Anniversary Rings: Everything You Want to Know About

Anniversaries are a celebration of love and commitment, and what better way to commemorate a milestone than with something beautiful? Anniversary rings are the perfect choice for couples who want to commemorate their years together. Whether it's the first anniversary, a ten-year anniversary, or more, an anniversary ring is a meaningful and special gift that represents lasting love. In this article, we'll be talking about what an anniversary ring is, when to buy one, how much to spend, and how to wear it with your existing wedding rings and engagement rings.

What Is an Anniversary Ring?

An anniversary ring is a special piece of jewelry that is given to mark a significant milestone in the life of the romance of two individuals. While anniversary rings can be given in numerous designs, they can include diamonds or gemstones to reflect the enduring love and commitment of two people towards one another. Anniversary rings may be similar to wedding bands, eternity bands, or even engagement rings but are distinguished by being given on a specific anniversary.

Anniversary rings are not restricted to plain bands of metal but could involve decorative rings featuring settings and rows of diamonds or gemstones. Some couples prefer major stones in the ring, such as the same type of gemstone as their engagement ring or birthstones. Other couples may prefer a more contemporary or innovative design.

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When Do You Get an Anniversary Ring?

While no rule exists as to when to give or receive an anniversary ring, they are typically given to celebrate milestones. Some of the most popular anniversaries where couples do ring exchanges are:

1st Anniversary: The "paper anniversary" is traditionally symbolized by paper items, but a lot of couples these days prefer celebrating their first year with a ring.

5th Anniversary: A key milestone marking half a decade of life together, so it is a special time to exchange anniversary rings.

10th Anniversary: Ten years together is a key milestone, usually symbolized by diamonds or other precious stones.

20th, 25th, and 50th Anniversaries: The longer the journey, the more it is necessary to mark the milestone. These milestone anniversaries tend to be celebrated with more elaborate and symbolic rings.

Though these are common milestones, there is no wrong time to give an anniversary ring. Some give them on their anniversary date every year, and others save them for special occasions. What matters most is to make it personal and meaningful to your relationship.

What is the Anniversary Ring Budget?

Anniversary rings come in all types of prices based on metal type, gemstones, and how complex the design is. The anniversary ring budget will largely rely on what the couple wants and can pay for. Some of the factors to factor in when setting the budget include:

Metal Choice: Platinum, yellow, white, or rose gold, and silver are common metals for anniversary rings. Platinum tends to be more expensive, while silver is more affordable.

Gemstones: Diamonds are the traditional option for anniversary rings, but colored gemstones like sapphires, rubies, or emeralds are also beautiful and are less costly. Eternity rings, with smaller diamonds or gemstones that line the entire ring, cost more due to the number of stones.

Design: More complex designs with pave settings or customized engravings can be more expensive. A dainty, plain band will typically be cheaper than one that has intricate settings or bigger diamonds.

On average, you can budget to spend from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on an anniversary ring. It is important to set a budget that works for you and realize that the significance of the ring is not so much about cost and more about meaning.

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What Finger Do You Wear an Anniversary Ring On?

There are no strict rules for which finger one should wear an anniversary ring on. Couples can simply decide to wear anniversary rings on the left-hand ring finger if it's designed to blend in with the wedding band and engagement ring. But others would prefer wearing it on the right hand so the ring gets to occupy its own individual space that's separate from the original bridal set.

It is simply a question of personal preference. Some people like to wear all of their important rings on one hand, but others enjoy the symmetry of wearing rings on both hands.

How to Wear a Wedding Band, Engagement Ring, and Anniversary Band?

If you already own a wedding band and engagement ring, you might wonder how you can include an anniversary ring in the stack. The following are a few ways to stack and wear your rings:

Stack All Three Together: Another very popular option is stacking the wedding band, engagement band, and anniversary band on top of each other on the same finger. Feel free to be as creative as you want with the stacking, but the most popular configuration is to have the anniversary band closest to the heart, the engagement band second, and then the wedding band.

Wear Anniversary Ring on the Right Hand: To avoid overcrowding or dominating your left hand, you may choose to wear the anniversary ring on the right hand. This will allow every ring to take center stage by itself without competing for attention.

Switch Between Rings: Some couples like switching between wearing the anniversary ring and the engagement ring, giving one special use on specific occasions. You also alternate your wedding ring with the anniversary ring at some point to add variety.

Custom Fit Ring Sets: If you're going to be stacking your rings, you can have a custom anniversary ring designed that will nest perfectly against your existing wedding band and engagement ring. Jewelers can design the ring to duplicate the curve and style of your other rings, creating a seamless and elegant set.

The key to wearing more than one ring is comfort and your own taste. There's no wrong or right, and you can swap it around depending on the occasion or your mood.

Conclusion

Anniversary rings are a beautiful way of celebrating and reaffirming your love. Whether you're on your first anniversary or your 50th, this special piece of jewelry is a reminder of your life together. From choosing the right style and cost to deciding how to wear it with your existing rings, an anniversary ring adds a new level of meaning to your relationship. Ultimately, it's not when and how much you do it, but the thought and love behind the gesture that counts.