Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year: The Traditional Gift Guide
Every wedding anniversary carries a traditional gift attached to it, a custom dating back centuries, pairing a material or gemstone with each milestone year. Some are practical (a 1st anniversary calls for paper), others are aspirational (a 60th calls for diamonds). Below is the full list, followed by a closer look at one milestone in particular: the 30th anniversary, whose traditional gift is the pearl.
Wedding anniversary gifts by year
| Year | Traditional gift |
|---|---|
| 1st | Paper |
| 5th | Wood |
| 10th | Tin |
| 15th | Crystal |
| 20th | China |
| 25th | Silver |
| 30th | Pearl |
| 35th | Coral |
| 40th | Ruby |
| 50th | Gold |
| 60th | Diamond |
Why pearls mark the 30th anniversary
By the 30-year mark, a pearl's own qualities start to mirror the relationship it's given to celebrate: pearls are formed slowly, layer upon layer, over years spent growing in a single place, not unlike three decades built together. Unlike a faceted gemstone, a pearl's lustre only develops with time, which is part of why it became the traditional 30th anniversary gift.
A South Sea pearl in particular, the rarest and largest of the cultured pearls, makes for a 30th anniversary gift substantial enough to mark the occasion, whether as a single pearl pendant, a hand-knotted pearl necklace, or a pair of pearl earrings meant to be worn for years past the anniversary itself.
Other milestones worth marking with jewellery
Pearls aren't the only anniversary tradition with a natural home in fine jewellery. A 25th anniversary calls for silver, a sterling silver pearl bracelet or bangle fits neatly here. A 50th calls for gold, suiting a piece from our 18k gold vermeil or solid gold edit. And a 60th, the diamond anniversary, pairs naturally with a diamond ring or diamond charm.
Shopping for another occasion entirely? Browse our full gifting edit, or visit our Double Bay boutique to see the collection in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the traditional 30th wedding anniversary gift?
Pearl. It's one of the most well-known entries on the traditional anniversary gift list, alongside silver (25th), gold (50th) and diamond (60th).
Why is pearl the traditional 30th anniversary gift?
Pearls form slowly, layer upon layer, over years spent growing in a single place — a natural parallel to a marriage built up gradually over three decades. Unlike a faceted gemstone, a pearl's lustre only develops with time.
What is a good 30th anniversary jewellery gift?
A South Sea pearl pendant, necklace, or pair of earrings — genuine cultured South Sea pearls carry the most weight as a 30th anniversary gift, since the tradition specifically calls for real pearl.
What gift is given for a 1st wedding anniversary?
Paper, traditionally.
