Wedding Anniversary Gifts: the symbols, the gemstones and the flowers

Sol Rivero
February 04, 2015

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and with so much love in the air it’s not surprising that some married couples will be celebrating their anniversaries on February 14^th. But, did you know each year is represented by a traditional item?

Whether you’re celebrating your wedding anniversary around this date, or if you’re storing this information for the future, we give you a comprehensive list of the traditional gifts you should consider. Here are the symbols, the gemstones and the flowers that represent each year of married bliss!

Wedding Anniversary Gifts: The Symbols

Since the days of the Roman Empire, it has been traditional for couples to give presents to each other to commemorate the anniversary of their marriage. Although it’s more common to celebrate each 10-year interval, numerous dates and contemporary items have been added to the traditional wedding anniversary gifts, and it’s become customary for friends and family members to deliver gifts to the couple.

Each year, an item from a different material must be received by the lovers, representing the strengthening evolution of their relationship. Here are the essential symbols that represent each year of marriage:

Year	Traditional material	Modern material
1	Paper (novelty, fragility)	Clock
2	Cotton (unity, strength, softness, flexibility)	China
3	Leather (protection, stability)	Crystal
4	Fruits and flowers (renewal, blossoming) or linen and silk	Appliances
5	Wood (strength, wisdom)	Silverware
6	Candy (sweetness, rekindled passion) or Iron (strength, good luck)	Wood
7	Copper and wool (warmth, comfort)	Desk set
8	Bronze (progressive strength, union) or salt	Linens and lace
9	Pottery or willow (sculpting due to experience, emerging beauty), copper	Leather
10	Tin (longevity) or Aluminum	Diamond
11	Steel (permanence)	Fashion jewelry
12	Silk (enjoyment, luxury)	Pearls or colored gems
13	Lace (perfect love)	Textiles
14	Ivory (purity, romance, fidelity)	Gold
15	Crystal (sacrifice, clarity)	Watches
16		Silver hollowware
17		Furniture
18		Porcelain
19		Bronze
20	China (beauty, elegance, fragility)	Silver or platinum
21		Brass or nickel
22		Copper
23		Silver plate
24	Opal	Musical instruments
25	Silver (radiance)	Silver
30	Pearls (hidden treasure, maturity)	Diamond
35	Coral (commitment)	Jade
40	Ruby (love, passion)	Ruby
45	Sapphire (admiration)	Sapphire
50	Gold (prosperity, wisdom, strength)	Gold
55	Emerald	Emerald
60	Diamond or yellow diamond	Diamond
65	Blue sapphire
70	Platinum	Diamond or gold
75	Diamond or gold
80	Oak	Diamond or pearls
85	Moonstone or wine	Wife’s birthstone
90	Stone	Marble, granite

Wedding Anniversary Gifts: The Gemstones and Birthstones

As you might know, jewelry and flowers are the ultimate gifts for representing romance. If you’re considering a gift for celebrating your wedding anniversary with your loved one, then adding one of these items might be the perfect way to convey your love.

Here are the gemstones and flowers that represent each year:

Year	Gemstone	Flower
1	Mother of pearl	Carnation
2	Garnet	Lily of the Valley
3	Moonstone	Sunflower
4	Blue topaz	Hydrangea
5	Rose quartz	Daisy
6	Amethyst	Calla
7	Onyx	Freesia
8	Tourmaline	Lilac
9	Lapis Lazuli	Bird of paradise
10	Crystal or green tourmaline	Daffodil
11	Turquoise	Tulip
12	Jade	Peony
13	Citrine	Chrysanthemum
14	Opal	Dahlia
15	Rhodolite	Rose
20	Emerald	Aster
25	Tsavorite	Iris
28	Amethyst	Orchid
30	Pearl	Lily
40	Ruby	Gladiolus
50	Gold	Yellow rose or violet
60	Diamond
65	Sapphire
100	10 Carat Diamond