For celebratory purposes, anniversary bands are classified as a type of wedding ring. Yet as you shop around, you’ll find the “rules” are less strict and the designs offer a bit more variety. Here’s what you should know before you make this purchase.
Old and New Rules
As marriages continue to evolve, so have the rules surrounding anniversary gifts. As such, grand gifts are not only reserved for milestones; couples often exchange rings. Design wise, the anniversary band can be treated as an interchangeable piece with the wedding ring, rather than a secondary complement.
Depending on your lifestyle and definition, “anniversary” may not always refer to a wedding. For this reason, these bands may celebrate:
- A non-milestone – for instance, seven years of marriage
- A first kiss, first date or engagement
- The birth of a child
- Buying a house together
- Commitment to your relationship
Wearing an Anniversary Band
Unlike wedding and engagement rings, the guidelines concerning anniversary bands are not set in stone. For aesthetic purposes, many decide to:
- Wear it alongside the wedding and engagement rings
- Wear it on the third finger of their right hand
- Upgrade the wedding band to a pricier option that becomes the anniversary band
- Alternate the wedding and anniversary bands
Anniversary Band Designs
Unlike wedding and engagement rings, anniversary bands have no definite rules in terms of design. Be extravagant as you want or keep it minimal – ultimately, it’s your choice.
For convenience and versatility, many couples base the anniversary band on the wedding ring. As one differentiating factor, this piece doesn’t have a center stone. Rather, this multi-stone design may:
- Have three gems representing the past, present and future for the couple.
- Be an eternity band, a style where precious stones are spaced over the ring’s body to symbolize the couple’s everlasting bond.
- Mark the anniversary with a corresponding number of stones.
- Use specific stones to mark the anniversary – rubies or crystal for the 15th, pearls for the 30th.
- Have an inscription on the inside to acknowledge the occasion.
- Incorporate stones with another significance – for instance, a child’s birth stone.
Shopping around for an anniversary band? Whether you’re keeping it simple or going to the next level, visit one of our convenient CT locations to explore your options.
