Anniversary Rings
Anniversary rings, for the years that matter
A round-number anniversary deserves more than a card. Ten years together, twenty-five, forty, fifty: the anniversary ring is a chance to mark the milestone with something hand-made, lasting, and specific to your relationship. Some clients commission a new piece. Others come back to us to remodel the original engagement ring. Both are good answers.
Anniversary milestones and traditional materials
There's a long tradition of associating each wedding anniversary with a specific material, and a number of those milestones map directly to jewellery commissions we see regularly.
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10th anniversary, traditionally tin (modern: diamond)
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15th anniversary, traditionally crystal (modern: ruby)
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20th anniversary, traditionally china (modern: platinum)
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25th anniversary (silver), traditionally silver
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30th anniversary, traditionally pearl
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35th anniversary, traditionally coral (modern: jade)
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40th anniversary, traditionally ruby
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45th anniversary, traditionally sapphire
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50th anniversary (gold), traditionally gold
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55th anniversary, traditionally emerald
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60th anniversary (diamond), traditionally diamond
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70th anniversary, traditionally platinum
These aren't rules, but they make good starting points for design conversations.
Three ways to mark the milestone
Option 1, a new piece
Commission an eternity ring, dress ring, pendant or earrings designed specifically to mark the anniversary. The most popular choice for couples wanting something entirely new.
Option 2, remodel the engagement ring
Bring your existing engagement ring back to the workshop. We can update the setting, replace the centre stone with something larger, add a halo, or reconstruct the band entirely while keeping the original diamond. The piece keeps its history but takes on a new form.
Option 3, an upgrade. The "upgrade" approach
keep the original engagement ring as-is (often retired to a different finger or kept safely) and commission an entirely new engagement-style ring as the anniversary piece. Popular at 25 and 40 year milestones, where the original ring still holds enormous sentimental value but the couple wants something that reflects who they are now.
Remodelling the original engagement ring
This is some of the most meaningful work we do. A ring that was bought decades ago, with stones that have lived through every milestone of your relationship, can be brought back to the bench and remade.
The original centre diamond stays. The band, the setting, the shoulders, and any accent stones can all change. We've reworked rings where the centre diamond was the only thing that survived, with the entire setting redesigned around it. The result is a ring that's recognisably still your engagement ring (because the diamond is the same), but reborn for the next thirty years.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 years is traditionally tin (modern: diamond), 25 years is silver, 40 years is ruby, 45 years is sapphire, 50 years is gold, and 60 years is diamond. We can design anniversary pieces around any of these traditional materials, or ignore them entirely.
It depends on the meaning you want the piece to carry. Eternity rings are traditionally linked to specific moments in a relationship (an anniversary, a child's birth). Dress rings are freer, with no fixed symbolism. We'll talk through both options at your consultation.
Yes, and it's one of our most rewarding commissions. The original centre stone can stay, and the rest of the ring can be reimagined around it. Bring the ring to your consultation.
Most custom anniversary commissions take four to seven weeks. Remodelled pieces sometimes take a little longer because we work carefully with the original ring's materials.
Same tactics as for a surprise engagement ring. Borrow a ring they already wear, press it into a bar of soap, or ask a sibling or close friend to help. We've handled many anniversary surprises and have some practised approaches.
Absolutely. Anniversary commissions sometimes include coordinated pieces, a ring for one partner and cufflinks, a watch refresh, or a pendant for the other.