Anniversary Gifts by Year: Traditional, Modern and Silk
Minchu NguyenQuick answer: the US anniversary list gives each year a material, such as paper for year 1 and silver for year 25. Silk is the traditional material for only one year, the 12th. If you are unsure, give a 36 inch (90 cm) silk scarf ($153) with a handwritten card that names the year.
In this guide: What the lists say · Gifts by year · Which size · Our pick · What to avoid · Presentation · What to write on the card · Order-by date and delivery · FAQ
Your tenth anniversary is coming up, you typed "10th anniversary gift" into the search bar, and the answer says tin or aluminum. That is not a gift you can picture handing over. You want something that says ten years without looking like you tried too hard, or too little. The list is a place to start, not a rule, and what your partner remembers is how well the gift fits the two of you.
What do the traditional and modern anniversary lists say?
The traditional list is the older of the two. It gives each year a material that grows more durable as the marriage does, from paper in year 1 to gold in year 50. The modern list replaced some of those materials with gifts that are easier to buy, such as a clock for year 1 and diamond jewelry for year 10. You will find small differences between sources, since the lists were never set by one authority. The table below follows a published guide to anniversary gifts by year.
The lists answer "what material", not "what would they like". A useful way to read them is to pick one idea from the year's list that you can say out loud on a card, then choose a gift they will use. Silk is the exception: it is the traditional material for the 12th year, so the match is direct, as our guide to 12th anniversary gifts in silk and linen shows.
Which gift suits which anniversary year?
The table gives the traditional and modern gift for the milestone years people search for most, and the Folk Form piece we would pair with each. Prices are our store prices as of October 2026. US shipping is free from $90, and orders under that carry a flat $20 fee.
| Year | Traditional | Modern | What we would give |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Clock | 22 in (55 cm) silk scarf, $75, with a handwritten paper card as the "paper" |
| 5th | Wood | Silverware | 26 in (65 cm) silk scarf, $97 |
| 10th | Tin or aluminum | Diamond jewelry | 36 in (90 cm) silk scarf, $153 |
| 12th | Silk or linen | Pearls | 36 in (90 cm) Lotus Serenade scarf, $153, or a woven silk tie from $142 |
| 15th | Crystal | Watches | 36 in (90 cm) silk scarf, $153 |
| 20th | China | Platinum | 36 in (90 cm) or 44 in (110 cm) silk scarf, $153 or $197 |
| 25th | Silver | Silver | 44 in (110 cm) silk scarf, $197, with a one-line card |
| 30th | Pearl | Diamond | 36 in (90 cm) silk scarf, $153 |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby | 44 in (110 cm) silk scarf, $197 |
| 50th | Gold | Gold | 44 in (110 cm) silk scarf, $197, boxed with a handwritten card |
Only the 12th year names silk. For the other years the scarf is not the traditional material, so tell the person what it stands for in the card instead of claiming a match. A mandarin duck print speaks about a marriage in every year, and the card carries the number.
Why a mandarin duck print for an anniversary?
The Lotus Serenade print shows a pair of mandarin ducks beside an open lotus. In the Ly and Tran era of Vietnam the pair stood for enduring love and a harmonious marriage. Where our dragon and phoenix prints are drawn around one figure, this print is drawn around a pair. It comes in green and pink, brown and blue, and brown and pink. The Mandarin Duck wedding gift guide tells its story in full.
Which size should you choose?
Start from the year, then adjust for how the person you are buying for dresses. The bigger the number, the more room the gift has to be seen. A 36 inch scarf weighs about 56 g (2 oz), an estimate from our product specifications, so any of these folds flat and ships in its gift box.
| Option | Price | Best for | How it is worn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk twilly, 2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm) | $57 | A small token on top of another gift | Bag handle, wrist, ponytail |
| Silk scarf, 22 in (55 cm) square | $75 | An early anniversary, or a gift to a friend couple | Headband, bag bow, small neck knot |
| Silk scarf, 26 in (65 cm) square | $97 | Years 5 to 10, easy to wear every week | Hair, neck, bag |
| Large square, 36 in (90 cm) | $153 | Our pick if you are unsure | Neck, shoulders, belt, over the hair |
| Oversized square, 44 in (110 cm) | $197 | A major milestone: 20, 25, 40, 50 | Shawl over the shoulders, tied at the waist |
See all the sizes in our silk scarf collection, or browse the Lotus Serenade silk scarves and our anniversary gifts in silk. The silk scarf size guide explains what each size is best for. If the year is not on this list, choose the 36 inch.
What is a good anniversary gift for him?
