15th Wedding Anniversary

Traditional, Modern and Symbolic Anniversary Gifts

Below is a list of both traditional and modern gift materials, as well as classic flower and gemstone symbols, which mark a couple’s 15th wedding anniversary in countries around the world…

Traditional Gift – UK		Crystal
Traditional Gift – US		Crystal
Traditional Gift – Spain		Crystal
Traditional Gift – Germany		Crystal
Traditional Gift – Russia		Crystal
Traditional Gift – France		Crystal
Traditional Gift – Italy		Porcelain
Flower Gift		Rose
Gemstone Gift		Rhodolite
Modern Gift		Watch

Quick Links

About 15th Wedding Anniversaries
15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him
15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Her
15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him & Her

About 15th Wedding Anniversaries

The years are starting to add up in quite impressive fashion as you celebrate your 15th wedding anniversary. Clearly, your lives together are bringing you enduring joy, love and respect – so congratulations on reaching another important marriage milestone.

According to wedding anniversary traditions, this 15-year celebration is highlighted by a crystal theme. Representative of the deep personal investment a couple have made in their marriage, crystal also symbolises clarity and transparency.

How to Celebrate a 15th Wedding Anniversary

There are many options available for you to commemorate your 15th anniversary in crystal, as numerous cut-glass crystal vases, bowls and glasses are readily available. As this is another hugely significant anniversary, perhaps an ornamental bowl or vase would be the ideal gift option.

Gemstones for the 15th wedding anniversary are traditionally crystal or a modern-day alternative of alexandrite. The latter is an extraordinary stone with chameleon-like qualities – commonly described as being “emerald by day and ruby by night”.  

Both gems can be found in exquisite necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, cufflinks and tie pins – all great gifts to treasure for many years to come.

A Brief History of the Watch

Here are 10 interesting facts about timepieces…

• The first evidence of a physical object being used to keep time dates to the ancient Egyptian era, when a large stone obelisk would be carved and placed in a specific location. The stone’s shadow moved as the sun did, and time was estimated from the length and direction of the shadow.
• Nevertheless, historians believe the Sumerians were the first to actually record time, in 2000 BC, by the same means we measure it today – in segments of 60.
• It was only about 100 years ago that wristwatches started to become a common personal timepiece. Until then, pocket watches were the norm, being first worn in Tudor times – including by Henry VIII. The early models were only single hour markers, with the minute hand not becoming part of a pocket watch until the 17th century.
• The first wristwatches’ main purpose was to decorate women’s wrists, as they did not customarily carry pocket watches. Decades later, men picked up on the trend.
• During World War II, every soldier started to wear a wristwatch for the first time in history, so they could synchronise their attacks effectively.
• After Russia achieved the first human flight into space in 1961 (Yuri Gagarin), their astronauts started wearing Strela watches. Subsequently beating the Russians to the moon (1969), the US equipped its astronauts with Omega Speedmasters.
• When Casio were testing their “nearly indestructible” G-Shock model, which are water-proof to great depths and shock-resistant, they dropped prototypes out of a fourth-storey window.
• Rolex took their Deep Sea Special watch almost 11,000 metres to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, where it reportedly performed flawlessly under immense pressure. Most luxury watches are normally water-resistant “only” up to 100 to 300 metres.
• The most expensive watch sold at auction was US actor Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona, which would normally be valued at $30,000 but went for $17.8 million.
• Watch shops generally display their window timepieces at 10 past 10, known as “happy time” as it resembles a happy face and projects positive connotations for potential clients passing by.

Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one.”
Quoted by: Friedrich Halm

15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him, Her… and the Couple

24 Red Roses –£39.99, Serenata Flowers

The classic flower for a 15th wedding anniversary is the rose, while the traditional colour is ruby red. Both are symbols of love and passion, so a bunch of 15 ruby red roses would make the perfect floral gift.

You could plan a romantic break for just the two of you. Or perhaps arrange a reaffirmation of your wedding vows at a location that has a special meaning, and invite close friends and family to join you. 

Or you might prefer to quietly reflect on your journey together, revisiting your wedding album in the comforts of home with a bottle of Champagne and a bowl of ruby red strawberries.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 15th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Q: What is the 15th wedding anniversary called?
A: The 15th wedding anniversary is popularly celebrated as the Crystal Anniversary.

Q: What is the 15th wedding anniversary gemstone?
A: The 15th wedding anniversary gemstone is rhodolite, which is part of the garnet family and is rose-coloured, although its colour can vary from pink to purplish-violet red.

Q: What is the 15th wedding anniversary symbol?
A: The 15th wedding anniversary symbol is crystal, known for its healing properties.

Q: What is the 15th wedding anniversary colour?
A: The 15th wedding anniversary colour is ruby red, similar to the anniversary gemstone colour – and depicting love and passion.

Q: What are the traditional and modern gifts for a 15th wedding anniversary?
A: The traditional gift for a 15th wedding anniversary is crystal, while the modern gift is a watch.

Q: What is the 15th year anniversary flower?
A: The 15th wedding anniversary flower is a rose, so an attractive bunch of ruby red-coloured roses would be very appropriate for this celebration.

15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him

What should I buy my husband on our 15th wedding anniversary?

A 15-year anniversary gift for him should be both stylish and something that reflects how well you know him.

Looking for more anniversary gift ideas? Check out additional gift suggestions below or on our other anniversary pages.

15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Her

What should I buy my wife on our 15th wedding anniversary?

Gifts for your wife can vary greatly depending on her particular interests and hobbies. They could be either traditional or modern, reflecting how well you now know her and how much you cherish your lives together.

We have more gift suggestions below for your partner, to help you celebrate a memorable 15th wedding anniversary.

15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him & Her

Great Selection of Experience Day Gifts

Travel & Experience Gifts

• Location visit
• Vouchers
• Weekend hotel stay
• Restaurant (a perennial favourite or that special one you have long wanted to try)
• Show or theatre
• Hot air balloon ride
• Spa day for two

 Jewellery

The traditional 15th wedding anniversary gemstone is alexandrite.

• Earrings
• Pendants
• Rings
• Necklace
• Tie Pin
• Cufflinks

Something Different & Unique

• Learn a new craft together or sign up for a course that features a shared interest.
• Visit Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens in Regent’s Park (London).
• Book a holiday to Russia’s Ural Mountains, home to some of the world’s finest alexandrite specimens.
• Arrange a tour of Dartington Crystal in North Devon, the UK’s only remaining glass factory.

Fifteen years together is a significant milestone that warrants a meaningful and reflective celebration. Whatever you decide, and however you choose to celebrate your 15th wedding anniversary, make sure the day is full of romance and many happy hours of shared enjoyment.

Next Anniversaries

16th wedding anniversary
17th wedding anniversary
18th wedding anniversary
19th wedding anniversary
20th wedding anniversary