Top Anniversary Gemstones: A Year-by-Year Guide

Need an anniversary gemstone for your celebration? This guide lists each year’s designated anniversary gemstones and their meanings, helping you choose the perfect gift.

Key Takeaways

• The tradition of assigning specific gemstones for wedding anniversaries dates back to Ancient Rome and medieval Germany and has evolved to symbolize deeper meanings for each milestone.

• Popular gemstones for significant anniversaries include gold (1st and 50th anniversary), diamond (10th and 60th anniversary), sapphire (5th and 45th anniversary), and ruby (15th and 80th anniversary).

• Each anniversary gemstone carries symbolic meanings that enhance the significance of the celebration, such as gold symbolizing prosperity and brilliance for the first anniversary and sapphire representing strength and joy for the fifth anniversary.

Introduction

The tradition of giving specific gemstones for wedding anniversaries originated in Ancient Rome and medieval Germany. These cultures believed certain stones possessed unique spiritual and healing properties, bringing good fortune and protecting against negative energy. Over time, this practice evolved into the concept of wedding anniversary gifts, where each anniversary is often marked by a specific gemstone or metal, symbolizing deeper meanings. Some examples include:

• 1st anniversary: Gold

• 5th anniversary: Sapphire

• 10th anniversary: Diamond

• 25th anniversary: Silver

• 50th anniversary: Gold

Wedding anniversary stones play a significant role in gift-giving traditions, offering a systematic guide that associates specific gemstones with various milestone anniversaries.

These anniversary stones and metals can be incorporated into anniversary gifts to add a special touch and meaning to the celebration.

Some gemstones, like diamonds, repeat on multiple anniversaries, offering opportunities to upgrade or add to a jewelry collection. This repetition not only reflects the stone’s enduring beauty but also signifies the strengthening bond between partners.

Each of the anniversary gems associated with an anniversary stone often carries a deeper symbolic meaning related to the milestone, enhancing the significance of the celebration.

Exploring each anniversary gemstone reveals how these traditions enrich your celebrations. Here are some examples:

• Gold for the first anniversary

• Pearl for the thirtieth anniversary

• Ruby for the fortieth anniversary

• Sapphire for the forty-fifth anniversary

• Alexandrite for the fifty-fifth anniversary

Each wedding anniversary stone tells a story of love, commitment, and the journey of marriage.

First Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Gold

Gold symbolizes brilliance and prosperity, making it ideal for celebrating the accomplishments and triumphs of the first wedding anniversary. The choice of gold reflects the couple’s initial year of marriage, often filled with joy and success. Golden pearls, for instance, symbolize purity and loyalty, creativity, optimism, and happiness.

Various ways exist to incorporate gold into your anniversary gift ideas. Consider gold jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, or even a wedding band upgrade. Amber, a gold-coloured gemstone, lifts spirits and protects against negative energies, making it a fitting choice for a first-anniversary present.

Whether you choose a simple piece of gold jewelry or something more elaborate, this precious metal is a lasting reminder of your first year together.

Second Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Garnet

Garnet, the designated gemstone for the second wedding anniversary, symbolizes strength and commitment, making it a fitting choice for this milestone. Known as a ‘commitment stone,’ garnet is perfect for symbolizing perseverance and strength within the relationship. Its deep red colour is striking and meaningful, representing the enduring bond between partners.

Thoughtful garnet jewelry gifts could include rings, pendants, or earrings.

Third Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Pearl

Pearls are the gemstone associated with the third wedding anniversary, symbolizing beauty and purity. Different types of pearls, such as:

• Akoya

• Freshwater

• Tahitian

• South Sea

offer unique colours and characteristics, each bringing its own charm to anniversary jewelry.

Pearls make stunning accents in fine jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, and anniversary rings. The timeless elegance and diverse colours and shapes of pearls offer versatility for third-anniversary celebrations. Whether you choose a classic pearl necklace or a pair of elegant pearl earrings, this gemstone embodies the grace and beauty of your relationship.

Fourth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz represents the fourth wedding anniversary and symbolizes:

• Honesty

• Deep emotional connection

• Love

• Good fortune

Known for its calming properties, Blue Topaz brings peace and compassion to relationships, making it an ideal gemstone for this milestone, just like the blue sapphire.

