Tom Austin
There are many milestones in life – family, career, education – but there are also centuries-old traditions. The custom of celebrating wedding anniversaries dates back to ancient Rome, but it wasn’t until a little later, during the Victorian era, that the practice of celebrating wedding anniversaries with symbolic gifts began to spread. Over time, this was standardized to its current form, where we celebrate the first year, then every five years until the 30th year, and then every decade thereafter if we’re lucky. The good news for us watch lovers is that we can celebrate these milestones with something special, and there are plenty of watches that fit the bill perfectly. Let’s take a look at them.
1 year – Paper – Baltic Aquascarf Classic White
The threads woven into the paper symbolize a blank slate, signaling the beginning of something new, clean and fresh. As married people, we know that the first year can be quite tough financially, so we start at the lower end of the market with a classic watch from Baltic. The Aquascarf Classic White is a modern diver watch with all the trimmings, with vintage appeal and easy on the wallet. Importantly, it features a very significant white dial with a grainy texture reminiscent of paper. Baltic is known for experimenting with cool dial textures, and the Aquascarf is no exception, being an example of this fine texture.
With a 39mm 316L stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating sapphire bezel, double-domed sapphire crystal, and screw-down crown, it’s water resistant to 200m and has all the elements you’d want in a great diver’s watch. It also exudes vintage cool thanks to the small indices on the bezel and the large lume plots on the dial. At $643, it’s also a great buy and won’t be too tough to wear in the first year.
5 Years – Wood – Ralph Lauren 42 MM Chronograph Steel Wood Bezel
Five years later, wood is next. Wood represents strength, wisdom, and deep roots. That said, five years can sometimes feel like two these days. Now, when it comes to new wooden watches, your options are a bit limited, so today, we present to you the Ralph Lauren 42 MM Chronograph in steel with a wooden bezel. You could buy a full wooden watch on Amazon, but thankfully, it’s not 2006 anymore. Or, you could go ultra-luxury, but since this is still only the second item on this list, we’ll have to leave that story for last. This isn’t Ralph Lauren’s first attempt at using wood as a material, but it’s probably one of the most visually appealing in the company’s lineup, especially for those who like larger watches.
It’s made of 42mm stainless steel with huge swan-neck lugs that are connected to a chunky steel bracelet. Inside is an automatic RL650 movement that can be seen through the sapphire caseback. The large black dial features beige printed hour markers and white chronograph subdials. As for the chronograph, it’s a well-laid out watch that is easy to see and read. Finally, the watch is finished off with an Ambonam burl wood bezel, which is a unique feature and actually, I think it pairs very well with the preppy Ralph Lauren look.
If your budget allows, wooden dial Rolexes are also worth a mention. These vintage examples are a bit harder to come by and seem to be becoming increasingly rare, but if you’re looking for a true luxury watch with a wooden theme, they’re a great option.
10 Year – Tin – Christopher Ward Twelve Titanium
Tin is not a metal often used in watches. You have to think a little outside the box in this regard, as it can become quite brittle, especially in the cold. For anniversaries, tin represents durability and strength, which is highly desired in most cases for a decade of marriage. However, equally strong and durable is titanium. So, for this pick, we go with the Christopher Ward Twelve, made from titanium.
The Twelve was released with great fanfare in 2023 as an affordable, stylish timepiece in line with the recent trend for integrated bracelet watches. Christopher Ward then branched out and introduced this ultra-lightweight titanium version. At 40mm wide and 8.95mm thick, it’s a moderately sized, relatively thin sports watch with finely brushed and polished surfaces and an eye-catching design that makes it look much more expensive than it actually is. This is especially true when you look a little more closely at the details, such as the astral blue pyramid relief pattern on the dial.
15 Year – Cristal – Baume & Mercier Riviera
Crystal, unlike diamonds, can sometimes be delicate. That goes for the sapphire crystal used in many modern watches. Don’t ask me what happens when you try to hang the watch on a doorknob… So the crystal on my 15th anniversary will be a reminder to nurture and care for the relationship so that it doesn’t fall apart. You could choose almost any watch for this purpose, but I wanted to choose the Baume & Mercier Riviera, which has a little more sapphire crystal.
The Riviera features a smoky blue transparent sapphire crystal dial that offers a glimpse into the inner workings and is unique in appearance. Another integrated bracelet sports watch, the Riviera is available in 39 or 42mm and made from stainless steel with interchangeable rubber straps or link bracelets. The watch is finished with a dodecagonal brushed steel bezel, giving it a stylish and sophisticated look.
20 years – China – Atelier Wen Porcelain Odyssey Hao
I’ve been married for 20 years, and while marriage can be fragile, it can also last a lifetime if you take good care of it. So China is the perfect symbol for this. I went a little bold and chose the Atelier Wen Porcelain Odyssey Hao, a Chinese-made watch with a porcelain dial. There’s something about a porcelain dial that evokes high-end luxury and craftsmanship, and that’s exactly what Atelier Wen watches are like.
