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Hands untying a purple ribbon on a small gift box
The Journal · Gemstones & Birthstones

Anniversary Gifts by Year: The Jewelry List

Every anniversary has its gem. The jewelers' list year by year, beside the traditional gifts, and how to give one so it is remembered.

By Liz Sterling· October 1, 2026· 4 min read

Some gifts say thank you. An anniversary gift says: I would do it again.

There is a long custom of giving something different each year, and the jewelers have their own version of it, with a gem or a metal for every anniversary. It is a lovely excuse. Here is the list, and how to use it.

The jewelers' list, year by year

This is the list published by Jewelers of America, the trade's own association.

Year Gem or metal Year Gem or metal
1 Gold 11 Turquoise
2 Garnet 12 Jade
3 Pearl 13 Citrine
4 Blue topaz 14 Opal
5 Sapphire 15 Ruby
6 Amethyst 16 Peridot
7 Onyx 17 A watch
8 Tourmaline 18 Cat's eye
9 Lapis lazuli 19 Aquamarine
10 Diamond 20 Emerald

The milestones

After twenty, the list keeps to the years people gather for.

Year Gem or metal Often called
25 Silver The silver anniversary
30 Pearl The pearl anniversary
35 Emerald
40 Ruby The ruby anniversary
45 Sapphire The sapphire anniversary
50 Gold The golden anniversary
55 Alexandrite
60 Diamond The diamond anniversary

An anniversary gift says: I would do it again.

The traditional gifts beside them

The older custom is a list of materials, growing more precious as the years go on. It began with silver at twenty-five and gold at fifty, and the early years were filled in later.

Year Traditional gift Year Traditional gift
1 Paper 10 Tin
2 Cotton 15 Crystal
3 Leather 20 China
4 Fruit or flowers 25 Silver
5 Wood 30 Pearl
6 Iron 40 Ruby
7 Copper or wool 50 Gold
8 Bronze 60 Diamond
9 Pottery

The two lists can be worn together. A paper anniversary can be a handwritten letter wrapped around a gold chain. A tin anniversary can be a small tin box with a diamond band inside it.

How to give it well

The gem is the easy part. What makes it land is everything around it.

Tie it to something that happened. A sapphire for the fifth year means more if it is the blue of the lake where you spent that first summer. Tell them why.

Think about what is already worn. A gem set in the metal of the wedding ring looks as if it always belonged beside it.

Choose the form for the life. Some gems are made for a ring worn every day: diamond, sapphire, ruby. The softer ones, pearl, opal, turquoise, are happier in earrings or a pendant.

Consider the ring you already gave. Many couples mark a milestone by adding a diamond band beside the wedding ring, or by giving the original diamond a new setting. The diamond stays the same. The ring grows up with the marriage.

The one that is not on any list

The best anniversary gift is not always the right gem for the year. It is the right gem for the person.

For the gem that belongs to a birthday instead of a year, see Birthstones by Month.

So use the list as a beginning. Come to any of our three Tulsa showrooms and tell us the year, and a little about the two of you. We will show you what the year suggests, and what your own story suggests, and help you find the place where they meet.

In the showroom now

Three ways to mark the year.

A diamond band beside a matching engagement ring
Wedding and anniversary bands

A band of diamonds beside the ring you gave the first time.

See the bands →
An oval sapphire ring surrounded by diamonds
The J. David Legacy Collection

Sapphires, rubies, emeralds and colored diamonds, each chosen one by one.

See the collection →
Pencil sketches of a custom ring on the designer's table
Heirloom, reimagined

The ring you married in, given new life at our own bench.

Begin at the bench →

Good Questions

What is the gem for a tenth anniversary?

Diamond. It is the tenth-year gem on the list published by Jewelers of America, and many couples mark it with a diamond band worn beside the wedding ring.

What is the gift for a twenty-fifth anniversary?

Silver, on every list. It is why the twenty-fifth is called the silver anniversary.

What is an anniversary band?

A ring given to mark an anniversary, most often a band set with a row of diamonds or gems. A band set all the way around is called an eternity band, because the line never ends.

When do couples upgrade an engagement ring?

There is no set year. Many choose a milestone, the tenth, the twentieth, the twenty-fifth. Some keep the original diamond and give it a new setting; some add to it. The right time is when it means something to the two of you.

Does an anniversary gift have to follow the list?

No. The lists are a custom, and there is more than one of them. They are a place to begin when you want the gift to say which year it is.

Do all the anniversary lists agree?

No. There is a traditional list of materials, a modern list, and the jewelers' list of gems, and they differ in places. This guide follows the list published by Jewelers of America for the gems.

The Inner Circle

First look, before anyone else.

New pieces as they land, the evenings we open the doors after hours, and now and then a story from the bench.

Or begin your ring →

More from the Journal

A pear-shaped sapphire pendant in a halo of diamonds, resting on weathered wood
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October 1, 2026·4 min read
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In Their Own Words.

Every heirloom begins with a story. Hear from the families who let us be a part of theirs.

★★★★★ Trusted by Generations 5,300+ Five-Star Google Reviews
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Katelyn helped me resize and refresh my wedding ring. She was knowledgeable, professional, and incredibly sweet. She made the experience easy and enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I highly recommend asking for Katelyn

★★★★★
Kim Coder
Broken Arrow · Google · Jul 2026
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Had a fantastic experience at J David! Bought an engagement ring last year and a wedding band this year. Maelei and Susan were especially super helpful and patient with us and found us the perfect matches!

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Matthew Thomas
South Tulsa · Google · Apr 2026
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One big request I had for Hayley was to make sure any leftover gold from the ring was returned to me. Not only did she make sure I got the gold, but Scott even turned it into a small pendant!

★★★★★
Michael Reid
Brookside · Google · Aug 2026