Anniversary Gifts for Him: A Silk Tie and Cufflinks Pair
Trinh HaiQuick answer: for an anniversary gift for him, choose a woven silk tie with matching cufflinks, because a pair looks chosen for the day. If you are unsure, buy the Blue Jade tie and cufflinks set at $191, or the $142 navy square dot tie if he has no French-cuff shirts. Order about four weeks ahead.
In this guide: What works · Which one · Our pick · Budget · When to skip it · The night itself · The card · Timing · Questions
He says he wants nothing, and he says it every year. You know the other half of that sentence: he would like to be given something anyway, as long as it is not another wallet. Most anniversary gifts for a man fall into two piles: the sentimental thing he keeps in a drawer, and the useful thing that could have come from anyone.
What makes a good anniversary gift for him?
An anniversary gift is about the two of you, so the test is different from a birthday. A good one is something he will use on an ordinary Tuesday and that you chose with him in mind. It should not look smaller than the last one. It does not need to be large. It needs to be specific.
A woven silk tie with matching cufflinks passes that test because it is a pair. He opens the box and sees two things that belong side by side, which is what an anniversary is about.
Our ties are woven jacquard, so the pattern is built into the silk on the loom and is not printed on top. Close up he can see the weave. From across a table it reads as one calm color, which is why it works with the suits and shirts he already owns.
Which silk gift suits which anniversary?
Choose by how long you have been together and how he dresses. Every necktie below is 100% mulberry silk, 3.1 inches (8 cm) wide and 57 inches (145 cm) long.
| Gift | Price | Best for | Where he wears it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven silk tie: square dot, stripe, check, chain | $142 | An early anniversary, or a man who prefers quiet patterns | Dinners, weddings, the office |
| Dragon pattern silk tie (navy, black, crimson, emerald, purple, pink) | $167 | A man who likes a pattern with a story | Days he wants the tie noticed |
| Tie and cufflinks set (blue jade, obsidian, navy dot, emerald) | $191 | A husband who owns French-cuff shirts | Formal dinners and weddings |
| Dragon pattern tie and cufflinks set | $224 | A milestone year when you want the dragon pattern | The days he dresses up |
| 36 inch (90 cm) silk square scarf | $153 | A man who never wears ties | At the neck, under an open collar |
These prices are on our silk necktie collection and our 36 inch silk scarf collection today. Shipping is free over $90.
Does the year of the anniversary change the gift?
Only a little. Traditional lists pair each year with a material, and silk or fine linen marks the twelfth. Our 12th anniversary gift ideas cover that year, and the anniversary gifts by year guide lists the rest. For the other years the pair still works, because the reason to give it is the day itself. This overview of wedding anniversary traditions lists the traditional gift for each year.
How bold should the pattern be?
Match what is already in his closet. A man in navy and gray will wear a fine woven pattern more often than a bold one. A man who already wears color will enjoy the dragon pattern. Our guide to choosing a silk tie covers width, length and pattern.
Which one should you choose if you are unsure?
Our pick is the Blue Jade tie and cufflinks set at $191. The Blue Jade tie is a deep navy with small blue medallions and a few orange diamonds. He will find that detail on the second look, not the first. It goes with white and light blue shirts and with gray and charcoal suits, and it does not depend on a hobby you may have guessed wrong.
If he does not own a shirt with French cuffs, buy the $142 navy square dot tie instead and skip the cufflinks. A gift he cannot wear on the night is worse than a smaller one he can.
What should an anniversary gift for him cost?
Spend what fits the year and your budget. For a first or second anniversary, the $142 tie is plenty. For a tenth or later, the $191 set sits well, and the $224 dragon pattern set is the top of the range.
A higher price does not say you care more. The card does, and so does the detail you noticed. If you want to compare with other choices for the same man, see gifts for husband and luxury gifts for men.
When is a tie the wrong anniversary gift?
A tie is wrong when he left ties behind years ago. If he works in an open collar and has not knotted one by choice, it will go in a drawer and neither of you will mention it. Ask yourself when he last wore a tie because he wanted to. If it was this year, go ahead.
A silk scarf can fill that gap. A 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153 sits at the neck under an open collar. Our guide on how a man can wear a silk scarf shows the neck, pocket and collar styles.
This is also not a gift for every budget. Our ties start at $142. If that is more than you want to spend, a handwritten letter about your year will mean more than a tie you stretched to afford.
What goes with it on the night?
Every Folk Form order includes a gift box, so there is nothing to wrap unless you want to. No price is printed inside the parcel, and the priced invoice goes to your email only. If you add a short message in the Order Notes at checkout, we handwrite it on a branded card at no charge.
Give it in the morning if you can, so he can wear it to dinner. Tell him what you noticed. "I saw how often you reach for navy" is better than any price. For boxes and folds, see the gift wrapping guide.
What can you write on the anniversary card?
One short line is enough. Pick the one that fits the year.
- An early anniversary: "Year one. I would choose you again, and I chose this for you too."
- A long marriage: "Every year I look for something that is only for you. This year it is a pair."
- A milestone: "For the next dinner out, and the one after that."
Leave out the price and the words "you deserve it". A specific line about him reads better.
When should you order so it arrives before the day?
Orders ship from Hanoi. The tie leaves within 1 to 3 business days, and US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after that. That is up to 18 business days, a little under four weeks. Order four weeks out, a few days earlier if you can, and do not count on faster delivery than the stated range.
If the date is closer than that, write the card now and give him the card on the day. A late gift with a good note is better than a rushed one.
If the gift is not right, we offer a gift exchange on orders up to $200, and returns are open for thirty days. For the wider choice of sizes and prints, see our silk scarf gift guide.
Anniversary gift for him: common questions
What is a good anniversary gift for him?
Something he will use and that looks chosen for the day. A woven silk tie with matching cufflinks is a pair, needs no size and shows the weave up close. Sets start at $191 and woven ties at $142.
What should I give for a first anniversary?
Traditional lists name paper for the first year, so a handwritten card with a $142 silk tie follows the tradition and gives him something he can wear. If you want a pair, the $191 set works for any year.
Does he need French cuffs for the cufflinks?
Yes. Cufflinks go through the cuff holes of a French-cuff shirt, or a shirt made with cuff holes. If he does not own one, choose the tie alone. Our guide to French cuffs and cufflinks explains the difference.
Is the tie real silk?
Yes. Our ties are 100% mulberry silk, woven as jacquard.
How early should you order an anniversary gift?
About four weeks before the day. The stated range is up to 18 business days, as the timing section above explains.
Can he exchange it if it is not right?
For orders up to $200 we offer a gift exchange with no return shipping. Orders above $200, such as the $224 dragon pattern set, follow the standard thirty-day return terms.
