The complete anniversary guide
Anniversary Gifts
by Year
Every anniversary deserves something special.
Let us help you find it.
Your complete guide to anniversary traditions, gifts, colours and gemstones—with romantic celebration ideas and real love letters to inspire the words you write.
The complete reference
Find the meaning of your year
Traditional and modern themes, colours and gemstones—all in one place. Choose a year to open its full gift guide.
Anniversary gifts, colours and gemstones by year
1st year
Read guide for the 1st anniversary
- Traditional
- Paper
- Modern
- Clocks
- Colour
- Gold, Yellow
- Gemstone
- Gold
2nd year
Read guide for the 2nd anniversary
- Traditional
- Cotton and paper
- Modern
- China
- Colour
- Red, Linen white
- Gemstone
- Garnet
3rd year
Read guide for the 3rd anniversary
- Traditional
- Leather
- Modern
- Crystal or glass
- Colour
- White, Jade green
- Gemstone
- Pearl
4th year
Read guide for the 4th anniversary
- Traditional
- Fruit and flowers
- Modern
- Appliances
- Colour
- Green, Blue
- Gemstone
- Blue topaz
5th year
Read guide for the 5th anniversary
- Traditional
- Wood
- Modern
- Silverware
- Colour
- Blue, Pink, Turquoise
- Gemstone
- Sapphire
6th year
Read guide for the 6th anniversary
- Traditional
- Iron and sugar
- Modern
- Wood
- Colour
- Purple, White, Turquoise
- Gemstone
- Amethyst
7th year
Read guide for the 7th anniversary
- Traditional
- Wool and copper
- Modern
- Desk sets
- Colour
- Onyx, Yellow, Off‑white
- Gemstone
- Onyx
8th year
Read guide for the 8th anniversary
- Traditional
- Bronze and pottery
- Modern
- Linen and lace
- Colour
- Bronze
- Gemstone
- Tourmaline
9th year
Read guide for the 9th anniversary
- Traditional
- Willow and pottery
- Modern
- Leather
- Colour
- Terracotta
- Gemstone
- Lapis lazuli
10th year
Read guide for the 10th anniversary
- Traditional
- Tin and aluminium
- Modern
- Diamond jewellery
- Colour
- Blue, Silver
- Gemstone
- Diamond
11th year
Read guide for the 11th anniversary
- Traditional
- Steel
- Modern
- Fashion jewellery
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Turquoise
12th year
Read guide for the 12th anniversary
- Traditional
- Silk and linen
- Modern
- Pearls
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Jade
13th year
Read guide for the 13th anniversary
- Traditional
- Lace
- Modern
- Textiles
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Citrine
14th year
Read guide for the 14th anniversary
- Traditional
- Ivory†
- Modern
- Gold jewellery
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Opal
15th year
Read guide for the 15th anniversary
- Traditional
- Crystal
- Modern
- Watches
- Colour
- Ruby red
- Gemstone
- Ruby
16th year
Read guide for the 16th anniversary
- Traditional
- Wax
- Modern
- Silverware
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Peridot
17th year
Read guide for the 17th anniversary
- Traditional
- Furniture
- Modern
- Furniture
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
18th year
Read guide for the 18th anniversary
- Traditional
- Porcelain
- Modern
- Porcelain
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Cat’s-eye
19th year
Read guide for the 19th anniversary
- Traditional
- Bronze
- Modern
- Bronze
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Aquamarine
20th year
Read guide for the 20th anniversary
- Traditional
- China
- Modern
- Platinum
- Colour
- Emerald green, White
- Gemstone
- Emerald
21st year
Read guide for the 21st anniversary
- Traditional
- Brass
- Modern
- Nickel
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Iolite
22nd year
Read guide for the 22nd anniversary
- Traditional
- Copper
- Modern
- Copper
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Spinel
23rd year
Read guide for the 23rd anniversary
- Traditional
- Silver plate
- Modern
- Silver plate
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Imperial topaz
24th year
Read guide for the 24th anniversary
- Traditional
- Opal
- Modern
- Musical instruments
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Tanzanite
25th year
Read guide for the 25th anniversary
- Traditional
- Silver
- Modern
- Silver
- Colour
- Silver
- Gemstone
- Sterling silver
26th year
Read guide for the 26th anniversary
- Traditional
- Jade
- Modern
- Art
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
27th year
Read guide for the 27th anniversary
- Traditional
- Music
- Modern
- Sculpture
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
28th year
Read guide for the 28th anniversary
- Traditional
- Linen
- Modern
- Orchids
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
29th year
Read guide for the 29th anniversary
- Traditional
- Tools
- Modern
- Furniture
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
30th year
Read guide for the 30th anniversary
- Traditional
- Pearl
- Modern
- Diamond
- Colour
- Green
- Gemstone
- Pearl
31st year
Read guide for the 31st anniversary
- Traditional
- Travel
- Modern
- Timepieces
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
32nd year
Read guide for the 32nd anniversary- Traditional
