The 60th anniversary gift is diamond, on the traditional list, the modern list and British lists alike. The diamond wedding anniversary is the last of the famous milestones, and few couples reach it. At this stage the celebration matters far more than the object, and the best gifts are usually made by a family together: a gathering, a book of memories, a message from each generation.
What is the 60th anniversary gift?
| List | 60th anniversary gift |
|---|---|
| Traditional (US) | Diamond |
| Modern (US) | Diamond |
| British | Diamond |
The Gemological Institute of America's list of anniversary gems gives diamond for the sixtieth year as well. Pick a year in the tool to see the other milestones and ideas at three price levels.
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Why is the diamond anniversary 60 years?
It has not always been. The old sources split between sixty years and seventy-five.
According to TIME, an American almanac of 1859 put the diamond wedding at seventy-five years, while an American dictionary of the 1880s put it at sixty. In Britain, Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable recorded in 1895 that "the 60th anniversary is called the Diamond wedding." Emily Post, in Etiquette in 1922, still gave seventy-five.
Sixty is the usual answer now. Debrett's, the British etiquette publisher, links it to Queen Victoria, whose Diamond Jubilee celebrated sixty years on the throne. Many charts keep diamond for the seventy-fifth anniversary too, so nothing is lost by celebrating at sixty.
The usual explanation of the name is that diamond is the hardest of gems and the most enduring. In the old lists the logic is simpler: the gifts rise in value with the years, and diamond stands at the top.
The King's message in the United Kingdom
A couple living in the United Kingdom can receive a message of congratulations from the King for their diamond wedding. The Royal Household sends messages for the sixtieth, sixty-fifth and seventieth anniversaries and for every anniversary after that.
The message is not sent automatically. Someone, usually a relative, has to apply, and applications are accepted only in the few weeks before the date. If you are organizing the day, put the application on your list early and check the current instructions on the Royal Household's website.
Gift ideas by budget
Prices vary too much to list, so these are grouped by level.
Budget-friendly
- A letter, a drawing or a short recorded message from each child, grandchild and great-grandchild.
- The wedding photograph, restored and reprinted, in a new frame.
- A "sixty years" jar: sixty notes from family and friends, each with one memory.
- A cake decorated to match the original wedding cake, if a photograph survives.
Mid-range
- A photo book with a chapter for each decade.
- A family portrait session with every generation.
- A film made from old photographs, home movies and new interviews with the couple.
- A piece of cut crystal or glass, which sparkles like the real thing.
- A family tree, drawn or printed and framed.
Splurge
- Diamond jewelry: a pendant, earrings, a tie pin, or a small diamond added to a wedding band.
- Having the original engagement ring cleaned, checked and, if needed, reset.
- A lunch or party for the whole family, with travel paid for those who live far away.
If you do buy a diamond, ask for a grading report from an independent laboratory and ask whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown. The Gemological Institute of America also suggests colored diamonds, such as pink ones, as an alternative for this year.
Ideas for her, for him and for the two of you
- For her: a single diamond on a chain, her ring restored, a brooch, or an album of photographs of her through the sixty years.
- For him: a diamond-set tie pin or ring, his wedding band polished and engraved with both dates, or his own stories recorded and transcribed into a small book.
- For the two of you: a new portrait together, a visit to the church, hall or town where you married, or a renewal of vows with the family around you.
From children, grandchildren and friends: plan for comfort. A lunch is easier than a late evening, a short program is better than a long one, and a quiet room to rest in is a kindness. Ask the couple what they want before arranging a surprise.
If diamonds are not the thing
- Sparkle without the stone. Crystal, cut glass, or a clear gem at a gentler price.
- A shared gift. One contribution from the whole family toward the party or the film.
- Presence. Sixty years is rare. Being there is the gift.
Diamond is also the April birthstone; our guide to diamond explains color, clarity and care. On the modern list diamonds appear much earlier, as the gift for ten years.
What to write in a diamond anniversary card
Three short examples to adapt:
- "Sixty years, and I would still choose you first. Happy diamond anniversary."
- "To Grandma and Grandpa: sixty years of love, and all of us are part of it. Thank you."
- "Nothing is harder than a diamond or rarer than sixty years together. Congratulations to you both."
Before this came the golden anniversary at fifty. For how the milestone years got their names, see wedding anniversary names, and for the whole chart, gifts for every anniversary year.