21st Anniversary: The Opal Wedding and Its Meaning
21st anniversary · Opal wedding
Twenty one years in one stone
The 21st wedding anniversary is the opal wedding, and it is one of the few anniversaries where the name really explains something. An opal has no colour. It has all of them. Which one you see depends on how the light falls and how you hold it. After twenty one years together, you know fairly precisely what that means.
The anniversary in one sentence: In German speaking countries the 21st wedding anniversary is the opal wedding. It is usually celebrated in a small circle, and the classic gift is a piece of jewellery with a genuine opal. Anyone searching in English will find the opal at the 14th anniversary instead. Both are correct; they are two different lists.
Why the opal of all stones?
Because no other gemstone fits a long marriage so well. A diamond is always the same. It sparkles today as it will in twenty years, colourless and flawless. An opal, by contrast, changes with every step: red where there was green a moment ago, blue in shadow, gold in sunlight.
On top of that: every opal is unique. There are no two alike, not even from the same mine, not even from the same rough piece. An opal cannot be replaced, only found.
A diamond shows that something is hard. An opal shows that something is alive.
Where does the custom of the opal wedding come from?
The names of wedding anniversaries are custom grown over time, not a set of rules. Silver and golden weddings have been documented in German speaking countries since the 19th century. The unbroken list for every single year, in which the 21st also received a name, only came about in the 20th century.
The logic behind it is the same throughout: the longer the marriage, the harder and more precious the material. Paper in the first year, wood after five, silver after twenty five, gold after fifty. The opal sits exactly where everyday materials give way to gemstones. The full order is in our overview of all wedding anniversaries.
Why is it the 14th anniversary in English?
Anyone searching in English quickly comes across a different figure: there the opal counts as the stone for the 14th anniversary. That is not a contradiction but a second list.
21st year: opal wedding. The 14th is called the ivory wedding here. This count is the older one and the one followed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
14th year: opal. Alongside the traditional list there is a more recent version there with modern gifts, in which a gemstone was assigned to every year. The 21st is mostly nickel or brass there.
What do you give for the opal wedding?
The material sets the direction, not the form. An opal can be given as a ring, necklace, earring or bracelet, and depending on what is already worn, something different will fit.
The ring
The most obvious gift, because it sits next to the wedding ring. Anyone already wearing one will welcome a companion ring in the same metal colour.
The necklace
Visible but unobtrusive. A single opal on a fine chain works day to day just as well as for the occasion.
The earrings
Anyone who wears colour close to the face sees it in the mirror every morning. Finding two matching opals is the real art.
The bracelet
The gift for anyone who likes neither rings nor necklaces. It moves along and catches the light anew all the time.
Choosing by metal: opal in gold looks warmer and underlines red and orange shares. Opal in silver makes blue and green tones look cooler and clearer.
What to look for in the opal
An opal is not graded by carat like a diamond. There is no grid that sets the price. Four things decide it almost every time nonetheless.
1. Body tone
The base tone of the stone. The darker it is, the more strongly the colours in front of it glow. That is why black opals are the most expensive.
2. Brilliance
How strong the play of colour is. A washed out opal with a perfect pattern falls behind a lively one with a restless pattern.
3. Construction
Solid opal, doublet or triplet. Only the solid opal consists entirely of opal; the others are glued layers.
4. Proof of origin
With a gift for an anniversary, what counts is that the stone is what it is sold as.
We have written up both subjects in detail: how to spot a real opal shows the five features that reveal a fake, and how much is an opal worth explains how prices come about. Anyone looking for the differences between the constructions will find them under doublet and triplet.
How is the day marked?
The opal wedding is not a big celebration like the silver wedding. It is usually marked in a close circle, often just the two of you. That is precisely what makes it pleasant: no expectations, no guest list, no speeches.
The place matters more than the size
Many couples go back to the place where they married, or eat where they ate on their wedding day.
The gift is handed over, not posted
With a stone that looks different depending on the light, seeing it for the first time is part of the gift.
Order in good time
Anyone looking for a single piece should not wait for the last day. With one off pieces there is no reordering.
What to look for in the stone
When you choose an opal for the opal wedding, look at the play of colour in daylight, not under shop lighting. Tilt the stone and check whether the colours come from several angles or from only one. And decide on a piece that can be worn day to day; a necklace or earrings take more than a ring does. A stone in the cupboard is a reminder of nothing.
Common questions about the opal wedding
What is the 21st wedding anniversary?
The 21st wedding anniversary is the opal wedding. The opal stands for the variety of the shared years, because it shows different colours depending on how the light falls.
Why do English sources say the 14th anniversary?
In English speaking countries there is, alongside the traditional list, a more recent version with modern gifts in which the opal is assigned to the 14th year. German tradition lists the 14th as the ivory wedding and the opal in the 21st year.
What do you give for the opal wedding?
Classically a piece of jewellery with a genuine opal, so a ring, necklace, earrings or bracelet. Since every opal is unique, it suits an anniversary particularly well.
Is an opal suitable for everyday wear?
Yes, with a little consideration. Opal is softer than diamond or sapphire and dislikes sharp changes in temperature and chemicals.
Which opal colour suits which metal?
Red and orange shares look warmer in yellow or rose gold, blue and green clearer in silver or white gold. In the end what decides it is what the person receiving it otherwise wears.
How do I know whether the opal is genuine?
At the side edge you can see whether the stone consists of one layer or is glued, and a genuine opal shows a travelling play of colour as you tilt it rather than a fixed pattern. Proof of origin belongs with a gift of this scale.
If you have not yet decided what kind of jewellery it should be: under gift ideas there is a smaller selection, and in the opal lexicon you will find an article on every type of opal.
If you are unsure or have questions, you are welcome to contact us at any time, even if you did not buy the opal from us. Contact form, email cs@libertyangels.de or call +49 171 1603048.
Verified authenticity
by Liberty Angels
Only natural, genuine opals. Each certificate is linked online to your order, so it is tamper-proof.
Written by Anton Kehler
Gründer FAERELLI & Liberty Angels
