25 Year Wedding Anniversary Gift


6th anniversary: iron

Iron represents what all marriages need — strength. Interestingly, from a historical perspective, iron objects of great age are more rare than objects made of gold or silver because of how easily iron corrodes.

Iron has been used since ancient times and is a precursor to steel. Iron is a common presence on earth, but iron can make a beautiful metal jewelry gift when you give it some thought. You just have to watch out for the potential for rust with iron jewelry.

7th anniversary: copper

Copper has traditionally represented prosperity, good luck and good fortune. It’s been used for at least 10,000 years, and estimates place its discovery in the Middle East at 9000 B.C.

The reddish orange color of copper corrodes to give it a patina. Unfortunately, that can transfer to your body and clothing when you wear it. However, it is commonly used in jewelry, and folklore says copper bracelets relieve arthritis symptoms.

It’s possible you might be feeling the arthritis at the 7-year mark. However, a less “pointed” memento of the ongoing years between you might be something like a copper cuff.

Copper is alloyed with gold to create rose gold, which looks great mixed in jewelry with other colors of gold, and creates a warm setting for diamonds or gemstones.

8th anniversary: bronze

Bronze is actually an alloy of copper and tin, so maybe that’s the reason it’s wedged between copper and tin on the anniversary list.

Bronze is used for casting in molds, and an interesting thing about that is the metal expands slightly just before setting in the cast, so bronze can show really sharp detail.

10th anniversary: tin

Tin is the metal for the 10-year anniversary because it represents flexibility and durability. Because tin is used to protect other metals from rusting or tarnishing, it also represents protection.

11th anniversary: steel

So, you make it through 10 years and you’ve given a tin gift that represents durability and flexibility. Oddly, now that you’ve made it to 11 years, your marriage needs the strength of tough steel. Stainless steel can be found in all sorts of jewelry — it’s much easier to find than tin — so your options are wide open.

Your 11th anniversary seems like the ideal time to give him a steel gift — it’s such a “macho” material! A stainless steel bracelet is a great gift, or a watch made of stainless steel works. Of course, gentlemen, women’s watches are available in stainless works, too.

FYI: Stainless steel is hypoallergenic, so if one of you has an allergy to metals, you’ll be safe with steel.

20th anniversary: platinum

Platinum symbolizes a relationship that will endure — a nice milestone for twenty years.

Platinum is actually 30 times rarer than gold. It’s naturally white, so it doesn’t cast any color into diamonds (a reason why it has become so popular as a metal for engagement rings). It’s usually 95% pure, so jewelry made with it never fades or tarnishes. Add to that it’s hypoallergenic, so it’s ideal for those with sensitive skin.

While expensive (remember how rare it is), this metal gives you a boatload of jewelry options when you’re looking for a 20th anniversary gift. An anniversary band is a perfect gift.

Just make sure you look for the stamp inside the ring on the metal somewhere: Platinum, Plat, Pt followed by the level of purity, such as Pt900 or Pt950. The number 900 denotes 90% pure platinum, and 950 denotes 95% pure platinum.

25th anniversary (also 16th anniversary on modern lists): silver

Throughout history, silver has been highly valued. Pure silver, as with gold, is too soft for jewelry. To boost its strength and durability, silver is combined with other metals. Sterling silver must contain at least 92.5% pure silver and less than 7.5% other metals. Jewelry stamped "sterling" or "925" is sterling silver.

Silver will tarnish. To keep silver jewelry looking great, polish it regularly with silver cleaner. Clean the tarnish before it builds up, because it can cause long-term damage.

50th anniversary: gold

Following the lead of those medieval Germans, the 50th wedding anniversary has long been associated with gold.

Most jewelry is set in 18K, 14K or 10K gold. The standard measurement of gold is the karat. Pure gold is 24 karats, meaning 24 out of 24 parts are gold. Pure gold is too soft to be used for jewelry, so it’s alloyed with other metals to make it stronger. So 18K gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals; 14K gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals. 10K gold is 10 parts gold to 14 parts other metals.

Yellow gold is mixed with copper and silver. White gold is combined with copper, zinc and nickel or palladium, and is often plated with rhodium. Rose gold combines gold with copper, and green gold is made by mixing in copper, silver and zinc.

You might consider a jewelry piece that pairs white and yellow gold, which produces a beautiful two-tone look.

You can find just about every jewelry type in gold, and at every price point because of the variety of karats (18K, 14K, 10K). Chains can be a particularly good idea because women can combine them with different pendants, and you can find a huge variety of chain types for men.



A Wedding Day is an incredibly important occasion when two people celebrate the beginning of their marriage in the presence of family and friends. Following this significant occasion, anniversary celebrations each year commemorate the continuation of each person’s love for the other.

It is generally considered important that each wedding anniversary is celebrated in a memorable and meaningful way, because the anniversary is like an annual renewal of the commitment between two people. This is one time of the year when time and effort needs to be invested into finding a suitable gift, and a gift that is romantic, unique, or symbolic in some special way for the couple.

