Anniversary Gift Ideas

By Sharon Goldman Edry

How can you mark the day you said "I do" in a special and unique way? We've come up with some great ideas to help you create lasting, and sparkling, anniversary memories..

You can buy your loved one a gift from the traditional anniversary list, but you'll have to be married a long time to get to what she really wants -- jewelry. For example, you'll have to go through paper (1st), bronze (8th) and tin (10th) before you get to your silver (25th) anniversary. If you're lucky enough to make it to thirty years of marriage, a lustrous gift of pearls will be much appreciated! Coral is the traditional gift for number 35, while ruby rates highly for number 40. If you've been together for 45 years give her a lovely gift of sapphire. And your fiftieth anniversary isn't called "golden" for nothing! Emerald is the traditional gift for your 55th anniversary, and for the few couples on this planet who make it to 60 or 75, just give her diamonds, diamonds, diamonds - she deserves it!

If you'd like to make jewelry-giving a tradition (we do!) a modern anniversary list exists specifically for gems and precious metals. For your first anniversary, for example, give the gift of gold, and follow it up with garnet, pearl and blue topaz for numbers two, three and four. Nearly every gem is represented on the jewelry anniversary list: For example, tourmaline is for your eighth anniversary, opal is for number 14 and aquamarine is for your nineteenth. But the big gems -- Sapphire, ruby, emerald and diamond --- are reserved for the big years (sapphire for #5 and #45; ruby for #15 and #40; emerald for #20 and #35; and diamond for #10 and #60).

The infinity symbol - similar to a figure 8 - is a wonderful way to show your undying devotion to your mate. Used in jewelry as a unique variety of never-ending link bracelets and necklaces, your loved one will know that you'll cherish her forever...and ever...and ever. (Check out Mondera's beautiful versions in silver and gold.)

The three stone ring has become a new way to symbolize your relationship with your loved one: one stone represents the past, one celebrates the present and one embraces the future. Whether you use three diamonds or three different gemstones, this is a unique way to renew your commitment.

Whoever came up with the idea for the anniversary band had a good one: instead of just one diamond (like on a traditional engagement ring), small diamonds going around an entire band symbolize the eternity of your marriage. And for a woman who may not have had a new ring to wear since her wedding, this is an anniversary present worth many, many brownie points!

Any gift that reminds you of a wonderful and shared memory can be a much appreciated and talked-about anniversary present. Did you recently travel to the South Pacific? Surprise her with a Tahitian pearl necklace. Did you get married on Valentine's Day? How about a ring with a heart-shaped diamond? Get creative, because anything goes - memories are unique to you as a couple and this gift can be as well.