The Perfect Gift Ideas for Every Milestone Anniversary
Anniversaries are probably one of the trickiest gift-giving occasions because of everything it entails. The gift needs to be more thoughtful than Christmas, but not so extravagant that you feel the obligation to top it the following year (unless of course, you want your gifts to slowly morph into cars, trips, and couture—oh my!)
Anniversary gifts are also tough because you want to ensure they are at least somewhat personalized to your significant other or the milestone you’re celebrating.
To accomplish all these goals with one gift, we’ve provided a list of options for all of you love birds out there who are trying to find that perfect ‘something’ for your upcoming milestone anniversary.
Traditional Anniversary Gifts By Year
Did you know that there is a traditional gift that goes along with each wedding anniversary? Although this gift list has evolved over time, historians say that specific gifts for milestone anniversaries originated in the medieval era, in German regions of Central Europe.
For example, the first anniversary gift theme is paper, the twenty fifth anniversary gift is silver, the fiftieth is gold and if you made it to the sixtieth it would be diamonds. Other gift themes on the list include wood, tin, crystal and stone which all scream ‘gifts for the home.’
| Milestone Anniversary | Traditional Gift Material |
| 1st | Paper |
| 5th | Wood |
| 10th | Tin or Aluminum |
| 15th | Crystal |
| 20th | China |
| 25th | Silver |
| 30th | Pearls |
| 35th | Coral |
| 40th | Ruby |
| 45th | Sapphire |
| 50th | Gold |
| 55th | Emerald |
| 60th | Diamond |
If you’re looking for the traditional gift for every anniversary, not just the major milestones, Hallmark has the complete list from the 1st to the 60th.
Homeware
Homeware is one of the easiest ways to gift a keepsake that matches up with the traditional materials for your anniversary year.
Here at J.H. Young, we offer countless anniversary gifts for your home that range from crystal glassware to luxury clocks and even Vera Wang décor. Gifts like this make perfect additions to your ‘forever home’ and are great conversation pieces.
Watch for Him, Watch for Her
We’ll get the basics out of the way first; you can never go wrong with a watch. Watches are a great anniversary gift because of the variety they offer. You can hit a lower price point while still finding something beautiful and then there are also the more luxurious options if you’re looking for something at a higher price point.
Watches also come in so many different shapes, colours, and styles which are a great opportunity for personalization. You can get one in your significant other’s favourite colour or maybe they already have other jewelry that this new watch can match—your options are endless!
Oh, and another great thing about watches is the big blank space on the back of every watch face that just screams, ‘engrave me with something cute’.
Pandora
Ah, Pandora. The gift that just keeps on giving.
If you haven’t already gifted a Pandora charm bracelet then we highly recommend this as an option. A Pandora charm bracelet is not only a stunning piece of jewelry, but also acts as a display for all of your loved one’s passions and interests.
You can start off small with just a few charms and slowly add more as the years go on. It provides more gift options for all future occasions and it allows others like friends and family to add charms too.
If you’re looking for a gift for that special man in your life, Pandora also offers stunning leather bracelet options.
Antique Jewelry
It’s not an idea that pops out at you right away, but there really is something to be said about a gift that has a story behind it. Antique jewelry is an affordable option if you’re looking for something really unique for a loved one.
Antique rings are very popular for women and antique watches can sometimes be considered more popular than a new one for men.
The great thing about antique jewelry is you know it’s truly never going out of style. Have you ever been gifted a piece of jewelry that you really loved when you first received it, but a year later realized you had grown out of it or it simply wasn’t in style anymore? Antique jewelry is timeless and is a piece you know you’ll cherish for years to come.
Rings
There are some people who are in love with their wedding rings for a lifetime and never want them to change. And then there are others who, after time, are looking for a change to represent the new place in life that they’re in.
Often times, after five or ten years many couples want to celebrate with special rings. We believe there are no set rules for what this ring may look like and we offer a myriad of ring options for whatever you and your loved one are celebrating.
Whether it’s five, ten, twenty, or sixty years, J.H. Young & Sons Ltd has the perfect gift to celebrate any of life’s milestones. Come visit us in store to see all of our anniversary gift options.
