Anniversary Jewelry by Year: The Definitive Guide
The tradition of associating specific materials with wedding anniversaries dates back to the medieval period in Germanic Europe. Originally, there were only a few milestone years with assigned themes. The comprehensive year-by-year list most people reference today was formalized in the early 20th century by the American National Retail Jewelers Association (now Jewelers of America), which, let us be honest, had a vested interest in getting people to buy jewelry more often.
That commercial origin aside, the tradition has staying power for a good reason: it gives you a framework for celebrating your marriage that evolves as the relationship deepens. The materials progress from simple and affordable in the early years to rare and precious as decades accumulate. There is poetry in that progression, even if it was written by a trade association.
We have been helping couples mark their anniversaries on 47th Street for over 60 years. Here is every year, what to buy, and what to realistically expect to spend.
The Early Years (1 to 5)
1st Anniversary: Paper (Traditional) / Clocks (Modern)
The paper anniversary is about the blank page ahead of you. For jewelry, this translates to something light, meaningful, and personal rather than extravagant.
What to buy: A delicate pendant with your wedding date engraved on the back. A simple gold or silver bangle engraved with a meaningful word or coordinate. Origami-inspired jewelry (folded metal designs) nods to the paper theme literally.
Price range: $100 to $500.
2nd Anniversary: Cotton (Traditional) / China (Modern)
Cotton represents flexibility and the strengthening of your bond.
What to buy: Pearl stud earrings are the classic choice here. Pearls are organic, soft, and their luster develops over time, paralleling a young marriage. Freshwater pearl studs are elegant and affordable. For something with more presence, a pearl pendant on a simple gold chain.
Price range: $150 to $800 for quality freshwater pearls. $800 to $3,000 for Akoya or South Sea pearls.
3rd Anniversary: Leather (Traditional) / Crystal (Modern)
What to buy: Crystal points to gemstones. A birthstone pendant or ring is personal and meaningful. If you want to stick closer to the crystal theme, a piece featuring clear quartz, aquamarine, or white topaz works beautifully.
Price range: $200 to $1,000.
4th Anniversary: Fruit/Flowers (Traditional) / Linen/Silk (Modern)
What to buy: Floral-inspired jewelry. Botanical rings with leaf or petal details. Enamel flower pendants. Ruby or garnet pieces evoke the richness of ripe fruit.
Price range: $250 to $1,200.
5th Anniversary: Wood (Traditional) / Silverware (Modern)
The fifth anniversary is the first real milestone. Five years means you have weathered the hardest adjustment period of marriage.
What to buy: Sterling silver jewelry is the obvious play on "silverware." A silver cuff bracelet, a silver and gemstone ring, or a pair of silver drop earrings. For something more substantial, a piece incorporating both silver and wood (petrified wood, wooden inlay) honors both themes.
Price range: $200 to $1,500.
Building Years (6 to 10)
6th Anniversary: Candy/Iron (Traditional) / Wood (Modern)
What to buy: Amethyst jewelry. The purple stone evokes sweetness and was historically believed to prevent intoxication, an ironic gift for the anniversary of a party that probably had an open bar. A simple amethyst pendant or ring in gold setting.
Price range: $300 to $1,500.
7th Anniversary: Wool/Copper (Traditional) / Desk Sets (Modern)
What to buy: Copper and rose gold share a warm, reddish tone. Rose gold jewelry, whether a bracelet, ring, or pair of earrings, celebrates this anniversary beautifully. A rose gold piece with a small diamond accent adds significance.
Price range: $400 to $2,000.
8th Anniversary: Pottery/Bronze (Traditional) / Linen/Lace (Modern)
What to buy: Tourmaline jewelry. Tourmaline comes in an extraordinary range of colors, from pink to green to watermelon (both pink and green). A tourmaline cocktail ring or pendant is distinctive and personal.
Price range: $400 to $2,500.
9th Anniversary: Pottery/Willow (Traditional) / Leather (Modern)
What to buy: Lapis lazuli or sapphire pieces. Both are deep blue stones that symbolize wisdom and depth. A sapphire pendant or pair of lapis stud earrings.
