The Ultimate Diamond Anniversary Gift Guide (By Year And By Budget)

We love wedding anniversaries. They mark the passage of time while bringing a couple’s vows back into focus (and the occasion gives you the challenge of choosing a perfect gift!) But if you’re just getting started, you need to remember the best anniversary gift doesn’t live in a box. It lives on your partner’s wrist or at their collarbone, through the long workdays, late dinners, and your weekend errand adventures. Diamond jewelry does that better than anything! We created this guide to match traditional wedding anniversary gifts by year so you can find something that fits your style and price. We’ll be referencing traditional customs, the modern gift lists (including some non-diamond options), and the fact that you’d prefer your partner to wear your 10-year anniversary gift than tuck it away.

How To Match Wedding Anniversary Gifts By Year

If you like the structure of anniversary gifts by year, use it to steer color and style. Ten year (traditional) anniversary gifts point to diamonds, and a diamond pendant delivers plenty of sparkle without fuss. Fifteen years ties to ruby, and that rich red pairs beautifully with yellow or rose gold. Twenty leans emerald, and a bright diamond necklace helps that green sing. Thirty often links to pearl, but you can nod to the idea of luster with bezel-set sapphire studs that glow more than they flash. Forty circles back to ruby with a confident, romantic tone. Fifty is the golden anniversary, and a yellow gold diamond bracelet says it all without saying a word.

If you prefer a modern present like a pair of beautiful diamond studs instead, that works too! Most couples today would rather open a piece of jewelry that sees the light of day. Use the year as a story, then choose the piece that fits your partner’s life.

Choosing Your First Few Anniversary Gifts

The early years of marriage call for jewelry your partner can reach for without thinking. A diamond necklace is perfect here because it suits nearly every neckline and moment. A round diamond solitaire pendant in yellow gold sits close to the collarbone, picks up warm evening light, and never fights with layered outfits. A 0.2 ctw diamond pendant in a classic four-prong basket makes a memorable first anniversary gift and stays special for years.

Color can join the picture without replacing diamonds. Blue topaz often appears on anniversary gemstone charts for the fourth year. You can treat that as a color cue! The goal is to honor the theme and still give something wearable and durable.

Lab grown diamond studs are another super practical option for these early years. They deliver the same geometry and fire as mined stones at a friendlier price (which we know helps when you’re juggling a new mortgage or childcare costs…) A1.00 ct total weight pair of diamond studs in white gold sits flush, feels secure, and looks clean with hair up or down.

The Fifth Anniversary

Five years deserves a small upgrade with a romantic tilt. If your partner loves deep blue, consider sapphire studs in warm yellow gold. A bezel keeps edges smooth, the color reads rich in daylight, and the style layers well with a diamond necklace or slim hoops. It’s a graceful nod to the long history of blue sapphire in wedding jewelry.

If diamonds are the priority, think in stacks. Slim diamond bands give you metal options and room to grow. Add one now, then another for a future milestone. Wear a single band as a right-hand ring or pair it with a wedding band for a personal take on the anniversary band.

The Tenth Anniversary: Celebrate The Diamond Anniversary

Ten years is often called the diamond anniversary. Classic diamond studs and a matching pendant make sense because you’re celebrating durability and the life you’ve built together. A solitaire pendant paired with lab grown studs covers formal nights and school drop-offs without missing a beat. Diamonds anchor major milestones for a reason. They’re the hardest material used in jewelry and carry that clear symbol of lasting love.

If your partner likes a subtle twist, blue diamond studs bring color while staying in the diamond family. A 0.75 ct total weight pair in white gold suits cool-toned wardrobes, black frames, and navy blazers. Prefer a ring. A channel-set diamond anniversary band in white or yellow gold brings a bright line of sparkle across the finger, holds up to daily wear, and stacks neatly with an engagement ring.

Fifteen To Twenty

As the years add up, many couples bring in anniversary gemstones with a story. Ruby often marks fifteen. Emerald often marks twenty. Both have deep roots and pair beautifully with diamonds. If your partner gravitates to cooler tones, sapphire signals steadiness and sits comfortably in white gold or platinum (and it isn’t exclusive to the early years.) If they love warmth, yellow gold around ruby or a brown diamond stud draws the eye and adds depth. A round brown diamond pendant in white gold hits that moody, elegant note yet stays easy to wear.

Not everyone wants a ring at this stage. Earrings are smart because you can change scale without changing style. Princess-cut or round diamond studs at one carat total weight feel right in three decades of marriage and sit well under hair. Blue sapphire studs in white gold carry from business meetings to date nights and echo the steady love you’ve built.

Major Milestones: Silver, Pearl, Ruby, Gold

Twenty-five is commonly called the silver jubilee. Thirty connects to pearl on many charts. Four decades? They return to ruby for that deep, confident red. A couple’s 50th anniversary is also known as the golden anniversary, which brings yellow gold back in a big way. These are the years when a single significant piece can become an heirloom for generations to come.

A diamond tennis bracelet in yellow gold is a confident choice when you want something momentous without feeling formal. Our absolutely stunning 8.4 ct lab grown version in white gold keeps the look bright forever! It lies flat under a sleeve and brings a clean line of light to the wrist at dinner. For a golden anniversary, add a new stackable band in yellow gold to echo the milestone and give two easy ways to wear the celebration.

When To Consider Lab Grown Options

For under one thousand dollars, our GIA-certified diamond studs under 1 ctw offer the best blend of presence and value. But if you aren’t willing to sacrifice size, you’ll get a lot more size with the same clean cuts and secure settings when you choose lab grown diamonds. White gold reads crisp. Rose gold softens the contrast against skin. A petite diamond necklace in either material layers well with lab-grown diamonds and keeps the whole look polished!

In the mid range, anniversary bands and colored diamond studs shine. A channel-set band feels substantial and sits comfortably, even if you type all day. Blue diamond studs act as a modern alternative to white diamonds and feel right for a tenth or twentieth when you want color with staying power.

Our Short List Of Genuine Diamond Jewelry To Choose From

Here are pieces we reach for often when helping clients shop for anniversary milestones. A round diamond solitaire pendant in 14k yellow gold, when you want one forever piece that layers with everything. A pair of lab grown round diamond studs at 1.00 ct total weight when you want reliable sparkle on a friendly budget. A channel-set diamond anniversary band in white or yellow gold to mark ten years, or any year when a ring you can live in makes sense. A trio of slim diamond bands if you want to add one now and save the others for future celebrations. A lab grown diamond tennis bracelet in yellow gold for a milestone with presence. Blue diamond studs in white gold for a modern color shift. Blue sapphire bezel studs in yellow or white gold for a classic nod to loyalty and wisdom. A round brown diamond pendant for an evening-ready look that still works with sweaters.

Free Lifetime Upgrades For Your Future Anniversary Milestones!

Every diamond stud and diamond jewelry purchase with diamondstuds keeps its full paid value and qualifies for the free Lifetime Upgrade Program (so your gift can grow with your milestones).

Here’s how the credit works. You’ll receive a 100% pre-tax credit (the original amount paid) when you upgrade a Lab Grown Diamond item to another Lab Grown Diamond item that’s at least 2x the value. For Natural Diamond pieces, you receive a 100% pre-tax credit when you upgrade to another Natural Diamond item that’s at least 1.5x the value. Keep the original documents, grading reports, and certificates, and return the item in like-new condition (missing paperwork may require a $150 replacement fee).

Ready to use your credit? Email Info@DiamondStuds.com