04 Nov Anniversary Ring Ideas
Seen Above: A custom-made floral band (anniversary ring) designed by La Jolla jewelry designer Carl Blackburn.
An anniversary ring is a beautiful way to commemorate the journey you’ve shared with your partner. Whether it’s been one year or fifty, a well-chosen ring can be a constant reminder of the love, laughter, and memories you’ve created together. Each anniversary ring is more than just a piece of jewelry — it’s a symbol of growth, dedication, and the unique story of your relationship.
Anniversary rings come in various designs, from classic diamond bands to unique, personalized pieces that reflect your shared history. In this guide from C. Blackburn Jewelers (La Jolla), we’ll explore traditional and modern ring styles, ideas for customizing a ring to make it meaningful, and tips on choosing the right ring for different milestones.
If you already have a clear idea of a custom anniversary ring you would like made, set up a meeting with San Diego jewelry designer Carl Blackburn today. He loves meeting with new clients to discuss custom jewelry projects of all kinds and budgets.
Leave him a voicemail at 858-251-3006 or send a text message to 619-723-8589.
The Deep Significance of Anniversary Rings
Anniversary rings aren’t just about marking time; they represent the deepening connection and commitment between two people. While engagement rings symbolize the start of a shared life, anniversary rings celebrate the journey already traveled. Every ring holds a story, capturing memories of experiences shared, challenges overcome, and dreams realized.
In many traditions, anniversary rings are exchanged on specific wedding anniversaries like the 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th, and 50th, but they can be given at any moment a couple feels called to celebrate their journey. This ritual of exchanging anniversary rings allows couples to reflect on their relationship’s growth, celebrating not just time spent together, but the strengthening of their love.
Anniversary rings also often become family heirlooms. They can be passed down to children and grandchildren, preserving the couple’s legacy and serving as timeless symbols of love. These rings, over time, connect a couple’s present to their past and future, becoming cherished tokens that carry the family’s love story forward.
Traditional Anniversary Ring Designs & Symbolism
For those who value elegance and timelessness, traditional anniversary ring designs offer a classic choice. Here are some of the most enduring styles and their meanings:
Floral Bands: Known for their organic beauty, floral bands symbolize enduring love and growth. These rings are designed with vine and flower motifs, set in metals like yellow gold, platinum, white gold, or rose gold. Floral bands are often set with diamonds, sapphires, or rubies (or a combination of the three), and accented with hand-milgrained edges. Carl Blackburn at C. Blackburn Jewelers is widely recognized for creating gorgeous custom floral bands.
Eternity Rings: Often reserved for milestone anniversaries like the 10th, 25th, or 50th, eternity rings feature gemstones — typically diamonds — encircling the entire band. The continuous line of stones is a representation of infinite love, symbolizing a bond that has no end. These rings are both romantic and versatile, and their sparkling design catches the light beautifully, making them stand out in any setting.
Three-Stone Rings: Also called trilogy rings, these feature three gemstones that represent the past, present, and future of a relationship. This design is a meaningful tribute to a couple’s shared journey and serves as a reminder of where they started, where they are now, and all that is yet to come. Commonly, the central stone is larger, symbolizing the present as the most significant phase of life.
Modern Anniversary Ring Trends
Today’s couples are personalizing their rings in creative ways that reflect their individuality and unique connection. Here’s a closer look at some of the trends shaping modern anniversary rings:
Alternative Gemstones: While diamonds remain popular, many San Diego couples are choosing colored gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and even more uncommon stones like morganite and tourmaline. Each gemstone carries its own symbolism and can represent personal traits or shared values. For instance:
Sapphires – Associated with loyalty and wisdom.
Emeralds – Symbolize renewal, growth, and enduring love.
Rubies – Represent passion and courage.
Amethysts – Linked to calmness, stability, and balance. Choosing a gemstone based on personal meaning or aesthetic appeal can add depth to the ring and make it a cherished symbol of shared values and love.
Mixed Metals: Mixing metals like rose, yellow, and white gold creates a layered look and allows couples to combine different styles. This trend offers versatility, especially for stacking with other rings, and symbolizes the blending of two lives. The combination of metals can be customized to reflect each partner’s style, creating a ring that feels unique to the couple.
Minimalist Designs: Simple bands with subtle details, such as a single diamond or an engraved texture, appeal to couples who appreciate elegance in simplicity. Minimalist rings are perfect for daily wear, adding a timeless elegance that’s subtle but deeply meaningful. They allow the couple’s love to be symbolized without overwhelming extravagance.
Personalizing Your Anniversary Ring
A personalized anniversary ring carries an extra layer of meaning. Customizing a ring to reflect your journey together makes it truly special, creating a one-of-a-kind piece that celebrates your unique bond.