Price range: $300 to $3,000 depending on whether you go with lapis (affordable) or sapphire (precious).
10th Anniversary: Tin/Aluminum (Traditional) / Diamond (Modern)
The tenth anniversary is the first big one. A decade together earns something real.
What to buy: Diamond jewelry. A diamond pendant, a tennis bracelet, diamond stud earrings, or an upgrade to the engagement ring. The tenth anniversary is when many couples add to the original engagement ring set, whether that means a new band, a larger center stone, or a completely new ring that reflects where they are now.
Price range: $1,000 to $10,000+. Diamond studs in the 0.50 to 1.00 carat total weight range run $1,500 to $5,000. A tennis bracelet starts around $3,000 for a quality piece.
The Middle Years (11 to 20)
11th Anniversary: Steel (Traditional) / Fashion Jewelry (Modern)
What to buy: Something with an edge. A sleek titanium or tungsten piece, or a bold fashion ring with colored gemstones.
Price range: $300 to $1,500.
12th Anniversary: Silk/Linen (Traditional) / Pearls (Modern)
What to buy: A pearl strand. If you gave pearl studs at year two, this is the year to upgrade to a full necklace. An 18-inch strand of Akoya pearls (6.5 to 7mm) is timeless.
Price range: $500 to $3,000 for Akoya. $2,000 to $10,000+ for South Sea or Tahitian.
13th Anniversary: Lace (Traditional) / Textiles/Fur (Modern)
What to buy: Filigree jewelry. The delicate metalwork of filigree mirrors the intricate patterns of lace. A vintage-inspired filigree ring or brooch.
Price range: $400 to $2,000.
14th Anniversary: Ivory (Traditional) / Gold (Modern)
Ivory is no longer ethically acceptable, but the modern alternative works perfectly.
What to buy: A gold piece. A gold bangle, a gold chain necklace, or gold hoop earrings. This is the year for something that will be worn daily, a staple piece in 14k or 18k gold.
Price range: $500 to $3,000.
15th Anniversary: Crystal (Traditional) / Watches (Modern)
Fifteen years is significant. The modern gift of watches is a wonderful tradition.
What to buy: A quality timepiece. For her, a Cartier Tank, an Omega Constellation, or a Rolex Lady-Datejust. For him, an Omega Speedmaster, a Tudor Black Bay, or a Rolex Datejust. If your budget is more modest, a Longines or Hamilton offers excellent craftsmanship at accessible prices.
Price range: $1,000 to $15,000+ depending on the brand.
20th Anniversary: China (Traditional) / Platinum (Modern)
Twenty years. Two decades. This earns something serious.
What to buy: Platinum jewelry. A platinum diamond ring, a platinum pendant with a significant gemstone, or a platinum bracelet. Platinum is the most precious and durable of the jewelry metals, and it is a fitting material for a marriage that has proved its strength over two decades.
Many couples use the 20th anniversary to redesign or upgrade the engagement ring with a platinum setting and a larger diamond.
Price range: $2,000 to $15,000+.
The Milestone Decades (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50)
25th Anniversary: Silver
The Silver Anniversary is one of the most widely celebrated milestones.
What to buy: Despite the "silver" theme, most couples at this stage have moved well beyond sterling silver jewelry. The tradition is really about the brilliance and luster that silver represents. A diamond and white gold or platinum piece captures this perfectly.
Consider: a significant diamond pendant (1 to 2 carats), a pair of diamond drop earrings, or a diamond eternity band. If you gave diamond studs at year 10, consider upgrading the size.
Price range: $3,000 to $20,000+.
30th Anniversary: Pearl
What to buy: A statement pearl piece. By the 30th anniversary, you have likely given pearl studs and a pearl strand in earlier years. This is the time for something extraordinary: a South Sea pearl pendant with diamond accents, a Tahitian pearl cocktail ring, or a double-strand pearl necklace.
Price range: $3,000 to $15,000+.
