Your guide to wedding anniversary jewellery gifts by year
What am I doing on my own Wedding Anniversary? I’m writing this guide to anniversary metals and gemstones so you can choose the perfect wedding anniversary jewellery gift!
Jump to your Wedding Anniversary for ideas:
1st - 10th • 11th-20th • 21st-25th • 30th +
1st Wedding Anniversary Gift: Gold
For the first anniversary, gold is a stunning choice for a gift. And it actually comes in many colours, so you’re not confined to using yellow.
Consider gold jewellery like a necklace, bracelet, cufflinks or a pair of earrings to celebrate your first year of marriage.
Check out my gold jewellery for sale or arrange a consultation to design a bespoke jewellery commission with me.
Get the lowdown on gold below and let me know if you have any preferences on the gold used in your dream piece of anniversary jewellery.
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Mined Gold: About half the world's gold is mined in South Africa. Significant quantities are also found in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and Russia.
Recycled Gold: As it is virtually indestructible, nearly all of the gold ever mined is theoretically still accessible in one form or another and potentially available for recycling. You might own some gold that can be recycled into a new piece!
Fairtrade Gold: Fair trade gold is a certification that ensures the gold used in jewellery has been sourced responsibly and mined with respect for human rights and the environment. The certification guarantees that miners receive fair wages, work in safer conditions, and have access to education and healthcare. Additionally, fair trade gold promotes environmental protection by requiring sustainable mining practices, such as reducing the use of toxic chemicals and preserving biodiversity. I really like using Fair trade gold with my ethically mined gems and I know my clients value this option too.
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A karat (or carat) is the term used to describe how pure the gold is in a piece of jewellery.
Pure gold is 24 karat (k), but it is also very soft, so it is mixed into an alloy with other metals to make it stronger and more durable for wear in jewellery and watches.
Most gold jewellery in the UK is either made in 18k or 9k, but other karats are popular in jewellery made around the world.
18k yellow gold is made of 75% pure gold with the final 25% an alloy (such as silver, copper, and zinc). The silver and copper help to harden the gold, and zinc prevents oxidation that can cause the metal to tarnish.
A 9k gold alloy contains 9/24ths pure gold (37.5%), while the rest of the alloy is made up of another metals.
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In yellow gold alloys, the combination of gold, silver, copper and zinc produces a bright golden yellow colour that is highly resistant to corrosion and scratching.
Rose gold alloys have a higher percentage of copper compared to the silver and zinc content, to give it that delicate warm pinky hue.
White gold alloys substitute nickel, manganese or palladium for the copper and silver used in yellow gold. These alloys produce a pale silvery-white gold popular for jewellery. The precious metal rhodium is also applied as plating to white gold alloys to harden the gold and enhance its pure whiteness.
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Most precious metals look their best when they have been polished to a high shine, however a brushed, hammered or other textured effect can be used to create something more artisanal.
2nd Wedding Anniversary Jewellery Gift: Garnet
Garnet is the official gemstone for the 2nd wedding anniversary - but it doesn’t just come in beautiful dark red … take a look at the gorgeous green, purple and orange garnets in this video - all perfect for a piece of anniversary jewellery.
Check out my garnet jewellery for sale or arrange a consultation to design a bespoke jewellery commission with me. I can help you to decide the best colour to suit your wife as you celebrate your second anniversary!
3rd Wedding Anniversary Jewellery Gift: Pearl
Pearls are delicate and beautiful and they come in a huge range of colours from pure white to deep grey.
Here’s a bespoke necklace I designed using Tahitian black pearls and diamonds.
Arrange a consultation with me today to design a bespoke jewellery commission using the pearl colours and sizes that will perfectly suit your wife
4th Wedding Anniversary Gemstone Gift: Blue Topaz
Topaz, occurs in gem quality in various colours: colourless, brown, yellow, orange, pink, the red (super rare), and blue, which is is by far the most popular variety in jewellery. Interestingly enough, blue topaz is not that abundant in nature and it is a known fact that the vast majority of all blue topaz in jewellery today has had its colour obtained by treatment, including artificial irradiation. The most popular shades are (from left) Sky Blue (pale), Swiss Blue (a lovely mid-blue) and London Blue (my favourite, a deep teal-blue) .
Fun fact - I was nearly called Topaz until my Mum settled on the name Jade!
Its a glorious stone and at a great price-point that means even sizeable gems are good value and will make a stunning anniversary jewellery gift.
Arrange a consultation with me today to design a bespoke jewellery commission using beautiful blue topaz.
5th Wedding Anniversary Gemstone Gift: Sapphire
Although blue specimens are most famous, sapphires come in almost every colour, so there’s a multitude of options when it comes to gemstone jewellery gifts for wedding anniversaries.
Check out my sapphire jewellery for sale or arrange a consultation to design a bespoke jewellery commission with me. I can help you to decide the best colour to suit your wife as you celebrate your fifth wedding anniversary!
6th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Amethyst
You’re safe to open a good bottle of wine tonight, as Amethyst is said to protect its owner from drunkenness! I’m not sure it really works, but deep purple amethyst is a beautiful site to behold even if your vision is a bit blurry!
Its a glorious stone and at a great price-point that means even sizeable gems are good value!
Arrange a consultation with me today to design a bespoke jewellery commission using beautiful amethyst.
7th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Onyx (or yellow Sapphire)
A large black gemstone looks really bold in jewellery. They also look spectacular alongside diamonds. So if you’re looking for a striking seventh wedding anniversary present for your husband or wife, arrange a consultation with me today to design a bespoke jewellery commission using beautiful onyx.
An alternative gemstone for a seventh anniversary is yellow sapphire. These natural sapphires range from a pretty pastel yellow to a warm yolky yellow and they look beautiful set in yellow gold. With such a broad range of yellows, there’s a yellow sapphire to suit everyone!
8th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a stunning and hard wearing gemstone that comes in many colours including blue, green, red, yellow and pink, however the Neon Blue found in Paraiba Tourmaline is the most highly prized. Tourmaline also comes in some amazing multicolours too - including the famous watermelon tourmaline which features pink, clear and green areas within the crystal.
Check out my tourmaline collection it’s available to buy today, or arrange a consultation to design a bespoke jewellery commission with me. I can help you to decide the best colour to suit your wife as you celebrate your eighth anniversary.
9th Wedding Anniversary Gift: Morganite (or Lapiz Lazuli)
Morganite: A member of the Beryl family (like emerald and aquamarine), Morganite shows a range of pink colours due to traces of manganese. Recently, this gemstone has seen an increase in popularity and value. Like most Beryls, Morganite makes an excellent jewellery stone. Check out my beautiful pink morganites below.
Lapiz: This deep blue gemstone sometimes sparkles with elements of golden pyrite and it looks really bold in gold or platinum jewellery. They can be quite soft, so a necklace, cufflinks or earrings are a good option as these pieces get less wear and tear. If you’re looking for a striking ninth wedding anniversary present for your husband or wife, arrange a consultation with me today to design a bespoke jewellery commission using beautiful lapiz lazuli.
10th Wedding Anniversary Jewellery: Diamond
Many of my pieces of jewellery use diamonds as an accent, but I also design purely diamond pieces of jewellery too. Maybe you have some family diamonds already that we can remodel into a new piece. or we can find the perfect white or coloured diamond to suit this big milestone!
Check out my collection it’s available to buy today, or arrange a consultation to design a bespoke jewellery commission with me. I can help you to navigate the 4Cs of diamond buying as you celebrate your tenth year anniversary with a jewellery gift.
