Anniversary Gemstones

Compiled below are the gemstones (or metals) that represent milestone anniversaries (according to the American Gem Trade Association). Come into Husar's today or call us for help in choosing the perfect gift to celebrate your commitment and love.

1st – Gold

One reason why gold is so revered throughout the world is it’s incredible history. From the ancient Egyptians to James Bond, from Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ to the Californian gold rush, gold has played a fascinating part in world history and culture for thousands and thousands of years.

As a token of affection, gold has always born the meaning of hope, permanence, and indelible value from the giver to those who receive it.

2nd – Garnet

Garnet traces its roots to the Nile Delta in 3100 B.C., where Egyptian artisans would craft the gemstone into beads or inlay them into hand-wrought jewelry. Noah used garnet as a lamp on his bow as he cast about on the ocean. Garnet received its name from the ancient Greeks because the color reminded them of the "granatum," or pomegranate seed.

3rd – Cultured or Natural Pearls

Pearls are unique in the world of colored gemstones since they are the only gemstone formed within a living creature. Because natural pearls are so rare and difficult to recover from the ocean's depths, man invented the technique of culturing salt and freshwater pearls from mollusks carefully seeded with irritants similar to those produced by nature. The painstaking effort of culturing is one of the most dramatic examples of man's quest to coax beauty from nature.

4th – Blue Topaz

The Egyptians said that topaz was colored with the golden glow of the sun god. Legend has it that topaz dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight. The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency.

Blue, once the most rare color of topaz, is today the most common, thanks to a stable enhancement process that turns colorless topaz blue. After the raw topaz is extracted from the earth and cut, it is irradiated to brown and then heated to sky blue. This enhancement process is permanent.

5th – Sapphire

A gift of a sapphire symbolizes a pledge of trust and loyalty. It is from this tradition that sapphire has long been a popular choice for engagement rings. One of Nature's most durable gemstones, sapphire shares this quality with its sister, the ruby.

6th – Amethyst

Quartz is found in abundance from every corner of the earth. In its purest form, quart is colorless, but is most prized for its purple variety- amethyst. Purple has long been considered a royal color, so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand throughout history. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Great thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci believed that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

7th – Onyx

The name comes from the Greek word onux , which means fingernail. According to Roman Mythology, Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. The fates turned the clippings into stone so that no part of the goddess would ever perish. Black isn't normally the color one associates with fingernails, but in Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from fingernail white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Later, the Romans narrowed the term to refer to black and dark brown colors only.

8th – Tourmaline

For centuries tourmalines have adorned the jewels of royalty. The Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi, the last empress of China, valued the rich pink colors above all other gemstones. The people of ancient Ceylon called tourmaline "turmali," the Sinhalese word for "more colors." Perhaps this is why ancient mystics believed tourmaline could encourage artistic intuition: it has the palette to express every mood.

9th – Lapis Lazuli

The beautiful blues in paintings from the Renaissance are thanks to the blue of lapis lazuli, the opaque blue gem material that was the secret ingredient in ultramarine, the valuable pigment that all the old masters used to capture the rich blues of the sea and sky and the robes of the Virgin Mary. The color wasn't duplicated by any other substance until 1834 but even now, some argue there is no substitute: unlike other pigments ultramarine centuries old still glows with rich color today.

10th – Diamond

By far, the most consistently used gem for engagement rings, diamonds are remembered on 10th anniversaries to celebrate a decade of companionship, friendship, trust, and love.

15th – Ruby

Many people associate its brilliant crimson colors with passion and love. Ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral species, while all other colors of corundum are called sapphire.

20th – Emerald

Emerald, to many, symbolizes rebirth and the abundance of the life force. The rich green hue brings to mind the regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities.

Spring can also be seen in the network of inclusions in the depth of the emerald that the French call the jardin, or garden, because it resembles foliage. The inclusions are like a fingerprint, giving each emerald a distinct personality and distinguishing them as truly natural gemstones.

25th – Silver Jubilee

Pure silver, or fine silver, while beautiful, is quite malleable, soft, and easily damaged. In order to make it more durable and stable it is combined with other metals to make a mostly-silver alloy. At 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, sterling silver is the most popular of these alloys.

The combination of silver and copper (which has been time-proven as it’s most compatible metal) does not significantly affect the metal’s value. The work put into the production, design, intricacy, and craftsmanship of the piece hold a much higher influence in the final value it commands.

30th – Cultured/Natural Pearl Jubilee

As stated above, natural or cultured pearls have a special place in many people's hearts. At a 30th anniversary, they provide a wonderful opportunity to enhance and add to any pieces already received through the years.

35th – Emerald

Emerald, to many, symbolizes rebirth and the abundance of the life force. The rich green hue brings to mind the regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities.

40th – Ruby

Many people associate its brilliant crimson colors with passion and love. Ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral species, while all other colors of corundum are called sapphire.

45th — Sapphire

A gift of a sapphire symbolizes a pledge of trust and loyalty. It is from this tradition that sapphire has long been a popular choice for engagement rings. One of Nature's most durable gemstones, sapphire shares this quality with its sister, the ruby.

50th – Golden Jubilee

One reason why gold is so revered throughout the world is it’s incredible history. From the ancient Egyptians to James Bond, from Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ to the Californian gold rush, gold has played a fascinating part in world history and culture for thousands and thousands of years.

As a token of affection, gold has always born the meaning of hope, permanence, and indelible value from the giver to those who receive it. Perfect to celebrate 50 years.

55th – Alexandrite

Alexandrite making a special appearance at 55 years as a beautiful and changing stone. If you love magic, especially the magic of science, you'll love alexandrite, the color-change gem. Outside in daylight, it is a cool bluish mossy green. Inside in lamplight, it is a red gem, with a warm raspberry tone. You can watch it flick back and forth by switching from fluorescent to incandescent light.

60th – Diamond

The classic makes a return at 60 years as a token of the timelessness your relationship has expressed and will continue to do in the future.

Can anniversaries go beyond 60 years? Of course they can, and do. At that point, or any other in your relationship, you are more than entitled to decide what best expresses your feelings and when. This list is just a list to help guide, not a rulebook to follow. Ultimately, you should follow your heart. At Husar's, we're experts at helping you find the best piece to match the expression of your love.

For more information about anniversary gemstones, and to see further information beyond much of what is shown above, please visit the American Gem Trade Association at www.agta.org or visit us at Husars. We're only a short drive away, and worth the trip.