A woven silk tie. Every Folk Form tie is 100% mulberry silk jacquard, with the pattern built from the threads. Jacquard ties in dots, stripes and other geometric weaves are $142, the woven dragon tie is $167 and tie and cufflink sets are $191. Cufflinks need a shirt with double (French) cuffs; if you are unsure he owns one, give the tie alone. See the full silk necktie collection, and read how to choose a silk tie for width and length.
Which anniversary gift do we suggest if you are unsure?
Our pick is the 36 inch (90 cm) Lotus Serenade silk scarf at $153, in its gift box, with a card in your own words. It is the most flexible size: she can tie it over her hair, fold it into a neck scarf for dinner or drape it over a coat the following week. It works for year 10, year 15 or year 30, and the card tells her which. The guide to wearing a 36 inch silk scarf shows six ways to wear it. View it on the green and pink Lotus Serenade page.
When is a silk scarf the wrong anniversary gift?
A scarf is wrong if she never wears accessories. If she does not tie anything in her hair or on her bag, the scarf will wait in a drawer. Ask yourself whether you have ever seen her in a scarf, a headband or a bag charm. If yes, go ahead. If no, give her something she uses at home and put your effort into the card.
It is also wrong for an anniversary that carries a hard memory. A marriage motif lands badly if the year has been difficult; the Phoenix Dance print is about her alone and is the safer choice.
It is not a gift for every budget. Our silk pieces start at $57 for a twilly and the scarves from $75. If that is more than you planned, a long handwritten letter with a smaller gift says more than a purchase that strains the budget.
How should you present it?
Most people give it at a quiet moment rather than in front of guests; the story card then does the talking. Every Folk Form scarf arrives in a rigid gift box with a printed story card naming the print, so the first thing she sees is the story, not a price. A small silk swatch is included; real silk burns like hair and leaves a soft black ash, while polyester melts into hard beads, so she can check for herself if she likes.
The guide to wrapping a silk scarf as a gift covers folds and boxes, and the gift bag and box sets are a ready-made option. For ideas beyond an anniversary, see our guide to silk gifts for your wife.
What should you write on the anniversary card?
Write one or two lines and name something specific. A short line with the number of years often says more than a long one. Choose the one that fits.
- Any year: "Still glad it is you."
- A milestone (10th, 25th, 50th): "Twenty-five years. Thank you for every one of them."
- After a hard year: "We made it through this one together. Here is to the next."
Leave out the price. You can add the message in the Order Notes at checkout, and we handwrite it on a branded card at no charge. We never put prices inside the parcel.
When should you order, and how long does delivery take?
Orders ship from Hanoi. A piece leaves within 1 to 3 business days, and US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after that, so plan for up to 18 business days in total. For an anniversary gift, order about four weeks before the date. We pay the US import duty, so nothing is collected at the door. That range is what we can promise, so build your date around it.
If the gift is not right, we offer a gift exchange on US orders up to $200, and returns are open for thirty days. The silk scarf gift guide covers more recipients.
Whichever year you are marking, the safe size sits in the middle of that table. The 36 inch squares are $153, ship free with the import duty already paid, and cost 5% less at checkout with BLOG5.
Frequently asked questions
What are anniversary gifts by year?
A long-standing US list gives each wedding anniversary a traditional material, such as paper for year 1, silk or linen for year 12 and silver for year 25. A second, modern list assigns different gifts, such as a clock for year 1 and pearls for year 12. Lists differ slightly by source, so treat them as a prompt, not a rule.
What is the traditional gift for a 12th anniversary?
Silk or linen. The 12th year is the one year where silk is the traditional material (the list pairs it with linen), which makes a silk scarf or tie a fitting gift. Our guide to 12th anniversary gifts covers silk and linen for her and for him.
Can you give silk for an anniversary that is not the 12th?
Yes. Silk is the traditional material only for the 12th year, so use the list as a conversation starter and let the card carry the year. A scarf with a motif about marriage, such as Lotus Serenade, suits any milestone.
What is a good anniversary gift for her?
A silk scarf she can wear in different ways. Our pick is the 36 inch (90 cm) square, because it ties at the neck, in the hair or over the shoulders. For a 25th, 40th or 50th, the 44 inch (110 cm) square shows the whole drawing.
What is a good anniversary gift for him?
A woven silk tie. Folk Form ties are 100% mulberry silk jacquard, from $142, and the woven dragon tie is $167. If he rarely wears a tie, a handwritten card and a different gift is better than a tie that stays in the drawer.
How far ahead should you order an anniversary gift?
Order about four weeks before the date. A piece ships from Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after dispatch, so plan for up to 18 business days in total.
Is the scarf real silk?
Yes. Our scarves are 100% mulberry silk with hand-rolled edges, and each one includes a small swatch for a home burn test.