- Bronze
- Modern
- Transport
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
33rd year
Read guide for the 33rd anniversary
- Traditional
- Iron
- Modern
- Amethyst
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- Amethyst
34th year
Read guide for the 34th anniversary
- Traditional
- Food
- Modern
- Opal
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
35th year
Read guide for the 35th anniversary
- Traditional
- Coral
- Modern
- Jade
- Colour
- Coral
- Gemstone
- Emerald
36th year
Read guide for the 36th anniversary
- Traditional
- Antiques
- Modern
- Bone china
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
37th year
Read guide for the 37th anniversary
- Traditional
- Books
- Modern
- Alabaster
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
38th year
Read guide for the 38th anniversary
- Traditional
- Luck
- Modern
- Beryl or tourmaline
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
39th year
Read guide for the 39th anniversary
- Traditional
- Laughter
- Modern
- Lace
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
40th year
Read guide for the 40th anniversary
- Traditional
- Ruby
- Modern
- Ruby
- Colour
- Ruby red
- Gemstone
- Ruby
41st year
Read guide for the 41st anniversary
- Traditional
- Desk decor
- Modern
- Land
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
42nd year
Read guide for the 42nd anniversary
- Traditional
- Clocks or watches
- Modern
- Improved real estate
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
43rd year
Read guide for the 43rd anniversary
- Traditional
- Entertainment
- Modern
- Travel
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
44th year
Read guide for the 44th anniversary
- Traditional
- Electronics
- Modern
- Groceries
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
45th year
Read guide for the 45th anniversary
- Traditional
- Sapphire
- Modern
- Sapphire
- Colour
- Sapphire blue, Red
- Gemstone
- Sapphire
46th year
Read guide for the 46th anniversary
- Traditional
- Games
- Modern
- Original poetry
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
47th year
Read guide for the 47th anniversary
- Traditional
- Garden or plants
- Modern
- None set
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
48th year
Read guide for the 48th anniversary
- Traditional
- Home improvement
- Modern
- None set
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
49th year
Read guide for the 49th anniversary- Traditional
- Copper
- Modern
- None set
- Colour
- No set colour
- Gemstone
- None set
50th year
Read guide for the 50th anniversary
- Traditional
- Gold
- Modern
- Gold
- Colour
- Gold
- Gemstone
- Gold
55th year
Read guide for the 55th anniversary
- Traditional
- Emerald
- Modern
- Emerald
- Colour
- Emerald green
- Gemstone
- Alexandrite
60th year
Read guide for the 60th anniversary
- Traditional
- Diamond
- Modern
- Diamond
- Colour
- Diamond white
- Gemstone
- Diamond
Regional variations: Anniversary traditions vary between the UK, US and other countries. Each year’s guide explains the main versions.
† Ethical guidance: Although ivory was historically associated with the 14th anniversary, new ivory should never be purchased. Choose an ivory colour, an elephant-inspired charitable gift, or the modern gold theme instead.
A tradition made personal
Choose the symbol.
Tell your story.
Anniversary themes turn the passing years into a language—from paper’s blank beginning to the strength of diamond.
There is no rule that says a gift must be literal. Use the traditional material as a starting point, the modern theme as an alternative, and your partner’s tastes as the final guide.
Back to the year finder ↑- 52
- anniversary guides
- 1–50
- plus 55 & 60
- 4
- ways to find meaning
- 1
- story that belongs to you
Why the symbols endure
The material changes.
The promise remains.
Anniversary lists have never been completely fixed. They grew over time, travelled between countries and gained modern alternatives as the way we live changed.
The value is not in following a rule perfectly. It is in using a shared symbol to notice the distance travelled together—whether that becomes a paper love letter, a wooden heirloom or a golden keepsake.
A simple way to choose
Tradition is the prompt.
She is the answer.
- 01
Start with the year
Learn the traditional and modern symbols, then decide which one feels closer to your relationship.
- 02
Follow her taste
Use the material, colour or gemstone as inspiration—not a restriction. The best gift should still feel unmistakably hers.
- 03
Add your history
Connect the symbol to a memory, promise or quality you admire. The explanation is often the most treasured part.
- 04
Create the next chapter
Pair the keepsake with a shared experience or future plan, giving the anniversary a memory of its own.
One gift, many meanings
A real rose.
A golden chapter.
A 24 karat gold-dipped natural rose brings together several anniversary traditions: the romance of a flower, the warmth of gold, the craftsmanship of a keepsake and the individual character of something created by nature.
