 30th anniversaries. Like the relationships they represent, think of these as opportunities to upgrade or add to your beloveds collection.
There is no singular list of gemstones that should be considered absolute, nor are these gemstones the only gifts you should consider giving for the specified years. What's most important is that this list helps you commemorate the love, adoration and hard work that it takes to make a marriage thrive for a year or seventy!
Anniversary Gifts by Year
1st Anniversary: Gold
- Symbolism: Prosperity, success, and adventure.
- Significance: Gold is a classic symbol of wealth and prosperity. It represents the solid foundation of a marriage and the bright future ahead.
2nd Anniversary: Garnet
- Symbolism: Passion, protection, and love.
- Significance: Garnet is known for its deep red color, symbolizing love and passion. It also represents protection, signifying the couple’s commitment to safeguarding their relationship.
3rd Anniversary: Pearl
- Symbolism: Purity, wisdom, and integrity.
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Significance: Pearls are organic gems that represent purity and wisdom. They are formed over time, much like a marriage that grows and strengthens with each passing year.
4th Anniversary: Blue Topaz
- Symbolism: Communication, clarity, and strength.
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Significance: Blue topaz is associated with clear communication and emotional balance. It represents the couple’s ability to understand and support each other.
5th Anniversary: Sapphire
- Symbolism: Loyalty, trust, and honesty.
- Significance: Sapphires are renowned for their deep blue color, symbolizing loyalty and trust. They are durable stones that represent the strength and integrity of a five-year marriage.
6th Anniversary: Amethyst
- Symbolism: Peace, courage, and stability.
- Significance: Amethyst is a calming stone that represents peace and stability. It is believed to bring courage and strength to the wearer, reflecting the couple’s ability to support each other through challenges.
7th Anniversary: Onyx
- Symbolism: Protection, strength, and grounding.
- Significance: Onyx is a powerful stone associated with protection and strength. It is believed to provide grounding and stability, representing the couple’s solid bond.
8th Anniversary: Tourmaline
- Symbolism: Love, compassion, and healing.
- Significance: Tourmaline is a versatile stone that comes in a variety of colors. It is associated with love and compassion, symbolizing the couple’s deepening connection and understanding.
9th Anniversary: Lapis Lazuli
- Symbolism: Wisdom, truth, and friendship.
- Significance: Lapis lazuli is a rich blue stone that symbolizes wisdom and truth. It is believed to strengthen friendships and foster open communication.
10th Anniversary: Diamond
- Symbolism: Eternal love, strength, and resilience.
- Significance: Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of eternal love and commitment. Their strength and durability represent the resilience of a ten-year marriage.
11th Anniversary: Turquoise
- Symbolism: Protection, healing, and tranquility.
- Significance: Turquoise is a soothing stone that represents protection and healing. It is believed to bring tranquility and peace to the wearer.
12th Anniversary: Jade
- Symbolism: Harmony, balance, and prosperity.
- Significance: Jade is a revered stone in many cultures, symbolizing harmony and balance. It is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the wearer.
13th Anniversary: Citrine
- Symbolism: Joy, abundance, and energy.
- Significance: Citrine is a bright and cheerful stone that symbolizes joy and abundance. It is believed to bring positive energy and happiness to the wearer.
14th Anniversary: Opal
- Symbolism: Creativity, inspiration, and passion.
- Significance: Opal is a mesmerizing stone that symbolizes creativity and inspiration. It is believed to enhance passion and bring out the best in the wearer.
15th Anniversary: Ruby
- Symbolism: Love, passion, and courage.
- Significance: Rubies are renowned for their deep red color, symbolizing love and passion. They are also associated with courage, reflecting the strength and resilience of a fifteen-year marriage.
16th Anniversary: Peridot
- Symbolism: Strength, growth, and renewal.
- Significance: Peridot is a vibrant green stone that symbolizes strength and growth. It is believed to bring renewal and positive energy to the wearer.
17th Anniversary: Carnelian
- Symbolism: Courage, Vitality and Motivation
- Significance: Carnelian is the color of deep, golden corn and is said to have healing properties that can contribute to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Some believe it can help with emotional balance, physical healing, and spiritual growth.