OUR MOST POPULAR ANNIVERSARY GIFT FOR HER

In the earlier years of a marriage, it is often simple to think of a meaningful gift when two people tend to have plenty of things on their wish lists they want to purchase someday. However, as the years go by and the assets build up, it becomes increasingly more difficult to think of an anniversary gift that will be treasured.

The tradition of giving gifts for a wedding anniversary extends back to medieval times. It is known that during the time of the Holy Roman Empire, a man would crown his wife with a silver wreath on the 25th anniversary, and a gold wreath on the 50th anniversary, however, there was little else documented in terms of themes for gift giving on other anniversaries.

These gift suggestions for each year of marriage are today referred to as the 'Traditional' themes for each anniversary. This list was later reviewed and updated to incorporate a 'Modern' theme for each anniversary.

Below we have put together a comprehensive and accurate table detailing the most recognized traditional and modern gift themes by anniversary year. You can click in the far right column to get a full overview for each year. After much research, we believe it to be the most detailed list of anniversary gift theme information available on the Internet today.

Following the table we provide further information that may assist you.

Anniversary Gifts by Year

Anniversary Year

Traditional Gift Theme

Modern Gift Theme

Gemstone

Colour

Tranditional & Modern
GIFT IDEAS

1st Anniversary

Paper

Clocks

Gold Jewellery
(no associated stone)

Alternative:
Peridot; Pearl

Gold or Yellow

2nd Anniversary

Cotton

China

Garnet

Alternative:
Rose Quartz

3rd Anniversary

Leather

Crystal/Glass

Pearl

Alternative:
Crystal; Jade; Moonstone

Jade; White

4th Anniversary

Fruit/Flowers (US) Linen; Silk (UK)

Appliances (electrical)

Blue Topaz

Alternative:
Blue Zircon; Amethyst

Blue; Green

5th Anniversary

Wood

Silverware

Sapphire

Alternative:
Turquoise;Pink Tourmaline; Rose Quartz

Blue; Pink; Turquoise

6th Anniversary

Iron (US) Candy (UK)

Wood

Amethyst

Alternative:
Garnet; Turquoise

Purple; White; Turquoise

7th Anniversary

Copper (US) Wool (UK)

Brass; Desk Sets

Onyx

Alternative:
Lapis Lazuli; Yellow Sapphire; Copper

Yellow; Off-White

8th Anniversary

Bronze; Pottery (US) Salt (UK)

Linen; Lace

Tourmaline

Alternative:
Aventurine; Tanzanite; Bronze

Bronze

9th Anniversary

Willow; Pottery (US) Copper (UK)

Leather

Lapis Lazuli

Alternative:
Tiger Eye; Andalusite

Terracotta

10th Anniversary

Aluminum (US); Tin (US & UK)

Diamond Jewelry

Diamond

Alternative:
Onyx; Crystal; Green Tourmaline

Silver; Blue

11th Anniversary

Steel

Fashion Jewelry; Accessories

Turquoise

Alternative:
Hematite

Turquoise

12th Anniversary

Home Décor (US) Linen; Silk (UK)

Pearls

Jade

Alternative:
Pearl; Agate; Tsavorite; Garnet

Oyster-White

13th Anniversary

Lace

Textiles; Furs

Citrine

Alternative:
Malachite; Moonstone; Opal

White

14th Anniversary

Ivory or Elephant

Gold Jewellery

Opal

Alternative:
Gold; Ivory; Moss Agate; Kunzite

Ivory

15th Anniversary

Crystal

Watches

Ruby

Alternative:
Rhodolite; Blue Sapphire

16th Anniversary

Silverware

Peridot

Alternative:
Aquamarine; Golden Topaz

Silver

17th Anniversary

Carnelian

Alternative:
Amethyst; Citrine; Pink Tourmaline; Watch

Yellow

18th Anniversary

Porcelain

Cat’s Eye

Alternative:
Opal; Aquamarine

Blue

19th Anniversary

Bronze

Aquamarine

Alternative:
Topaz; Golden Beryl

Bronze

20th Anniversary

China

Platinum

Emerald

Alternative:
Platinum

Emerald- Green; White

21st Anniversary

Brass; Nickel

Emerald

Iolite

Orange

22nd Anniversary

Copper

Spinel

Green

23rd Anniversary

Silver Plate

Imperial Topaz

Alternative:
Sapphire

Silver

24th Anniversary

Silver Plate

Tanzanite

Lavender

25th Anniversary

Silver

Tanzanite

Silver Jewelry (no associated stone)

Silver

26th Anniversary

Pictures

None

None

27th Anniversary

Sculptures

None

None

28th Anniversary

Orchids

None

Alternative:
Amethyst;Orchid Tourmaline

Lavender

29th Anniversary

Furniture

None

None

30th Anniversary

Pearl

Diamond

Pearl

Alternative:
Diamond; Jade

Green

35th Anniversary

Coral (US & UK); Jade (US)

Jade

Emerald

Alternative:
Coral; Jade

Coral

40th Anniversary

Ruby

Ruby

45th Anniversary

Sapphire

Sapphire

Alternative:
Alexandrite

Blue

50th Anniversary

Gold

Gold

Alternative:
Gold or I mperial Topaz

Gold

55th Anniversary

Emerald

Alexandrite

Alternative:
Emerald

Emerald-Green

60th Anniversary

Diamond

Diamond

Diamond-White

The traditional theme of ivory for this anniversary is now considered unethical due to the adverse impact on elephants. Therefore a gift for the 14th anniversary which contains an elephant theme as opposed to ivory per se is more appropriate.

