Show How Much You Still Care with an Emerald for her 55th Wedding Anniversary Gift

55 years as man and wife… Did you imagine you’d make it this far when you both stood at the altar and said “I do”? Let us first offer our congratulations, as celebrating a 55 year wedding anniversary should be considered quite an achievement. Over the last 5 decades you will have gathered many memories together, so taking the opportunity to look back and celebrate your achievements will be a great 55 year wedding anniversary gift for her. But how else can you make the day special? By finding the perfect 55th wedding anniversary gift for her, and this year you’re in luck because the anniversary theme is emerald.

55th Anniversary Gift Ideas for Her

The history of wedding anniversary celebrations

Wedding anniversaries have been celebrated for centuries, but it is only recently that every year has received suitable recognition. When the custom first began it was only the most significant that were deemed worthy of having a theme. For a twenty fifth wedding anniversary the theme was silver, and for a fiftieth anniversary the theme was gold. The traditional gift a husband gave to his wife was a wreath or garland made using the anniversary theme.

Over many years, more and more anniversary years were given their own special theme, but it wasn’t until the mid 1900s that every year was linked with a particular material or type of gift. For some people having a list of themes to refer to is a blessing, while others will find it a bit of a bind. Whatever side of the fence you choose to stand on, we know we can help because we’ve got pages and pages of great wedding anniversary gift ideas for her.

Both traditional and modern themes for a 55 year wedding anniversary gift are emeralds

Emerald is a green colored gemstone, that is linked with 55 year wedding anniversary gift ideas for her. The most obvious choice would be an item of jewelry, and you’ll want to give her the best quality you can afford.

Real or synthetic emeralds and how to tell the difference

Like many other gemstones, man has found a way to make them synthetically. Emeralds are less expensive than diamonds, so it is possible to find the perfect 55 year anniversary gift for her, without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to understand what you’re buying as a natural emerald is bound to be more precious.

Emeralds are made synthetically, in exactly the same way as they are made in nature. The chemical composition of both is actually the same. The difference is in the appearance as synthetic emeralds have a much glassier color, and far fewer imperfections, such as cracks or inclusions. Real emeralds, on the other hand, appear to be more cloudy and include slight fissures on the surface. They also have a more brilliant color, including the bright forest green and teal shades that have made the emerald so popular. This depth of color gives them more character, but there are still people who prefer synthetic emeralds as they are clearer and less included.

What to look for when buying emeralds as a 55th anniversary gift for her

Buying jewelry containing emeralds is not the easiest thing to do, as there are a number of qualities to consider before handing over the cash. Emeralds are not graded according to a strict scale like diamonds. Instead, it involves using a magnifier and grading them by eye. Which unfortunately means that prices can vary widely, so it’s important to know what to look for to ensure you’re getting a good deal. Let’s look at a couple of things you should consider.

Clarity of an emerald

The highest quality emeralds are those with no cracks or inclusions you can see with the naked eye. It should also shine brilliantly from inside the stone. The best quality stones are denoted by a marker of VVS or VS. In natural emeralds it is common for there to be a bit of cloudiness, but this shouldn’t detract from its shine.

The size of an emerald

If you’re considering buying an emerald ring for her 55th anniversary gift you’ll be looking at a stone between 0.5 and 1.5 carats. Bracelets and pendants can reach as much as 30 carats in size. For an idea of the size think of 10 carats as the size of a dime. Obviously smaller carats are going to cost far less, with prices rising considerably once the gemstone is bigger than 2 carats.

Other types of emerald anniversary gift

Jewelry is always a popular anniversary gift to give her for a 55th anniversary, but there are plenty of other options.

• A natural rose glazed and trimmed with 24K gold – Roses have long been associated with love and romance, so you could give her an emerald colored rose that has been glazed and trimmed with gold to make it an everlasting gift.
• A bouquet of lime green flowers – Flowers make a great gift for special ladies, and choosing a bouquet containing emerald green blooms will be a very unusual choice.
• A gift for the green-fingered – Buying her plants for the garden will make a lasting impression, as they will flourish for many years and be a permanent reminder of this special day.
• A country break – Take your wife away for a well-earned rest and enjoy peace and tranquility in the green and pleasant countryside.

Celebrating your wedding anniversary is an important part of married life together, and there are plenty of women who won’t forgive you if you forget. We hope that we’ve given you a little inspiration, and set the tone for your 55 year wedding anniversary gift for her.