18th Anniversary: Cat’s Eye
- Symbolism: Protection, insight, and confidence.
- Significance: Cat’s eye is a unique stone that symbolizes protection and insight. It is believed to bring confidence and clarity to the wearer.
19th Anniversary: Aquamarine
- Symbolism: Calm, clarity, and harmony.
- Significance: Aquamarine is a soothing stone that symbolizes calm and clarity. It is believed to bring harmony and balance to the wearer.
20th Anniversary: Emerald
- Symbolism: Love, renewal, and growth.
- Significance: Emeralds are prized for their rich green color, symbolizing love and renewal. They are also associated with growth and prosperity, reflecting the couple’s journey together.
25th Anniversary: Silver
- Symbolism: Reflection, strength, and harmony.
- Significance: Silver is a classic symbol of reflection and harmony. It represents the strength and durability of a twenty-five-year marriage.
30th Anniversary: Pearl Jubilee
- Symbolism: Purity, wisdom, and integrity.
- Significance: Pearls are organic gems that represent purity and wisdom. They are formed over time, much like a marriage that grows and strengthens with each passing year.
35th Anniversary: Emerald
- Symbolism: Love, renewal, and growth.
- Significance: Emeralds are prized for their rich green color, symbolizing love and renewal. They are also associated with growth and prosperity, reflecting the couple’s journey together.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
- Symbolism: Love, passion, and courage.
- Significance: Rubies are renowned for their deep red color, symbolizing love and passion. They are also associated with courage, reflecting the strength and resilience of a forty-year marriage.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
- Symbolism: Loyalty, trust, and honesty.
- Significance: Sapphires are renowned for their deep blue color, symbolizing loyalty and trust. They are durable stones that represent the strength and integrity of a forty-five-year marriage.
50th Anniversary: Gold
- Symbolism: Prosperity, success, and adventure.
- Significance: Gold is a classic symbol of wealth and prosperity. It represents the solid foundation of a marriage and the bright future ahead.
55th Anniversary: Alexandrite
- Symbolism: Balance, transformation, and joy.
- Significance: Alexandrite is a rare and unique stone that changes color depending on the light. It symbolizes balance and transformation, reflecting the couple’s adaptability and joy in their relationship.
60th Anniversary: Diamond
- Symbolism: Eternal love, strength, and resilience.
- Significance: Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of eternal love and commitment. Their strength and durability represent the resilience of a sixty-year marriage. Sixty years is a great time to consider upgrading the center stone of an engagement ring to something over the top.
65th Anniversary: Blue Sapphire
- Symbolism: Loyalty, trust, and honesty.
- Significance: Blue sapphires symbolize loyalty and trust. They are durable stones that represent the strength and integrity of a sixty-five-year marriage.
70th Anniversary: Platinum
- Symbolism: Endurance, strength, and purity.
- Significance: Platinum is a precious metal that symbolizes endurance and strength. It represents the pure and lasting love of a seventy-year marriage.
75th Anniversary: Diamond
- Symbolism: Eternal love, strength, and resilience.
- Significance: Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of eternal love and commitment. Their strength and durability represent the resilience of a seventy-five-year marriage. For year seventy-five, why not think about something a little different like a fancy yellow diamond?
Explore Diamonds at Jack Weir & Sons
Wedding anniversary stones offer a meaningful and beautiful way to celebrate each milestone in a couple’s journey together. From the early years of a relationship often marked by optimism and growth to the later years that celebrate enduring love and commitment, each stone carries its own symbolism and significance. These stones serve as lasting reminders of the love and memories shared over the years. By giving a piece of jewelry featuring the appropriate anniversary stone, you can express your heartfelt sentiments and create a lasting keepsake. With their timeless beauty and enduring symbolism, anniversary stones are the perfect way to honor the love and commitment that grows stronger with each passing year. But most importantly, as you celebrate each anniversary, we hope you can take the time to reflect on the journey you’ve shared and look forward to the future. At Jack Weir & Sons, we're always excited to help you find the perfect piece to symbolize your love - never hesitate to reach out and say hello!
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