Anniversary rings are exactly as their name states. It is a ring gifted on the occasion of a wedding anniversary. It is usually gifted by a husband to his wife but as less traditional marriages increase in number, so the practice of gifting an anniversary ring widens. Essentially, modern anniversary rings represent annual milestones in a couple’s married life.
Like an eternity ring - which a partner may choose as an anniversary gift instead - anniversary rings are worn as part of the bridal jewelry set, stacked with the engagement ring and wedding band.
Depending on whose opinion you seek, you will hear that an anniversary ring should be similar in form to an eternity ring. This is a ring of stones or half-ring of stones that represent the infinite circle of your coupledom. Others, however, believe there is no need to be bound by convention., some even say an anniversary ring does not have to be worn on the third finger, left hand!
There is great versatility in ring design and aesthetic of anniversary rings with so many more options than a traditional-style diamond anniversary ring.
Jewelers are full of wonderful women’s rings so whatever your preferred look, the perfect anniversary ring is out there!
Here are some of the best tips for selecting the perfect anniversary band ring for your spouse.
Gifting Years: Which Stone for Which Anniversary?
Typically, fine jewelry is a gift for first, fifth, tenth, and twentieth wedding anniversaries but again, if you want to kick convention aside, you can choose any marriage milestone to celebrate with an anniversary ring.
You will find a lot of rings that are described as engagement ring settings are very suitable as anniversary rings.
As you might know, gemstones in jewelry are not only used for their color but their associated meaning, for example, as with birthstones. If you are drawn to such connections, there is a gemstone to signify a year of marriage.
These are:
Year 1 - Gold
The first year of marriage does not have to be celebrated with a stone ring as the bridal set is still new. Gold rings are the main theme of the first-year anniversary. It can be yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold, but remember it should look great with engagement and wedding rings. A gold stacking ring is ideal.
Year 2 - Garnet
The red of a garnet is a lovely complement to a diamond engagement ring in a bridal stack. It pops in a ring of white gold or platinum.
Year 3 - Pearl
Pearl rings are not as versatile as other gemstone rings so it may not always be easy to find a pearl ring that works well with the bridal set. If you, or your lady, has her heart set on a pearl anniversary ring, this may be a time to think about wearing it on a different finger.
Year 4 - Blue Topaz
Historically associated with love and affection, a ring containing blue topaz is a great choice for an anniversary ring.
Year 5 - Blue Sapphire
Blue sapphire is the most popular choice for anniversary rings overall although it is most specific to the fifth anniversary.
This quite simple but elegant ring shows how gorgeous blue sapphires can be and it works wonderfully well with any gold wedding band.
Year 6 - Amethyst
Purple has always been associated with royalty so you might consider amethyst a regal choice for an anniversary.
If you have quite a simple bridal ring set, this charmer of an amethyst and diamond ring adds eye-catching detail.
Year 7 - Onyx
Onyx is a lovely dark stone and in a ring is an ideal way to achieve color blocking. Dark onyx looks great with yellow or white metal as seen in this showoff ring.
Year 8 - Tourmaline
Tourmaline is one of those gemstones with a very wide range of colors. A stone can be a fairly pale pink right through to a dark green as seen in this rose gold ring.
Year 9 - Lapis Lazuli
A deep blue, variegated stone, it is not as popular as other gemstones but it offers a wonderfully intense color.
Year 10 - Diamond
A significant milestone deserves a significant stone so of course, it has to be a diamond. Maybe you couldn’t afford a big showy ring with a hefty carat diamond for the engagement but 10 years on, you can consider an impressive diamond anniversary band. Like this stunning ring with a 1.23-carat center stone and the addition of pink diamonds.
Year 11 - Turquoise
Turquoise adds a different dimension to the ring finger. Because it doesn’t sparkle, it doesn’t take any attention away from the scintillation of a diamond wedding ring.
Year 12 - Jade
The signature color of jade is green although it can be found in many colors. In rings, it is usually formed into a cabochon shape so it should be considered if that is an appropriate look alongside the bridal set.
Year 13 - Citrine
Working well with any color gold, citrine comes in lots of different shades of yellow. It adds some sunshine sparkle to a finger.
Year 14 - Opal
If you are going to gift an opal anniversary ring, make sure it has a fabulous play of colors that dance and play in the light.
Year 15 - Ruby
The unmistakable saturated red of a ruby can only represent passion and love and is a wonderful sentiment when gifted in an anniversary ring. This deliciously organic ruby ring certainly makes a statement for a statement anniversary.
