Your 55th wedding anniversary is an absolutely mind-blowing milestone to reach. You and your partner have been together through thick and thin for more than half a century, which is a real testament to your love and commitment to each other.

Five years ago, you celebrated a major milestone with your golden anniversary. Now, you’re about to hit another major anniversary, which is just as special – if not more.

Your 55th anniversary is also known as your emerald wedding anniversary. Because of this, you definitely shouldn’t be too surprised to hear that emeralds play a big part when it comes to the traditional and modern gifts. In fact, emerald is the only traditional gift, much like gold was the only gift associated with your 50th.

You shouldn’t feel obliged to give your partner a gift linked to emerald on your emerald anniversary. But, you’ll never celebrate this milestone again, so it can be a fun way to mark this extra special occasion. There’s a ton of meaning behind it, and couples have given each other emerald-related gifts on their 55th anniversary for more than 100 years.

In this article, we’ll explore what emerald represents and offer your 25 suggestions for gifts, including plenty of ideas that don’t simply rely on jewellery. That way, if you choose to, you can give your partner a gift that will make your anniversary one that the two of you will never forget.

For loads more information about the different traditional and modern anniversary gifts for every major milestone, read our complete year-by-year wedding anniversary gift guide.

What are traditional and modern gifts for a 55th wedding anniversary?

The traditional and modern 55th wedding anniversary gifts

With previous anniversary milestones, you’ll have had as many as five different gift themes to choose from, including those that are traditional and modern. But with your 55th, there’s only one theme that encompasses the entire anniversary – emerald. There might not be a range of gift themes to choose from, but this extra special time requires an extra special gift.

Traditional 55th anniversary gift – Emerald

The traditional gift to give your partner on your 55th wedding anniversary is emerald. Emerald is a gorgeously green gemstone, and is actually one of the four precious gemstones along with diamond, sapphire and ruby. It’s incredibly popular and versatile, and is an utterly luxurious choice.

Emerald represents loyalty, security and peace, which we know you’ll have in abundance after spending 55 years with the love of your life. That makes emerald a fabulous choice of gift for your upcoming celebrations.

Modern 55th anniversary gift – Emerald

The modern 55th anniversary gift is also emerald. While other anniversaries have had a different modern gift, your 55th is a spectacular occasion and deserves its dedicated theme. Don’t forget that emerald also lends itself well to a colour, and is a vibrant shade of green. So, even if your partner isn’t into jewellery, you can still get them a thoughtful and meaningful gift.

55th anniversary gemstone – Emerald

You won’t be surprised to discover that the traditional 55th anniversary gemstone is also emerald. Emerald is a glorious stone that works in just about any type of jewellery you can think of, so if your partner loves to get a new pair of earrings or a watch, then finding the perfect gift shouldn’t be too much work.

55th anniversary flower – There isn’t one

Just like with your last two milestone anniversaries, for your 55th anniversary, there isn’t a traditional flower. However, if you’re a big fan of giving your partner flowers to mark the big day, you can definitely still do that. You can even get flowers in an enchanting shade of emerald green if you want to tie it into the historic theme.

How do you choose a gift for a 55th wedding anniversary?

Because there’s only one choice of traditional and modern theme when it comes to your 55th anniversary, you might be a little stumped about what sort of gift to buy. Emeralds are, of course beautiful, but there’s every chance that jewellery isn’t your partner’s thing or you might not want to give them something quite so… obvious. Here are a few things to think about when deciding what sort of gift to give your partner to mark 55 years.

Is it important for you to stick to the traditional anniversary theme? If so, then something emerald-related is likely a no-brainer.
Have you got a limited or set budget? Because emeralds are a precious gemstone, they can be quite expensive, which may limit your options if you’d like to give your partner some jewellery.
Do you want to give your partner something personalised? Many couples love personalised gifts on their anniversary. If this applies to you then it can be a little more difficult to find something that can be personalised and contains emerald.
Has your partner asked for something in particular? If so, it might be difficult to link what they’ve asked for back to the theme of emerald.

