Anniversary Rings and Eternity Bands: A Guide to Celebrating Milestones with Diamonds
The engagement ring marks the beginning of the story — but it doesn’t have to be the last diamond in it. Anniversary rings and eternity bands have become one of the most meaningful traditions in fine jewellery: a way to mark the years, the milestones, and everything you’ve built together. Here’s a guide to choosing the right piece for the right moment.
What Is an Eternity Band?
An eternity band is a ring set with diamonds all the way around — an unbroken circle of stones symbolizing, quite literally, endless love. A half-eternity band carries diamonds across the top half only, which makes it more comfortable for daily wear, easier to resize, and more affordable, while looking identical from above. Eternity bands are the classic gift for major anniversaries and for the birth of a first child — in that context they’re often called push presents.
Anniversary Ring vs. Eternity Band vs. Stacking Ring
- Anniversary ring — Any ring given to mark an anniversary — often a diamond band, but also three-stone rings (past, present, future) or a ring featuring a meaningful gemstone.
- Eternity band — The full or half circle of diamonds described above — the most traditional milestone choice.
- Stacking ring — A slimmer band designed to sit alongside the engagement ring and wedding band, building a "ring stack" that grows with the marriage. Many couples add one ring per major milestone.
There’s no rule about which finger milestone rings belong on. Many wear them stacked with the wedding set; others wear them on the opposite hand as a standalone statement.
Which Anniversary Calls for Which Ring?
Tradition offers some beautiful anchors: the 10th anniversary is the classic diamond milestone — the most popular moment for a first eternity band. The 20th and 25th often bring a significant upgrade or a second stack ring. The 60th is famously the diamond jubilee. But honestly? The best anniversary for a diamond is the one you decide matters. Plenty of couples celebrate a fifth anniversary, a business milestone, or simply a hard year survived together.
The Other Option: Upgrading the Original
For some couples, the most meaningful milestone gift isn’t a new ring — it’s transforming the original. A centre stone upgrade replaces the diamond with a larger or higher-grade stone while keeping the original setting and all its memories. A resetting does the reverse: keeps the original diamond and gives it a new setting that reflects who you’ve become. At TG Jewellers, we handle both, and we’ll walk you through what your current ring allows before you decide.
A Note for Gift-Givers: How to Get It Right as a Surprise
Buying a ring as a surprise is easier than most spouses fear. You already know their taste — it’s on their hand every day. Match the metal of their existing rings, note whether their style leans classic or modern, and borrow the ring size trick from proposal planning: a ring they already wear, traced or measured. And if you’d rather be certain, a private appointment where we design it together after the reveal is a gift in itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What anniversary do you give a diamond ring?
The 10th anniversary is the traditional diamond milestone, and the 60th is the diamond jubilee — but anniversary rings are given for any year a couple wants to celebrate. The 1st, 5th, 20th and 25th are all popular.
Full eternity or half eternity — which is better?
Half-eternity bands are more practical: more comfortable, resizable and less expensive, while looking the same from above. Full eternity bands offer sparkle from every angle but generally cannot be resized.
Can I wear an anniversary ring with my wedding set?
Yes — stacking is the most popular way to wear one. Choose a band in the same metal as your set for a cohesive look, or deliberately contrast metals for a modern stack.
Celebrate the milestone — explore eternity and anniversary bands at TG Jewellers, #622-736 Granville St, Vancouver, or browse the collection at tgjewellers.com.