35th Anniversary: Coral (Traditional) / Jade (Modern)
What to buy: Jade jewelry, particularly jadeite (the more precious variety), is magnificent. A jadeite bangle in fine translucent green, a carved jade pendant, or a jade and diamond ring. If jade does not appeal, coral-colored gemstones like rhodochrosite or pink tourmaline make beautiful alternatives.
Price range: $1,000 to $10,000+ for quality jadeite.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
The Ruby Anniversary deserves a ruby.
What to buy: A natural ruby piece. Ruby is one of the most valuable gemstones on earth, and fine specimens can cost more per carat than diamonds. A ruby and diamond ring, a ruby pendant, or ruby and diamond earrings.
When buying rubies, origin matters. Burmese (Myanmar) rubies command the highest prices. Mozambique rubies offer excellent quality at more accessible prices. Avoid heavily treated rubies that have been glass-filled; these are much less valuable and less durable.
Price range: $2,000 to $25,000+ depending on ruby quality and size.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
What to buy: A natural sapphire piece. Blue sapphires are the classic choice, but sapphires come in every color except red (red corundum is ruby). A Kashmir or Ceylon (Sri Lankan) sapphire in a fine blue is one of the most beautiful things in nature.
Consider a sapphire and diamond ring in a classic three-stone design, with the sapphire as the center stone flanked by diamonds.
Price range: $2,000 to $20,000+.
50th Anniversary: Gold
The Golden Anniversary. Fifty years together is a rare and remarkable achievement that deserves something truly extraordinary.
What to buy: This is the moment for a legacy piece. A significant diamond, a statement necklace, or a custom-designed piece that incorporates elements of the original wedding jewelry. Some couples have us redesign the original engagement ring with modern techniques while preserving the original stone, creating a piece that honors both where they started and where they are.
Price range: $5,000 to $50,000+. At this milestone, the budget is whatever feels right. You have earned the right to celebrate without limits.
Beyond the Milestones: Practical Advice
You Do Not Have to Follow the List
The traditional and modern anniversary themes are guidelines, not rules. If your partner would love a sapphire ring for your 10th anniversary instead of diamonds, buy the sapphire. The best anniversary gift is the one that shows you know the person you married, not the one that matches a chart.
Stack and Build Over Time
One of the most beautiful approaches to anniversary jewelry is building a collection over time. Start with a simple band at year one. Add a pendant at year five. Give diamond studs at year ten. By the 25th anniversary, she has a curated collection of meaningful pieces, each one tied to a specific year and memory.
Consider Upgrading Previous Gifts
Anniversaries are a natural time to upgrade earlier pieces. The engagement ring can be reset with a larger stone or a new setting. The pearl studs from year two can be upgraded to a larger size at year twelve. This approach builds on your shared history rather than replacing it.
Get the Right Size
Nothing deflates an anniversary surprise faster than a ring that does not fit. If you are buying a ring, find a way to get her current size without spoiling the surprise. Borrow a ring she wears on the correct finger and bring it to us. We will size it and have the gift ready.
Engraving Adds Meaning
A date, a word, a set of coordinates, even a brief phrase engraved on the inside of a ring or the back of a pendant transforms a beautiful piece of jewelry into an artifact of your marriage. Engraving typically costs $25 to $75 and takes minutes.
Budget Reality Check
Do not go into debt for an anniversary gift. The point of the tradition is to celebrate your marriage, and financial stress does the opposite. A thoughtful $300 piece given with genuine love beats a $10,000 piece that causes three months of credit card anxiety. Set a budget that feels comfortable and let us work within it. We have been doing this long enough to create something special at virtually any price point.
One Last Thought
The anniversary materials progress from paper to gold, from simple to precious, from everyday to extraordinary. That progression mirrors what happens in a good marriage. The early years are flexible and forgiving. The middle years build strength and depth. The later years are defined by enduring value and rare beauty.
Every piece of anniversary jewelry we make on 47th Street carries that story. Not just the story of the materials, but the story of the people who chose each other and kept choosing each other, year after year.
Come see us for your next anniversary. Whether it is your first or your fiftieth, we will help you find something that says exactly what you mean.