Anniversary Jewellery by Year: 1st, 5th, 10th and 25th Without Gold

Updated October 2026

Anniversary gifts are easier when you think in milestones. A first anniversary is about the memory of the wedding year, a fifth is about settling in, a tenth is a quiet celebration and a 25th is the big family evening. The jewellery should match the mood of that year, and not just the price tag.

This guide goes year by year and covers the gift and the outfit for the dinner or party. It is separate from our broader guide to anniversary jewellery gifts for a wife, which covers style, size and care. Everything here is artificial jewellery in plated brass or alloy, so it is meant for wearing and enjoying, and not as an investment piece.

What should I give for a first anniversary?

A first anniversary suits something small and personal that she will wear often. Small studs and tops or pearl earrings (imitation pearls) are safe, because they need no size and go with sarees, suits and western outfits. A neat pendant-style set from necklace sets is a good step up if you want a matching set.

The traditional gift for the first year is often said to be paper, so a handwritten note tucked into the box adds the right touch. You do not need to match the theme exactly. A card with a few honest lines from the year will matter more than the item.

What works for a fifth anniversary?

By the fifth year the couple often has a clear idea of her taste, so choose something she will wear to family functions. A combo set with a necklace, earrings and a tikka, or a pair of statement kundan earrings, feels more special than another everyday pair. Wood is the traditional fifth-year theme, which a wooden jewellery box would match. If you want to keep the gift in jewellery, warm antique-gold tones go well with that earthy feel.

If she likes colour, green kundan or pieces from red and maroon jewellery suit a family dinner and photograph warmly. Choosing one colour she already wears often is the easiest way to make sure the gift gets used.

What suits a tenth anniversary?

Ten years is usually a quiet, confident celebration. Go for a clean design that looks refined: an American diamond pendant set or a simple pair of drops. Tin or aluminium is the traditional tenth-year metal, which in practice points to a silver-tone look. Our party wear jewellery guide shows how to build the full look for a dinner. If you are choosing as a husband for his wife, a boxed pair of earrings with a short note is a simple, dependable choice, and a set is the bigger gesture for years that feel like a milestone.

What is the best gift for a 25th or silver anniversary?

The 25th is the silver anniversary, and a silver-plated set is the natural choice. Browse silver-plated jewellery, but note clearly that these pieces are plated brass or alloy rather than solid silver, apart from a very few genuine sterling silver pieces. If the gift is for parents, add a note about the years together. A family 25th usually means group photographs, so a set with matching earrings and a tikka looks balanced in pictures, and silver-plated pieces pair well with white, grey, pastel and navy outfits. Our mother-in-law jewellery gift guide has ideas for parents and in-laws.

What should I wear for an anniversary dinner or party?

Match the jewellery to the venue. For a restaurant or home dinner, studs, a slim necklace and a few bangles from bangles and bracelets look elegant. For a family function or a 25th celebration, a kundan or AD set suits a saree or lehenga, and our guide to gifting when you do not know her taste helps if you are picking for someone else.

Pick one statement piece and let everything else support it. If the necklace is heavy, wear small earrings. If the earrings are big, keep the neck simple.

How do I choose when I am not sure of her taste?

Earrings and sets need no size, so they are the safest start. Look at what she wears most: gold-toned traditional jewellery, light silver-tone pieces or colourful kundan. If you still cannot decide, jewellery under Rs 1000 collects lower-priced options in one place, and our ready gift pages anniversary jewellery and jewellery gifts by person sort options for you.

When should I order, and how do I care for the gift?

Order at least two to three weeks before the date. Dispatch takes 1-2 days, delivery 4-15 days across India, and shipping is free, so a late order risks missing the day. Fashion jewellery lasts longer if it goes on after perfume and makeup and is kept dry in its own pouch: see how to care for gold-plated jewellery. The anniversary date itself never changes, so you can plan well ahead.

Send a photo of what she usually wears and a rough budget on WhatsApp +91 98705 89560 and we will suggest pieces from the range. More guides are on the Saloni blog.

Also see court and registry wedding jewellery if you are planning the wedding itself, and a gift for a newly married sister or cousin for a family couple.