To mark your fourth anniversary with sincerity and emotional clarity, you might consider gifting Blue Topaz jewelry, such as a pendant or ring.

Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Sapphire

Sapphire is the fifth wedding anniversary gemstone, symbolizing strength, joy, and peace within a relationship. Ancient cultures revered sapphires for their spiritual powers and association with celestial bodies. Celestial blue sapphires are particularly connected with the planet Venus, representing love and springtime.

Royalty often wore sapphires to attract wealth and protect them from envy and infidelity, highlighting their significance and power. Whether set in a ring, necklace, or earrings, sapphire jewelry makes a meaningful and beautiful fifth-anniversary gift, celebrating five years of love and dedication.

Sixth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Amethyst

Amethyst symbolizes spiritual healing, calmness, and wisdom for the sixth wedding anniversary. This violet-to-purple quartz gemstone is known for its unique colour and metaphysical properties, enhancing intuition and spiritual awareness.

In the Middle Ages, amethyst was thought to calm the mind and help in making wise decisions. Today, it is often used in feng shui to clear negative energy from a space. Consider gifting amethyst jewelry like a pendant or bracelet to infuse your relationship with peace and wisdom on your six-year anniversary.

Seventh Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Onyx

Onyx is the gemstone for the seventh anniversary, known for its durability and popularity in men’s jewelry. This form of microcrystalline quartz is favoured for its bold elegance and hard nature, making it suitable for rings and other jewelry pieces.

Styled as a statement piece, onyx rings can provide a striking contrast to any outfit.

Eighth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Tourmaline

Tourmaline is the gemstone representing the eighth wedding anniversary, symbolizing reconciliation and compassion. Known as the ‘gemstone of the rainbow,’ tourmaline comes in a wide array of colours, each carrying its own unique significance.

Green tourmaline symbolizes renewal and financial prosperity, while pink and red varieties, like rubellite, were highly prized by Chinese royalty. The diverse colours and meanings of tourmaline make it a versatile and meaningful gift, perfect for celebrating eight years of marriage.

Ninth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is the gemstone for the ninth wedding anniversary, symbolizing truth and communication. This unique stone is known for its deep indigo colour, often marked by gold-coloured pyrite flecks. Lapis Lazuli has been associated with wisdom, truth, and honour throughout history, making it a fitting choice for this milestone.

Consider gifting lapis lazuli jewelry, such as earrings or pendants, to celebrate nine years of marriage with honesty and clarity.

Tenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Diamond

Diamonds are the gemstone for the tenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing enduring love and strength. Renowned for their lustre, hardness, and clarity, diamonds represent the enduring bond and commitment of a decade of marriage.

Consider lab diamond eternity rings or bracelets as gifts for the tenth anniversary. These pieces signify the beauty and strength of your relationship and offer a lasting reminder of your enduring love.

Eleventh Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Turquoise

Turquoise is the eleventh anniversary gemstone, known for its good fortune and healing properties. This master healer stone is popular in modern jewelry designs, adding a vibrant and meaningful touch to any piece.

Gift options such as a turquoise cuff bracelet or turquoise earrings and pendant can be considered. These beautiful pieces celebrate your eleventh anniversary and bring positive energy and healing into your relationship.

Twelfth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Jade

Jade is the gemstone for the twelfth wedding anniversary, symbolizing luck, wisdom, and stability. This valued gemstone is often carved into beads or cabochons, representing the sun or eternity.

As you celebrate twelve years together, gifting jade jewelry like a pendant or bracelet can imbue your relationship with these positive qualities.

Thirteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Citrine

Citrine is the gemstone associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing joy and positivity. Known for its energizing properties and ability to repel negative energies, citrine makes a perfect gift for this milestone.

Citrine jewelry, such as rings or necklaces, can bring warmth and happiness to your relationship as you celebrate thirteen years together.

Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Opal

Opal is the gemstone for the fourteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing love and hope. This unique stone is known for its rainbow-like flashes of colour, making it a striking and meaningful gift.

Consider gifting opal jewelry, such as a pendant or ring, to mark fourteen years of marriage with love and optimism.

Fifteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Ruby

Ruby is the gemstone for the fifteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing passionate love. Known for their bright red colour and lustre, rubies stimulate passion and protect from unhappiness or misfortune.

