Pearls are the perfect gift for that special person in your life. Those who are familiar with the traditional anniversary themes will know that pearls usually mark 30 years of marriage – for which we have a specially curated a 30th Anniversary collection!
Interestingly, because pearls have become very fashionable, people are now marking their 12th year of marriage with pearls too! Of course, you don’t have to wait that long to give pearls to the person you love.
From gifts of wood and iron to ivory and lace, each anniversary theme provides inspiration to mark each year of marriage. Read on as we list the themed anniversary years from paper (marking 1 year of marriage) to diamonds (marking 60 years of marriage) and explore how pearls can make each year truly unforgettable.
1 year – Paper
Your first year of marriage is an incredibly important landmark. So much so, that paper seems like a bit of a lacklustre choice for a gift. Thankfully, you can merge this with pearls to keep your special someone happy.
Choosing one of our paper gift cards allows your loved one to pick out the design they most desire. The voucher never goes out of date and you can have it made out to any sum.
2 years – Cotton
How can you make cotton into a special gift for your anniversary? By adding pearls, of course! We use cotton in many of our designs – a much more interesting way to celebrate two years of marriage, much better than the boring set of cotton bedsheets.
3 years – Leather
Moving onto the third year, and leather is another traditional anniversary theme which can be paired seamlessly with pearls.
Turn heads with our award-winning “Warrior" collection. Hand-woven leather coupled with shimmering pearls. These punchy leather designs emulate both the strength (the leather barbed-wire) and the tenderness (the soft and creamy pearl) found in each and every individual design. Your personal armour -wearable art to celebrate three years together.
4 years – Fruit and Flowers
After four years of marriage, the traditional anniversary gift would be fruit and flowers. However, flowers have become something of a cliché for anniversaries. Rather than opting for roses and tulips that seem a bit naff and will quickly die, why not choose flowers that will last a lifetime?
Instead, why not opt for the ‘Back to Basics’ collection, which sees pearls hanging from delicate chain alongside a sculpted metal leaf. This first mother-daughter collaboration employs simple design to put the focus back on the pearl. When the perfect pearl colour is matched to your complexion, the pearl literally “lights-up” your face, enhancing your natural beauty.
5 years – Wood
Wood is a beautiful, natural material that provides plenty of inspiration for your fifth wedding anniversary.
Explore our stunning necklaces and earring sets that feature both wood and pearls, and our pearl friendly perfume which features Bamboo wood.
6 years – Sweet Treats
After six years of marriage, the ‘sweet treats’ theme immediately sends most gift-buyers to the confectionery shop. However, no matter how high-end you go, it’s hard to make someone’s heart melt with just a box of chocolates.
At Coleman Douglas, we designed a wonderfully colourful collection inspired by the ‘Tutti Frutti’ pastel sweets that have bedecked traditional sweet shop shelves for over 60 years. Enjoy adding a splash of colour to any outfit, and you can always add in a box of chocolates for good measure too…
7 years – Copper
As a colour, copper offers a unique warmth that can complement a myriad of interior designs and outfits. Use the beautiful tone for inspiration and find the perfect copper-coloured pearls for your anniversary. Choose earrings, bracelets or necklaces from our copper pearl based ‘it’s a long story’ collection.
8 years Bronze
As well as being the theme for your eighth anniversary, bronze is perhaps best known for medals, trophies and statues. With Coleman Douglas Pearls, you can choose from a selection of breathtaking bronze-coloured pearls that your partner will adore.
9 years – Glass
You only have to look at spectacular stained glass to see the beauty that can be achieved with the theme for your ninth wedding anniversary. That said, windows aren’t the ideal gift to mark nine years of marriage – and you probably don’t need another glass vase or ornament.
A pearl anniversary gift can combine the glass theme with elegant jewellery, such as a stunning pearl and crystal necklace. At Coleman Douglas, we have a wide range of jewellery that incorporates crystal within the design, such as a ‘lasso’ cascade of pearls and crystal, dripping down an open-backed dress
10 years – Tin
Congratulations – a decade of marriage! What wonderful gifts can you give that incorporates the tin theme? We suggest exploring our beautiful collection of silver coloured pearls that would make a good alternative for tin, while still keeping you within the remit of your 10th anniversary theme.
11 years – Steel
Much like your marriage after 11 years, steel is strong, durable and pretty adaptable! If you’re looking for a pearl wedding anniversary gift, the 11th year has you covered. Using a stylish steel clasp, we can add steel to any of our stunning pearl jewellery designs.
12 years – Silk
When it comes to luxury materials, silk is certainly one of the best. That’s why it’s a great theme for your 12th anniversary. At Coleman Douglas, many of our pieces are strung on silk thread, giving you a huge range of pearl anniversary gifts to choose from after 12 years of marriage.