Atelier Wen is a relatively new watch brand, but has made a huge mark on the Euro-centric watch market over the past few years. They’ve shown the world that Chinese watchmaking can be sophisticated and exquisite, and the Porcelain Odyssey Hao is a great example of this. Drawing inspiration from vintage French and Swiss watches as well as the famous Tsinghua porcelain, the watches exude classical appeal and are affordable and accessible, despite their highly detailed dials.
25 Years – Silver – Tudor Black Bay 58 925
Silver is truly an underrated material for modern watches. Although it lasts longer than gold, lasting 25 years, silver represents the permanence of marriage, a tradition that dates back to Roman times, when husbands presented their wives with silver wreaths to celebrate 25 years of marriage. Because of this, there was one obvious choice here: the Tudor Black Bay 58 925.
Firstly, and to add a bit more, this is the 39mm Tudor Black Bay 58, one of the most robust and vintage-inspired diver watches on the market today. It has all the essential features a diver needs, with attention to detail and the great quality you expect from Tudor. But most notably, what makes this watch stand out is the solid silver case with beveled, satin-finished edges, paired with a taupe dial and rotating bezel. These colours are unique to the silver model, and honestly, as the silver patinas over time, the combination looks absolutely stunning.
30 Years – Pearl – Rolex Daytona 126579RBR
Now, things are getting serious. Thirty years calls for a strong watch. First, mother-of-pearl is a symbol of love, wisdom, purity, and time, since some pearls take a long time to grow. That’s why I chose the Daytona 126579RBR with a mother-of-pearl dial, a new addition to the Rolex catalog for 2024.
The Rolex Daytona is considered a workhorse by many and needs little introduction. The latest version is made in white gold and comes with a solid white gold Oyster bracelet or a rubber Oysterflex. Rolex’s chronograph cases have recently been updated to a slightly larger, more wearable size. This particular model has diamonds set into the bezel. This makes the chronograph hands a bit redundant, but it’s a very nice look considering Rolex’s reputation for gem setting at the factory. Each mother-of-pearl dial is completely unique, making each watch very rare indeed, with some dials darker than others and with a pearlescent shine. This is certainly a statement piece worthy of a 30th wedding anniversary.
40 Years – Ruby – Cartier Santos-Dumont Rewind
Ruby has been the stone of choice for 40 years, representing passion, loyalty and dedication, and it’s hard to think of a watch brand that evokes passion more than Cartier, which is why Cartier’s latest creation, the Santos-Dumont Rewind, is the perfect choice in every sense of the word.
At first glance, it just looks like a red Santos-Dumont, but look closely and you’ll notice a novel change to the dial, with the Roman numerals moving in the opposite direction. And after a moment, you’ll notice that the actual hands move in the opposite direction as well. Activating the reverse gear to make the watch move backwards is one of those unique quirks that just screams “because I can!” It’s not overly complicated, but it’s sure to be a talking point. This platinum watch is of course finished with a red carnelian stone dial, but the key is the red ruby cabochon on the crown, making it the perfect passionate piece to mark the 40th anniversary.
50 Years – Gold – Rolex Day-Date
A half century, or 50 years, is a significant milestone and you need a significant watch to commemorate it. By this stage in your life, you’re ready to hit the major leagues and you need a watch that represents prosperity, strength, and more. Coincidentally, that’s exactly what gold symbolizes for a 50th anniversary. And there’s only one watch that’s fitting for this occasion: the yellow gold Rolex Day-Date.
Introduced in 1956, the Day-Date is one of the most iconic Rolex models in history, worn by the Dalai Lama, Michael Jordan, Tony Soprano, and of course many US presidents. It remains largely unchanged to this day, apart from some interesting dial variations. It remains in 36mm size, with the classic fluted bezel and, most importantly, the Presidential bracelet. Arguably the greatest gold watch of all time, the Rolex Day-Date has become synonymous with success, longevity, and undeniable prestige.
60 Years – Diamonds – Rexhep Chronometer Contempoline II Diamant
Turning 60 is a big milestone many of us only hope to reach, and it’s traditionally celebrated with diamonds. Representing strength, brilliance, and unbreakable bonds, diamonds shine brightly on many watches, but one that stands out as a special timepiece fit for this special occasion is the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporain II Diamant.
Diamond-adorned watches can sometimes be overdone, but not the Chronometre Contemporain II Diamant. A formal, time-only dress watch, first launched in 2022 without diamonds and with Roman numerals, it was created by independent genius Rexhep Rexhepi. The diamond-adorned dial is made of solid gold and finished in a deep black with baked enamel. Set in a 38mm platinum case, it was created with the help of the legendary Jean-Pierre Hagman. It features a finely finished movement with double barrels and twin trains, one for the hours and one for the deadbeat seconds, all with beautiful angles and Côtes de Genève finishing. Extremely limited in numbers and especially hard to find, Rexhep Rexhepi’s Chronometre Contemporain II Diamant is a watch that perfectly captures modern watchmaking while incorporating authentic craftsmanship while retaining a timeless, classic appeal.