Is a couple close to you about to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary? It could be your parents, your grandparents or someone else in your life. If so, you might be looking for a gift for them, and you could be wondering about whether you can join in with the theme of emerald. Well, of course you can! If you give a celebrating couple a gift related to emerald, not only are they sure to love it, but they’ll definitely appreciate the extra thought behind it too.

25 ideas for a 55th wedding anniversary gift

Your 55th anniversary is one that you deserve to shout about from the rooftops. Or, if you’re not keen on the thought of climbing up to the roof, you could simply give your partner a meaningful gift. Emerald is a fantastic theme that you can have a lot of fun with, and you’re not just limited to the actual gemstone, either. So, here are 25 ideas for gifts you can give to mark 55 years together.

10 traditional and modern gifts for a 55th wedding anniversary

The traditional and modern gift when celebrating your 55th anniversary is emerald, one of the most luxurious gemstones there is. Of course, jewellery is always a great choice of gift, but there’s a lot of creativity to be had if you prefer to think outside the box. So, here are 10 ideas for gifts related to the theme of emerald.

1. An emerald wine glass set

To provide the ultimate toast on your anniversary, you might want to give your other half an emerald wine glass set, which you can always use to raise a glass in honour of your extra special milestone.

2. A crystal emerald vase

For a subtle way to commemorate your 55th anniversary, this crystal emerald vase is as beautiful as the flowers that can go in it. And you can get extra brownie points if you give your partner this gift with flowers already inside it!

3. ‘Emerald Dreams’ woodland artwork

For a bold and striking way to mark your anniversary, treat your partner to the ‘Emerald Dreams’ woodland artwork. It’s unique and atmospheric and looks great either hung up or placed on a shelf or sideboard.

4. A box of emerald macarons

For a touch of sweetness on your anniversary, a box of emerald macarons offers you and your partner the chance to enjoy a little treat that includes a special anniversary message.

5. An antique emerald

You and your partner have achieved something that many couples only dream about. Honour this incredible accomplishment with an antique emerald, which is one of the few things you could give that is older than your actual relationship!

6. A bottle of Emerald Isle whiskey

If your partner enjoys a nice glass of whiskey, then a fantastic choice of gift to celebrate 55 years is a bottle of Emerald Isle whiskey. With notes of honey, vanilla and fruit, it’s a delicious tipple that goes down very well.

7. An emerald-themed anniversary card

You might plan on giving your partner a card on your anniversary, so one way to have fun with the theme is by giving an emerald-themed anniversary card. It’s also an affordable way to incorporate the theme into your day if you don’t have a huge budget.

8. A natural raw emerald

Not all emeralds are expensive and dainty – some are big and bold. A natural raw emerald makes for a great display piece and isn’t as expensive as one that’s been cut and polished.

9. A weekend at The Emerald in Cornwall

A great gift on your anniversary is whisking your partner away somewhere special. And there’s no better place to go on your 55th anniversary than a weekend at The Emerald in Cornwall. It offers luxury eco stays in the middle of the countryside and has spa facilities so you can enjoy being pampered.

10. An Emerald Elegance figurine

Filled with 1920s art deco character, an Emerald Elegance figurine is classy and sophisticated, and makes for a wonderful item to display. There are also several to choose from, so take a look and see if there’s one your partner would love.

5 personalised gifts for a 55th wedding anniversary

Personalised gifts always make for a wonderful choice on your anniversary. It adds a special touch to a gift and can add even more meaning, turning an ordinary gift into an extraordinary one. Here are five suggestions for personalised gifts you might want to consider on your 55th anniversary.

1. A personalised emerald-green paperweight

A lovely display item that can also have practical use on a desk, a personalised emerald-green paperweight ticks a lot of boxes. It has that signature deep green look and can feature a message of your choosing.

2. A personalised emerald button anniversary frame

A brilliant gift that your partner can display for all to see is this personalised emerald button anniversary frame. It features a green heart made from buttons and a customised message that lets them know how you feel.

3. Personalised emerald cufflinks

If your partner likes to wear a suit, then they’ll love to receive a pair of personalised emerald cufflinks, which include a tiny green stone and three lines of personalisation. They’re part of a set that also comes with a tie bar, complete with its own emerald-green stone.

