For the Perfect 30 Year Anniversary Gift – Make it Pearls

The traditional way to celebrate a 30 year anniversary is with a gift of pearls. Or if you’d prefer to take a more modern route then diamonds are another option definitely worthy of serious consideration. Wondering why pearls were chosen as 30 year wedding anniversary gifts? Possibly because of their rarity. Years ago, when symbols first became associated with wedding anniversaries, a 30 year wedding anniversary was a rare occasion. People didn’t live as long as they do nowadays, so living together as a married couple for 3 decades was quite unusual. We live much longer nowadays, but reaching the milestone of 30 years of married life is nevertheless still a rare occasion. With as many as 50% of marriages now ending divorce it’s easy to understand why.

30 Year Anniversary Gifts Ideas

How Pearls are Created

Pearls are formed inside the shells of certain molluscs. They are formed as a result of the mollusc protecting itself against a foreign substance that has found its way into their shell. Oyster shells are the usual place to find a pearl, but clams and mussels produce pearls too, but it is even rarer. Oysters are bivalves, which simply means that there are two parts, or valves, that make up their shell. As the oysters grow, their mantle produces the shell using minerals from their food. Nacre is the material that is created by the mantle, and it lines the inside of the shell. When a foreign substance finds its way in between the shell and the mantle it starts to irritate, much like a splinter would in your finger. The oysters natural reaction is to try and cover up the irritant and protect itself. The mantle produces nacre which covers up the irritant and eventually forms into a pearl.
Many of the pearls you find in a jewelry shop are perfectly round, but the process doesn’t always result in perfect spheres. Baroque pearls is the name given to these misshapen pearls. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors, blue, green, red, white, gray and black. Black pearls are most commonly found only in the South Pacific, but the other colors can be found all over the world.

Natural or Cultured?

Oysters are able to form pearls inside their shells as a natural protective process, but finding them can be rather random. Hundreds if not thousands, may need to be opened up to discover whether there is a pearl inside, which is why humans have decided to get involved. Cultured pearls occur when the oyster is given a bit of a nudge. Pearl harvesters will open up the shell of an oyster, and make a small cut in the mantle tissue. Small items are then inserted under the mantle to prompt the oyster into producing a pearl. Freshwater cultured pearls don’t need to have anything inserted, as a simple cut in the mantle is enough to induce the secretion of nacre and formation of a pearl.
Cultured and natural pearls are considered to have the same value, but cultured pearls are usually much cheaper to buy, as they are far less rare.

30 Year Anniversary Gifts for Parents

Jewelry is the most obvious 30 year anniversary gift, but earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are not always what you’d want to give to your parents. So maybe a Mother of Pearl bowl, vase or figurine might be more appropriate. Or you might want to look for a personalised gift, that doesn’t feature pearls at all. Glasses, picture frames, scrapbooks, photo albums, gift hampers, and even personalised bottles of wine.

30 Year Anniversary Gift for Her

A string of beautiful pearls would be an excellent gift to give to your wife. Their beauty is timeless, and they give the wearer a feeling of elegance and grandeur. Cultured or natural will of course depend on your bank balance, but both will be equally well received. A string of black pearls would cost a king’s ransom, but are sure to make your wife feel like one in a million. Before the days of cultured pearls, this kind of gift was only for royalty.
Cultured pearls have made this gift much more affordable for the average Joe, and the range of styles available, make it a very reasonably priced 30 year anniversary gift for her.

30 Year Anniversary Gift for Him

So what can you get for the man in your life, when you’ll soon be celebrating your 30 year wedding anniversary? Jewelry is an obvious answer, especially if you’re looking to buy something made from diamonds. Pearls may not be quite such an easy gift to find, but you can get pearls on cufflinks, tie pins, and watches made from mother of pearl.

Diamonds or Emeralds – a Good Way to Say Happy 30th Anniversary

When it comes to giving gifts for a 30th wedding anniversary, you won’t go far wrong with the gift of an emerald or a diamond. Whether it’s for him or for her, giving a gemstone to commemorate such an important occasion is a really fab idea. Diamonds have traditionally been associated with a 60th wedding anniversary, but modern gift lists include it when you reached half way too. Buying diamonds for an anniversary gift, means they will last forever, and there are some stunning pieces to choose from. Matching diamond rings, watches or a pair of matching earrings for her, and cufflinks for him. And if finances were a little tight all those moons ago when you proposed to her, buy her a diamond engagement ring now. Better late than never, is that what they say?
Diamonds, pearls, and emeralds… what a fantastic list to choose from when it comes to special wedding anniversary gifts, whoever you might be buying them for. But always remember that it’s not the cost that’s most important. It’s the simple fact that your gift came from the heart. Giving gifts is a vital part of keeping your relationship strong, and will ensure that there are many more happy and enjoyable years to come.