Year 20 - Emerald
Despite being one of the four true gemstones, emerald doesn’t appear on this list until now, but it is a fitting choice for a milestone achievement. Like diamonds, amethysts, and rubies, you can choose a showpiece or something simple that brings an elegantly perfect touch of color, such as this emerald band.
Year 25 - Silver Jubilee
Although 25 years is a silver jubilee, most people consider it an occasion more worthy than a gift of sterling silver. This is maybe the anniversary to push the boat out and splash out on a spectacular gold diamond ring.
Year 30 - Pearl Jubilee
If you purchased a pearl ring for your third anniversary, maybe your 30th is the time to depart from the ring gift and buy pearls in a different form. A pearl necklace or some pearl earrings will always complement the pearl ring you presented 27 years ago.
Year 35 - Emerald
So good, they included it twice. Again, you can diverge from the anniversary band but if you bought a ring like the one we suggested for the 20th anniversary, you can ring the changes with something more elaborate like this intricate ring with a solitaire emerald along with diamonds.
Year 40 - Ruby
It seems that for all the seriously high milestone anniversaries, the four most valuable are the gemstones of choice. Express the essence of a love that has endured for forty years with a ruby ring that is a real bobby dazzler.
Year 45 - Sapphire
Every year is a good year for sapphire but the 45th year of any marriage deserves something special. This modern-looking sapphire and diamond ring is also classical so it will sit well with a bridal set that has sat on the same finger for 45 years.
Year 50 - Golden Jubilee
With gold being the signature emblem of a 50th anniversary, the gemstone world is your oyster when choosing a suitable ring. Choose something spectacular or something simple that has meaning for both of you.
Year 60 - Diamond
Of course, such a momentous occasion needs to be marked with a diamond. It’s time for some serious bling and the biggest carat weight you can afford. Of course, to make it even more special, you can design your anniversary band and use a custom ring service.
If you aren’t the traditional type of couple who want to abide by the anniversary rules set out above, then another great idea for something special is to gift a ring that features your partner’s birthstone instead.
In terms of being slightly more alternative to your choice, why not consider something like a black diamond ring? It can provide a stunning contrast, especially if your partner’s wedding set was based on more traditional trends. The great thing about black stone diamonds, in particular, is that they evoke the classic style of the New York Art Deco scene, and this style is something that crops up again and again in an eternity wedding band design.
Tips For Wearing On The Same Hand
A great idea if you want to wear all of your rings on the same finger is the trend of stackable rings. Stacking rings can create a wonderful and meaningful wedding ring set that you can treasure for the rest of your life.
In terms of the order, the general rule is that the wedding ring should be placed first on the finger, followed by the engagement ring, and then the anniversary ring.
Eternity bands contain diamonds that go all the way around, and they can be a very stylish and tasteful option that will effortlessly complement the majority of bridal sets. You might want to consider an anniversary ring that has an ornate and detailed design, which will add an extra touch of interest when placed next to some more traditional wedding and engagement rings.
One of the biggest trends in best-seller stackable rings is experimenting with different precious metals, so you’ll find combinations of things like 14k rose gold and white gold, or even more than one color in a single band with a special two-tone creation.
Tips For Same Hand, Different Finger
If there is already too much going on on your traditional ring finger, then an anniversary band can very easily be worn on any other finger on the same hand! Having the freedom to pick another finger provides a much more versatile list of options when it comes to sizing and styling.
If you are somebody (or married to somebody) who likes to change their look often, then wearing the anniversary band on a different finger than the rest of the wedding set makes for a much more fun and interesting look.
The only thing to pay special attention to is making sure that the ring is the appropriate size for the various fingers that you might be planning on switching it around on. For example, the little finger is much thinner than the middle finger, so you want to make sure that you pick appropriate fingers for measurements!
Tips For Wearing On The Right Hand
Of course, there is nothing to say that you have to wear your anniversary ring on the same hand as the rest of your wedding ring set, so why not break with tradition by wearing it on the right hand instead? Anniversary rings are so stylish and stand out that they can easily be worn on the other hand.
It isn’t an uncommon occurrence for men to wear anniversary rings as well as their female spouses, and wearing the ring on the right hand might be something that lots of men prefer to do to be that little bit different and interesting in their jewelry choices.
Choosing an Anniversary Ring
As a symbol of your love and commitment, your spouse is going to be super pleased with an anniversary ring but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some thought and effort into it. Explore different gemstones and shapes to those in her bridal set. Now might be the time to choose a baguette diamond, emerald cut, or princess cut as they are different from the traditional round diamonds in her engagement ring.
Remember too, that a ring may be described as an engagement ring, a diamond wedding band, or a right-hand ring but this is only a description. Look beyond this to the design, style, and color of the ring. If you think your lady will love it, the description is irrelevant.