Birthstones and Meaningful Gemstones: Including both partners’ birthstones, or gemstones with personal significance, can make the ring even more symbolic. For example, a ring with each partner’s birthstone shows a blend of their individuality and shared life. Birthstones are associated with particular traits and strengths, adding layers of meaning.
Engravings: Engraving allows couples to add intimate messages that make the ring a true representation of their love. Popular ideas include significant dates, such as anniversaries, the date you first met, or a personal milestone. Couples often engrave meaningful phrases like “Forever Yours” or “My One & Only,” turning the ring into a lasting reminder of their vows.
Custom Design from Scratch: For a truly unique anniversary ring, consider working with a San Diego private jeweler like C. Blackburn Jewelers to design a ring that reflects your personalities and love story. Custom design allows you to choose the metal, gemstones, and style, making each detail a tribute to your relationship. This collaboration results in a ring that is both beautiful and deeply meaningful, a treasure that will be passed down through generations.
Custom Anniversary Ring Settings and Styles
Exploring different ring settings and styles can reveal a range of distinctive designs. Here are some of the options Carl Blackburn discusses with his San Diego clients when designing a custom anniversary ring:
Prong settings – Elevate the stone to maximize light reflection.
Bezel settings – Enclose the stone with metal for a sleek, protective design.
Halo settings – Surround the gemstone with smaller stones, adding extra sparkle and making the center stone appear larger.
Tension Settings: These settings use the pressure of the metal band to hold the gemstone in place, giving it a floating appearance. This sleek, modern style allows the gemstone to be the star of the show, with no prongs or bezels to distract from its beauty.
Asymmetrical Designs: These rings break away from traditional symmetry, featuring different shapes, stones, and textures. Asymmetrical rings are ideal for those who want a design that reflects their individuality and creativity.
Vintage and Antique-Inspired Settings: Vintage rings are full of character and history, often featuring intricate details like filigree, milgrain, or engraving. Vintage-inspired rings can bring a sense of timeless elegance and are perfect for couples who want a piece with a classic yet unique feel.
Anniversary Ring Gift Ideas for Different Milestones
Each anniversary milestone can be celebrated with a different style of ring, reflecting the depth of your bond at each stage.
First Anniversary: A simple gold or diamond band symbolizes the start of your life together and offers a timeless style that complements engagement rings.
Fifth or Tenth Anniversary: A diamond eternity ring or a three-stone ring commemorates this stage’s deeper connection and growing love.
Twentieth, Twenty-Fifth, or Fiftieth Anniversary: For major anniversaries, a custom-designed ring or a vintage-inspired floral band can capture decades of shared experiences. Incorporating unique gemstones or intricate settings adds depth, honoring the lasting commitment.
How to Determine the Correct Anniversary Ring Size
Getting the right size is essential to make sure the custom anniversary ring is comfortable and safe to wear every day. Here are some tips for determining the ideal ring size:
Visit a San Diego Jeweler: The most accurate way to determine ring size is by visiting a San Diego custom jeweler who can measure precisely another ring from your wife’s jewelry box. This eliminates any guesswork and ensures a perfect fit, especially if the ring is a surprise.
If you can’t go to a jeweler, you can measure a ring your partner already wears on the same finger. Simply place the ring on a ruler to find its diameter or use a ring-sizing chart for guidance.
Use String or Paper: Wrap a piece of string or a strip of paper around the finger, mark where it overlaps, and measure the length against a ruler. This measurement will give you the finger’s circumference, which can then be matched to a ring size chart.
Consider Finger Fluctuations: Ring size can change slightly throughout the day due to temperature. Fingers tend to be a bit smaller in the morning and larger in the evening, especially in warmer weather. For a true fit, try measuring the ring size at different times of day and in moderate temperatures.
Account for Knuckle Size: If your partner has larger knuckles, you may need to go up a half-size for comfort. The ring should fit snugly around the finger but be loose enough to slide over the knuckle without too much difficulty.
By taking time to find the correct size, you’ll ensure that the anniversary ring is as comfortable as it is beautiful, making it easy to wear every day as a cherished reminder of your love.
San Diego Custom Anniversary Rings
Contact C. Blackburn Jewelers in La Jolla (San Diego) to discuss the making of a one-of-a-kind anniversary ring. Carl Blackburn provides a wide range of gemstone and setting options to make a custom ring affordable to all clients. His boutique jewelry store is conveniently located in La Jolla Village, and is open by appointment.
Schedule a time that’s most convenient to you by calling 858-251-3006 or sending a text message to 619-723-8589. You may also get started now by using the contact form below to share with us details about your ring.
