Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year: Traditional & Modern Guide

Because every year together is worth celebrating

Your wedding anniversary is coming up and you want to get it right. Not just any gift — something meaningful. Something that says, I remember, I value us, I haven’t forgotten.

That’s where the anniversary gift lists come in. For centuries, couples have marked milestones with symbolic materials.

The traditional anniversary list goes back centuries, with roots in Europe and Victorian England. Each material reflected the stage of a marriage — fragile beginnings, growing strength, and enduring resilience.

Then came the modern anniversary list, launched in 1937 by the American National Retail Jeweler Association. Think about the timing: the world was coming out of the Great Depression. Retailers were keen to encourage spending again, and anniversaries were the perfect excuse.

That’s why the modern list looks the way it does — you’ll find things like appliances, china, desk sets, and crystal. Yep, not exactly the most romantic choices. But it worked, because it gave people a reason to buy something every year, not just at the big milestones like silver (25th anniversary) or gold (50th anniversary).

The upside? The modern list filled in the gaps and gave couples more to celebrate. The downside? It was, let’s be honest, driven by sales targets. Still, if you’re after gifts that last — and don’t plug into a wall — the metals and gemstones are the ones worth holding on to.

 

Anniversary Gifts by Year: Traditional vs Modern

 

(After 15, the traditional list jumps in five-year increments. The modern list fills in some of the gaps.)

As you can see, metals like copper, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum anchor the most important anniversaries.

Why These Materials?

Each material symbolises qualities in a marriage at that stage:

• Paper (1st anniversary) — fragile, but full of possibility.

• Copper (7th anniversary) — warm and conductive, linked to prosperity and protection.

• Bronze (8th traditional, 19th modern) — an alloy, stronger together than apart. Just like you and your partner.

• Silver (25th anniversary) — pure, festive, enduring.

• Gold (50th anniversary) — the ultimate symbol of prosperity, warmth, and achievement.

• Platinum (20th & 70th anniversaries) — rare, chosen for the most remarkable milestones.

The lists were never about random objects. They were about encouraging couples to pause, reflect, and celebrate.

Spotlight on the Metals

Here’s where jewellery and anniversaries come together beautifully.

Bronze Anniversary

If you’re celebrating your 8th (traditional) or 19th (modern), you’re in bronze territory. It’s not as common as silver or gold, which makes it feel personal. Unique.

Someone recently told me they chose the Perfora Topaz Stud Earrings in Bronze for their partner’s 8th wedding anniversary. Because bronze is on the traditional list, it already carried meaning — but they wanted something sculptural, artistic, and different. The addition of topaz brought another layer of symbolism, turning the gift into something truly personal.

Explore Bronze Anniversary Gifts 

Silver, Gold & Platinum Anniversaries

 

Your 25th, 50th, and 70th anniversaries are some of the most significant milestones. These are the moments when you and your partner often choose a piece that becomes part of your family story.

If you’re looking for something truly personal to mark a silver, golden, or platinum anniversary, you can commission a piece in precious metals. Together, we’ll create jewellery that reflects your journey and becomes part of your legacy.

Commission a custom piece

Every Year Matters

Not at one of the “big” anniversaries yet? Doesn’t matter. Every year has meaning.

Take my 37th anniversary (1988–2025). It's not shown on the list above but it's linked to alabaster or agate — layered, luminous, strong. You could choose a piece of jewellery that echoes those qualities, even if the material itself isn’t in the lists.

Sometimes it’s less about following the rules and more about finding a piece that reflects your story.

My Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, the best anniversary gift isn’t about price or ticking a box. It’s about meaning. About showing your partner you’ve thought about the life you’ve built — and the years still to come.

That’s exactly what jewellery can do. It holds memory, texture, and connection in something they can wear every day.

Explore our Bronze Anniversary Collection or commission a custom piece in silver, gold, or platinum