13 years – Lace
The usual gift for this anniversary is lace, reflecting the fact that your lives have been beautifully intertwined for the past 13 years. Our charming lace-design pearls will impress and surprise in equal measure, ensuring 13 won’t be an unlucky number for you!
14 years – Ivory
Ivory is the traditional gift for your 14th anniversary, but it’s not the most ethically-conscious gift given that it is taken from elephants. Instead, choosing a beautiful ivory-coloured pearl anniversary gift is still in keeping with the theme, without the need to harm any animals. At Coleman Douglas Pearls we take pride in our natural origins, we know our pearl farmers by name, sourcing only from those who meet our ethical standards. Each design is consciously produced for the wonderful clients who wear them.
- Akoya Pearl Necklace £1,250
15 years – Crystal
There are plenty of gifts to choose from when it comes to crystal. Thankfully, rock crystal is used in several of our most popular designs, ranging from bracelets to necklaces – all perfect for your 15th anniversary.
20 years – China
China (the material, not the country!) can be a great gift to couples on their wedding day, giving them some high-end tableware for special occasions. On your 20th wedding anniversary, the fine white material is meant to symbolise the beauty of the life you have built together. Achieve this symbolism with fine ‘china-white’ pearls, which last forever and reflect your partner’s natural beauty.
25 years – Silver
Your silver wedding anniversary marks 25 years of marriage, and the precious metal lends itself naturally to jewellery gifts. At Coleman Douglas, we have a stunning collection of pearl pendants and earrings on silver chains.
30 years – Pearls
At last, the pearl anniversary. Gifts don’t come better than our collection of rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, tie pins and more. As a pearl specialist, the 30th anniversary pearls is really what we are good at, and we are always on hand to help you pick out the perfect pearly wedding anniversary gift for your significant other. Chrissie is a pearl expert, with over 30 years of experience, her expert eye and product knowledge will allow her to choose a pearl design that is unique and expertly matched to you. When the right pearl colour & shape is matched to your complexion the pearl literally “lights-up” your face, enhancing your natural beauty. Why not book a personal consultation now, to ensure you get it ‘just right’.
For Her
For Him
35 years – Coral
Following on from pearl is your coral anniversary, five years later. This natural material is sought-after and difficult to find in a sustainably sourced manner. Our designer created an entire collection inspired by the vivid colours of Mexican coral reefs and sea life. Alternatively, we offer a bespoke service where we can re-design any coral necklaces that you already have, or re-purpose a jewellery design that you would like to add a spark of red to.
40 years – Ruby
Rubies are amongst the most precious gemstones, offering unique shades from crimson to rose. As well as being the perfect theme for your 40th wedding anniversary. It is interesting to note that rubies and sapphires are the same mineral (corundum). When a corundum is red, it is classified as a ruby, and when it is blue, it is called a sapphire. A number of pearl 40th anniversary gifts can be viewed at our studio in London. Alternatively, we offer a bespoke service where we can re-design any pearl necklaces you would like to incorporate rubies to.
45 years – Sapphire
Moving from warm red to cool, enchanting blue, sapphire is the stone of choice for 45th wedding anniversaries. If you’re looking for pearl anniversary gifts to celebrate 45 years of marriage, Coleman Douglas has sapphire rings along with pearl bracelets and necklaces using sapphire briolettes.
50 years – Gold
Gold is a natural wonder, coming in several colours from rose gold and white gold to classic yellow gold. It makes for some truly spectacular jewellery. Adding pearls to gold jewellery is a great way to make a piece truly outstanding to celebrate 50 years of marriage.
55 years – Emerald
Emeralds are a sign of adoration and devotion, both undoubtedly must-have qualities for 55 years of marriage. We have a stunning selection of emerald necklaces and rings to choose from, as well as a bespoke service to incorporate precious emeralds into a piece that meets your exacting requirements.
60 years – Diamonds
Last but absolutely not least on our list is the 60th wedding anniversary. It’s said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and we can’t think of a better way to present them than a pearl and diamond necklace, bracelet or earrings. At Coleman Douglas Pearls, we can help you choose the perfect pearl wedding anniversary gift featuring diamonds that will reflect the strength of your love after a lifetime of happiness together.
Find the perfect pearls for your anniversary
From the first few years to lifelong landmarks, pearls are a memorable gift for any anniversary. At Coleman Douglas Pearls, we have a wealth of experience matching pearl jewellery with a wearer’s skin tone and hair colour in order to complement their natural beauty and make your pearl anniversary gift even more special.
Arrange a pearl consultation today or contact our team to find out more.
