Anniversary Gemstone Guide: Ideas for Wearable Jewelry Gifts That Celebrate Each Year Together
At Seattle Jewelry Design & Repair, we believe anniversaries are milestones worth marking with something personal, lasting, and beautiful. While the tradition of anniversary gifts goes back centuries and varies by culture, jewelers today often reference a gemstone or metal for each year of marriage that reflects the journey you’ve taken together.
Below, you’ll find gemstone-focused jewelry ideas for meaningful anniversary gifts from Year 1 through Year 50+, along with suggestions on styles you might consider — from custom pieces to heirloom-worthy classics.
First Decade: Building Your Story
1st Anniversary – Gold Jewelry
Gold symbolizes happiness and hope for your future together. A solid gold pendant or a classic band can be a beautiful first-year keepsake.
2nd Anniversary – Garnet Jewelry
Garnet’s deep red hues evoke passion and commitment. Consider garnet studs or a garnet-accented ring.
3rd Anniversary – Pearl Jewelry
Pearls are elegant and timeless — ideal for commemorating stability and wisdom gained early in marriage.
4th Anniversary – Blue Topaz Jewelry
Blue topaz speaks to loyalty and trust. A pendant or bracelet with this calm blue gem makes a lovely personal gift.
5th Anniversary – Sapphire Jewelry
Whether classic blue or in modern hues like pink or yellow, sapphires make a striking and meaningful gift.
6th Anniversary – Amethyst Jewelry
Purple amethyst brings both beauty and symbolism of peace — ideal for earrings, rings, or pendants.
7th Anniversary – Yellow Sapphire Jewelry
Bright and joyful, yellow sapphires make cheerful accent pieces in necklaces or custom earrings.
8th Anniversary – Tourmaline Jewelry
Tourmaline comes in many colors, so you can choose a stone that fits your partner’s favorite palette.
9th Anniversary – Morganite Jewelry
Soft, rosy morganite conveys romance and tenderness — beautiful in minimalist rings or pendants.
10th Anniversary – Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds are a classic for a reason: enduring strength and sparkle. Think anniversary bands or enhanced classic pieces.
Years 11–20: Deepening Bonds
11th Anniversary – Turquoise Jewelry
Vivid turquoise brings unique color and character to bracelets and pendants alike.
12th Anniversary – Alexandrite Jewelry
This rare color-changing gem — green in daylight, reddish in incandescent light — is a poetic symbol of growth and transformation.
13th Anniversary – Citrine Jewelry
Sunny citrine channels joy and harmony; it’s perfect for cheerful gem accents.
14th Anniversary – Opal Jewelry
Opal’s shifting play of color reflects the many facets of a long-shared life.
15th Anniversary – Ruby Jewelry
The deep red ruby stands for passion and enduring love — an elegant choice for rings or pendants.
16th Anniversary – Peridot Jewelry
Lively green peridot symbolizes strength and good fortune — consider sunlit peridot studs or a custom piece.
17th Anniversary – Timepiece (Watches)
Shifting from gemstones, a finely crafted watch celebrates time spent together — and time yet to come.
18th Anniversary – Cat’s Eye Jewelry
Cat’s eye gems are distinctive and full of character, ideal for unique anniversary rings or pendants.
19th Anniversary – Aquamarine Jewelry
Serene aquamarine makes lovely jewelry with a calming ocean-like hue.
20th Anniversary – Emerald Jewelry
Emerald’s lush green symbolizes growth, prosperity, and renewal after two decades together.
Milestones Beyond Two Decades
21st Anniversary – Iolite Jewelry
Cool violet-blue iolite offers a refined yet understated accent that works beautifully in pendants or earrings.
22nd Anniversary – Spinel Jewelry
Spinel’s range of colors — from vivid reds to deep blues — allows you to tailor the piece to your partner’s style.
23rd Anniversary – Imperial Topaz Jewelry
Warm golden orange hues embody loyalty and friendship — consider a statement ring or pendant.
24th Anniversary – Tanzanite Jewelry
Rare and mesmerizing, tanzanite captures the uniqueness of a long-shared life together.
25th Anniversary – Silver Jewelry
A Silver Jubilee calls for classic sterling silver pieces — perhaps paired with a gemstone that reflects personal meaning.
30th Anniversary – Pearl Jewelry
Pearls mark three decades with elegance and timeless sophistication.
35th Anniversary – Emerald Jewelry
Emerald returns to celebrate continued growth and vitality in your relationship.
40th Anniversary – Ruby Jewelry
The deep red of ruby makes a bold and passionate statement at this milestone.
45th Anniversary – Sapphire Jewelry
Sapphire’s beauty and durability reflect decades of shared strength and depth.
50th Anniversary – Gold Jewelry
A Golden Jubilee deserves gold that endures as long as your love. Consider custom gold bands, pendants, or heirloom-grade designs.
Referenced from International Gem Society
Personalizing Your Anniversary Jewelry Gifts
At Seattle Jewelry Design & Repair, we can help you:
Design custom pieces using your chosen anniversary gemstone or metal.
Repurpose heirloom stones into wearable jewelry with renewed meaning.
Repair and restore treasured items so they continue to tell your story.
Whether you’re celebrating your first year or your fiftieth, a thoughtful piece of jewelry can become a cherished symbol of the journey you share. If you’d like help translating a gemstone theme into a design that’s unique to your relationship, we’d be delighted to assist.
Hey there, I’m Nina!
I’m a Seattle-based jeweler specializing in custom designs, heirloom restorations, and thoughtful repairs, all done by hand, start to finish, right here in my studio. Every piece I work on carries a story, and I take pride in preserving that story through craftsmanship, care, and attention to detail.
Whether you’re dreaming up a one-of-a-kind creation, bringing new life to a family treasure, or simply fixing a favorite everyday piece, my goal is to make the experience personal, collaborative, and meaningful.
If you have an idea, or even just a feeling, about what you want, let’s bring it to life together.