4. Personalised emerald mugs

Whenever it’s time for your morning cuppa, you could remind your other half of your 55th anniversary with a pair of personalised emerald mugs. They feature a bold green design and can be personalised with the date the two of you tied the knot.

5. A personalised emerald anniversary cushion

A personalised emerald anniversary cushion is a fantastic way to honour some of the milestones in your life, from the day the two of you got married to some of the other memories you’ve made over the past 55 years.

5 55th anniversary jewellery gifts that contain emerald

There’s no way we could create this list of gift suggestions and not include at least a small handful of jewellery. Emerald is a stunning precious gemstone, and the perfect addition to almost every type of jewellery you could think of, from silver to platinum. While this list could easily contain 50 suggestions, we’ve managed to whittle it down to just five items of emerald jewellery you might want to consider.

1. A pair of emerald earrings

If your partner loves earrings that stand out, then a pair of emerald earrings will do just the trick. Whether they like studs, hoops, danglies or anything else, you’re spoilt for choice.

2. An emerald ring

There’s nothing quite as luxurious and opulent as an emerald ring. There are so many different styles and designs available, so it doesn’t matter if your partner loves smaller stones or one big attention-grabbing stone, as you’re bound to find something they’ll love.

3. An emerald necklace

One way to tie an outfit together is with an emerald necklace. Emeralds always make for a truly intoxicating addition to a necklace, which your partner can wear no matter the occasion.

4. An emerald watch

For a less obvious item of emerald jewellery, an emerald watch has a lusciously green face and is a stark callback to the roaring 20s.

5. An emerald bracelet

The best thing about an emerald bracelet is just how many different styles and designs there are to choose from. There are tennis bracelets, bangles, links, chains, cuffs and more. The hardest thing will be deciding which one to go for, as they’re all so beautiful.

Emerald is a massively popular precious gemstone, so you can walk into almost any high street or independent jeweller and no doubt find a huge range of emerald jewellery. Emerald is usually fairly pricey, but if you have a smaller budget you can find more affordable pieces with a little perseverance. Here at Bridebook, we work with loads of jewellers, most of which have a huge selection of emerald jewellery of their own, so make sure you check them out.

5 floral-inspired gifts for a 55th wedding anniversary

Flowers never fail to raise a smile. They’re the perfect romantic gift, so are always a great option when it comes to your anniversary. While there isn’t a traditional flower to give for your 55th anniversary (like there has been for so many of your previous milestones), you shouldn’t let that stop you. If you want to give your other half flowers, there are still plenty of ways you can. Here are five ideas to give you a little floral inspiration.

1. An emerald floral arrangement

Many floral arrangements already have a lot of lush green foliage. But, green flowers can be beautiful and look just as wonderful as any other colour. An emerald floral arrangement is the perfect flowery gift.

2. An Always Emerald Forever Rose

Nothing makes a statement on your 55th anniversary quite like an Always Emerald Forever Rose. The traditional gift meets the symbol of love to make a thoughtful, loving and symbolic gesture.

3. An emerald flower pendant

Flowers make for great inspiration when it comes to jewellery. This emerald flower pendant has lovely meaning on your 55th anniversary, and is actually fairly budget-friendly considering it’s set with six emeralds and a central diamond.

4. An emerald-green eternity rose

Filled with amazing meaning and guaranteed to never wilt, this emerald-green eternity rose is made with 24ct gold. Giving it will serve as proof that you’re still in touch with your romantic side.

5. An emerald clover pin

Combine a lucky four-leaf clover with a beautiful emerald with this fantastic emerald clover pin. A brilliant good luck charm your partner can wear on any occasion.

Plan your dream wedding with Bridebook

At Bridebook, millions of happy couples have downloaded our app to help them plan their dream wedding.

Browse other similar articles…

Happy Planning!

Mike Jeavons

Last updated: 18th Oct 2024

55th Wedding Anniversary Gifts: 25 Anniversary Gift Ideas