Gifting ruby jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, or earrings, can celebrate fifteen years of marriage with a symbol of enduring love and dedication. Natural untreated rubies are particularly valuable, making them a special and meaningful gift.

Sixteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Peridot

Peridot is the gemstone for the sixteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing compassion and harmony. Known as the August birthstone, peridot brings a unique touch to any piece of jewelry.

To honour sixteen years of marriage with compassion and harmony, you might consider gifting peridot jewelry like a pendant or earrings.

Seventeenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Carnelian

Carnelian is the gemstone for the seventeenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing courage, endurance, and motivation. This vibrant orange-red gemstone is often used in rings and pendants, making it a striking and meaningful gift.

Seventeen years of marriage can be celebrated with a symbol of strength and motivation by gifting carnelian jewelry.

Eighteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Cat's Eye

Cat’s Eye chrysoberyl is the gemstone for the eighteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing love, understanding, and happiness. Known for its unique appearance that resembles the eye of a cat, this gemstone displays a chatoyancy effect, adding to its distinct visual appeal.

Cat’s Eye chrysoberyl is believed to remove gloominess from one’s life, making it a meaningful and powerful gift for this milestone. Consider gifting Cat’s Eye jewelry, such as a ring or pendant, to celebrate eighteen years of marriage with love and understanding.

Nineteenth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the gemstone for the nineteenth wedding anniversary, symbolizing peace and love. This blue gemstone is highly valued for its ability to complement most skin types, making it a popular choice in jewelry.

To mark nineteen years of marriage with peace and love, you might consider gifting aquamarine jewelry like a necklace or earrings.

Twentieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Emerald

Emerald symbolizes loyalty, new beginnings, and security, making it a fitting gemstone for the twentieth wedding anniversary. Historically significant, emeralds were mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC and were highly prized by Cleopatra.

Gifting emerald jewelry, such as a ring or necklace, can celebrate twenty years of marriage with a symbol of loyalty and new beginnings. The unique green colour of emeralds adds a touch of elegance and significance to any anniversary gift.

Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Silver Jubilee

Silver represents the 25th wedding anniversary, also known as the silver anniversary. This milestone of love and commitment is often celebrated with sterling silver jewelry, symbolizing the strength and durability of the relationship. Consider gifting a silver chain link ring, earrings, or even a silver necklace to commemorate this special occasion.

Such thoughtful wedding anniversary gift options reflect the enduring bond shared over twenty-five years of marriage.

Thirtieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Pearl Jubilee

Pearl is the gemstone associated with the thirtieth wedding anniversary, the Pearl Jubilee. This anniversary symbolizes love, honesty, faith, purity, and integrity, like how a pearl forms gradually over time within an oyster. The beauty and resilience of pearls make them a fitting gift for celebrating thirty years of marriage.

Pearls make a meaningful gift for a thirtieth anniversary, symbolizing a lasting marriage bond's unique beauty and rarity. They serve as a timeless reminder of the wonderful journey the couple shares.

Popular pearl jewelry gifts include Hanadama necklaces, Tahitian pearl earrings, and Akoya pearl sets, each embodying the wisdom, purity, and resilience that pearls symbolize. These thoughtful gifts serve as timeless reminders of your enduring love and commitment.

Thirty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Emerald

Emerald represents the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, symbolizing loyalty and new beginnings. Emeralds are known for their unique green colour and often translucent, wispy inclusions, making stunning and meaningful jewelry pieces.

Consider gifting an emerald ring, necklace, or bracelet to celebrate thirty-five years of marriage with a touch of elegance and significance.

Fortieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Ruby

Ruby is the gemstone representing the fortieth wedding anniversary, symbolizing love and passion. Common ruby gifts include rings, necklaces, and earrings, often featuring intricate designs such as heart shapes to emphasize their symbolism. Ruby jewelry set in white gold or platinum adds an elegant touch, celebrating forty years of enduring love and dedication.

Forty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Sapphire

Sapphire is the gemstone that represents the forty-fifth wedding anniversary, signifying enduring love. Blue sapphires, in particular, symbolize lasting adoration between the couple. According to legend, the sapphire’s colour will shift from blue to green if the wearer’s love wanes, adding a unique and meaningful touch to this anniversary gift.

Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Golden Jubilee

Gold is the gemstone associated with the fiftieth wedding anniversary, symbolizing the preciousness and enduring quality of fifty years of marriage. Celebrating a gold anniversary emphasizes the value and significance of the relationship, making it a cherished milestone.