Traditional versus Modern Anniversary Gift ideas

Traditionally, anniversary gifts that were given or exchanged in the early years of a marriage tended to be practical household items to assist the couple in establishing their home. Luxury gifts tended to be given or exchanged in later years when the couple had already obtained the things they needed.

The traditional list features materials that were commonly available in years gone by, such as copper, wool, paper and tin, whereas the modern list features new entries such as appliances and desk sets.

From the 20th wedding anniversary onwards, traditional gift materials are not offered every year; typically only every five years or so. The modern list differs in this respect, whereby a gift material is suggested for every year, at least up until the 30th anniversary, which possibly signifies a couples’ need to continue investing as much effort as possible into sustaining the commitment and romance in the later years of marriage.

Which list is better?

It is important to note that there is some variation in traditional gift materials for specific years of marriage, due to the country in which the list was compiled. The table in this section specifies for those particular anniversaries whether the traditional gift material was derived from a US source or UK source, which are the main two sources used across the globe.

Anniversary Gemstone, Color and Flower gift ideas

In addition to the Traditional and Modern gift material lists, each wedding anniversary has also come to be denoted by a particular gemstone, color and flower.

In 1985, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) published its initial version of the Gemstone Information Manual. This manual has been adopted within the trade as the gold standard for disclosure of pearls, cultured pearls and natural gemstones. In that manual, the gemstones or precious metals that are associated with each wedding anniversary are listed for every anniversary year from the first to the 25th, and every five years thereafter up until the 60th wedding anniversary. It is interesting to note that there are some inconsistencies between this and other reputable sources as to the exact gemstone for each anniversary. This could simply reflect a difference due to the region of the world in which the list of anniversary gemstones was compiled. As such, the table in this section predominantly lists the gemstones according to the AGTA. Any variations in gemstones for a particular anniversary year as derived from other sources, are listed as alternatives for completeness, and to offer the reader a wider variety of options.

Specific flowers and colors have also come to be associated with each wedding anniversary year. There do not appear to be any consistent sources for these themes, so the table in this section lists all key flowers from a number of reputable sources that stipulate what the flower is for each anniversary. It is possible that any variation in the nominated flower for a particular year may represent the region of the world in which that particular flower came to be endorsed. In addition to the specific flower for each anniversary, the rose, considered the floral king of romance, can be substituted for most anniversaries if so desired.

In conclusion: Which gift to choose

Please note that for some anniversaries, a Traditional Gift theme does not exist. For those anniversaries, the theme listed relates to the Modern concept. Also, not all anniversary years have a Gemstone, Color and/or Flower associated with it, and hence, the information provided for those years is limited. However, gift ideas are indeed provided for every anniversary year listed in this table.

In addition to this table, if you are looking further for a list of romantic and unique things to do on your anniversary, irrespective of the year, we have compiled a list of our top 35 suggestions which you can find here.

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Origins

Connecting silver to the 25th wedding anniversary may have originated in Middle Europe, specifically in the Germanic region, according to Hallmark's website. Traditionally, a husband would give his wife a silver garland marking 25 years. The silver symbolized the "harmony" that people believed a couple needed to sustain a marriage for such a long period of time.

Vacations

Some couples mark their 25th wedding anniversary with a vacation. This is a substantial, sometimes grand expenditure, which is why some couples wait until 25 years together to make a big trip. A partner wanting to surprise a spouse with a creative trip might choose a location that has "silver" in the name of the locale. An example is a trip to tour coastal Connecticut with a stop in Silver Sands State Park, a trip to Lake Superior and Silver Bay in Minnesota, Silver Beach in Michigan or Silver Strand State Beach on Coronado Island near San Diego.

Renewing Vows

Some couples decide to renew their vows during a church or more informal ceremony. You can renew your vows for any wedding anniversary, but the 25th anniversary marks a milestone year that some couples choose to acknowledge by reaffirming their commitment to each other.

Party Ideas

If your parents or close friends are celebrating a silver anniversary, then consider hosting a party. Invite family and friends who are close to the couple, and ask them to bring a memory or a few words of congratulations that they can read at the party. Display a cake with silver frosting and edible silver embellishments. Reserve part of the evening for friends and family members to share specifics they have learned from the couple and show a photo slideshow that displays photos of the couple through the years.

Vera Leigh has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2008. Her work has appeared in "Learn Overseas" and "Grad Source" magazines. In addition, she received an honorable mention in "Newsweek's" My Turn contest. She has written features for nonprofits focused on literacy, education, genomics and health. In her spare time, Leigh puts her English major to use by tutoring in grammar and composition.


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