Earth Stone Guide crystal markEarth Stone Guide

Gift guide

Anniversary Gemstones by Year

Every wedding anniversary from the first to the sixtieth has a stone attached to it. Where a year's gem is also a birthstone, the entry links straight to that month's birthstone guide.

How the list works

The early years follow the traditional list; the fuller year-by-year gemstone list was set out by the American Gem Trade Association in the late twentieth century. Turquoise holds the 11th year and tanzanite the 24th — the same two stones the December birthstone page covers, which is why December birthdays and silver-era anniversaries so often share a gift.

Choosing the piece

For softer anniversary stones such as opal, turquoise and pearl, a pendant survives daily life far better than a ring. A personalized birthstone necklace engraved with the year is the most common way to give one, while a birthstone bracelet can hold a stone for each milestone.

Anniversary gemstone list, years 1–60

Anniversary gemstone questions

More answers in the birthstone questions and answers guide.

What are anniversary gemstones?
Anniversary gemstones are gems traditionally given to mark a specific wedding anniversary year. The modern list was expanded by the American Gem Trade Association so that most years from 1 to 60 have a stone.
Which anniversary is turquoise?
Turquoise marks the 11th wedding anniversary. It is also the December birthstone, which makes it a natural double gift for a December-born partner.
Which anniversary is tanzanite?
Tanzanite marks the 24th wedding anniversary. It was also added to the December birthstone list in 2002, the newest addition to the modern month list.
What is the 5th anniversary gemstone?
Sapphire, which is also the September birthstone. Blue sapphire is the classic choice, but the same species occurs in yellow, pink and colorless.