Popular gifts include gold jewelry, such as a 24K gold-dipped rose, reflecting the timeless beauty of the relationship.

Fifty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Alexandrite

Alexandrite is the gemstone for the fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, symbolizing ever-changing love. This unique stone reflects a long marriage's dynamic and evolving nature, making it a singular and meaningful gift for this milestone.

To honour fifty-five years of marriage with elegance and significance, consider gifting alexandrite jewelry like a beaded statement necklace or layered pendant.

Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Diamond

The diamond represents everlasting love for the sixtieth wedding anniversary. Known for their enduring strength and unmatched brilliance, diamonds symbolize the resilient bond formed over sixty years of marriage.

Glamorous lab-created diamond anniversary bands, diamond eternity rings, or precious diamond earrings could be considered diamond jewelry gifts to celebrate this remarkable milestone.

Seventieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Platinum Jubilee

Platinum is the gemstone that represents the seventieth wedding anniversary, highlighting the milestone with its enduring and precious qualities. Symbolizing the strength and longevity of the relationship, platinum jewelry like rings and bangles make excellent gifts for this celebration.

Seventy-Fifth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Sapphire

The seventy-fifth wedding anniversary gemstone is sapphire, representing this monumental milestone in a marriage. Renowned for its durability, sapphire makes a lasting choice for anniversary jewelry.

Mixing different coloured sapphires for unique jewelry pieces can enhance the beauty and significance of this extraordinary celebration.

Eightieth Wedding Anniversary Gemstone: Ruby

Ruby is the gemstone that represents the eightieth wedding anniversary, symbolizing deep love and companionship. The deep red colour of rubies represents enduring love and the strength of a lifelong partnership, making it a fitting choice for celebrating eighty years of marriage.

Consider gifting ruby jewelry like rings or necklaces to honour this remarkable milestone with a symbol of lifelong love and protection.

Summary

As we journey through the gemstones associated with each wedding anniversary, we see a rich tapestry of meanings and traditions that add depth to our celebrations. From the brilliance of gold in the first year to the rare beauty of alexandrite in the fifty-fifth, each stone tells a story of love, commitment, and the journey of marriage. These gemstones serve as beautiful wedding anniversary gifts and symbols of the milestones achieved and the memories created together. The historical significance and evolution of these gifts highlight how their value and meaning increase as couples celebrate more years together.

The tradition of gifting gemstones for anniversaries offers a unique way to honour and celebrate each year of marriage. Whether it’s the enduring love symbolized by diamonds or the passionate love represented by rubies, each gemstone adds a layer of meaning to the celebration. Wedding anniversary stones play a crucial role in this tradition, providing a systematic guide that associates specific gemstones with various milestone anniversaries. By understanding the significance of these stones, we can choose gifts that truly reflect the depth and beauty of our relationships.

As you celebrate your anniversaries, may these gemstones bring joy, love, and happiness into your life. Embrace the tradition, and let each gemstone remind you of the precious moments and the journey shared with your partner. Here’s to celebrating love, commitment, and the wonderful milestones of marriage with these beautiful gemstones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we give gemstones for anniversaries?

Gemstones are given for anniversaries because of the tradition's roots in Ancient Rome and medieval Germany. Each gemstone carries symbolic meanings and offers spiritual healing and protection against negative energy.

What is the significance of gold for the first wedding anniversary?

Gold is significant for the first wedding anniversary as it symbolizes brilliance and prosperity, reflecting the couple's initial year of marriage. It's an ideal gemstone to celebrate accomplishments and triumphs.

What gemstone represents the tenth wedding anniversary?

The gemstone representing the tenth wedding anniversary is a diamond. It symbolizes enduring love and strength, reflecting the enduring bond and commitment of a decade of marriage.

How is the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebrated?

The fiftieth wedding anniversary, known as the Golden Jubilee, is celebrated with gold to symbolize the preciousness of fifty years of marriage. Popular gifts include gold jewelry, such as a 24K gold-dipped rose.

What does the gemstone alexandrite symbolize for the fifty-fifth anniversary?

Alexandrite symbolizes ever-changing love and reflects a long marriage's dynamic and evolving nature, making it a meaningful gift for the fifty-fifth wedding anniversary.