What is the traditional gift for a 40th wedding anniversary?

Ruby. The 40th is the ruby wedding anniversary, and UK lists give ruby as both the traditional and the modern theme. A real ruby is lovely but not required: anything red, a keepsake engraved with 40, or a gift presented with red roses honours the theme just as well.

What do you buy a couple for their ruby wedding anniversary?

Couples married forty years rarely need things, so aim for shared experiences and keepsakes. A date night game, a personalised family plaque or a scrapbook of their forty years all suit a couple, and each can be given jointly by children or friends.

How much should you spend on a ruby wedding gift?

There is no rule. As a guest, £15 to £40 is typical for a thoughtful keepsake. Children often club together for something larger, such as a handmade sculpture or a weekend away. Personal meaning matters far more than price at a 40th.

What colour is the 40th wedding anniversary?

Red. The ruby's deep red is the colour of the 40th, so red roses, red ribbon, ruby wine or port and red table flowers are all popular ways to carry the theme through a party or a gift.

Can I get a ruby wedding gift delivered quickly in the UK?

Yes. Everything in our 40th anniversary collection is handmade in our Cornwall workshop and dispatched with 1 to 3 day UK delivery, so there is usually time even if the date has crept up. Personalised pieces are made to order, so allow a little extra.

What gemstone and flower go with the ruby anniversary?

The gemstone is ruby. There is no single agreed flower for the 40th: red roses are the most popular choice because they match the ruby theme, while some lists suggest gladioli or nasturtiums instead.

Ruby Wedding Anniversary Gifts | 40th Buying Guide UK

The 40th wedding anniversary is the ruby wedding, and ruby is both the traditional and the modern theme. This guide rounds up ruby wedding anniversary gifts that feel personal after forty years of marriage, with presents for her, for him and for the couple together, real prices, and practical advice on choosing, budgeting and marking the day.

At a glance: the 40th anniversary

Name: Ruby wedding anniversary
Traditional gift: Ruby
Modern gift: Ruby
Colour: Deep red
Gemstone: Ruby
Flower: No single agreed flower – red roses are the popular choice (some lists give gladioli or nasturtiums)

The best ruby wedding anniversary gifts to buy

Every piece below comes from our 40th anniversary gifts collection and is handmade in our Cornwall workshop. Prices are correct at the time of writing; click through for the latest.

Ruby wedding gifts for her

Jewellery is the classic ruby wedding present for a wife, and it does not have to carry a ruby to feel right. The rustic I Love You To The Moon And Back necklace (£44.84) is a hand-finished pendant with a message that still lands after four decades. For something she can keep on show rather than wear, the solid cast metal rose (£32.19) is a red rose that never wilts – a neat nod to the ruby colour and a good choice if she has always been given flowers on the day.

Ruby wedding gifts for him

Men are notoriously hard to buy for at forty years. The polished square tin cufflinks engraved with 40 (£35.64) are a practical gift he will actually wear to the anniversary dinner, and the engraved number makes them a keepsake of the year rather than just another pair. For a lighter touch, the Him or Her coin (£10.34) settles who makes the tea or picks the film, and makes a good stocking filler alongside a bigger present.

Ruby wedding gifts for the couple

If you are a son, daughter or friend buying for both of them, choose something they share. The Fortieth Anniversary Date Night Decider Dice (£19.54) turn a quiet evening into a small adventure. The personalised family wall plaque (£22.99) carries the names of the whole family, and the 40 Year of Memories scrapbook (£24.14) is a ready-made home for photos gathered from relatives before the party. For a larger joint gift, the I Love You This Much figure (£77.04) is a handmade sculpture made to order.

I Love You To The Moon And Back Necklace£44.84

Solid Cast Metal Rose – Everlasting Love£32.19

Polished Square Tin Cufflinks with '40' Engraved£35.64

Him or Her Coin – Who's Turn Is It?£10.34

Fortieth Anniversary Date Night Decider Dice£19.54

Personalised Family Wall Plaque£22.99

40 Year of Memories Scrapbook£24.14

I Love You This Much Figure£77.04

Why is the 40th called the ruby anniversary?

The ruby is one of the hardest gemstones on earth – 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond – and its deep red colour has long stood for passion and a love that has lasted. Both qualities suit forty years of marriage: a relationship that has been tested and has grown stronger rather than worn thin. In the UK the ruby theme is the same on the traditional and modern lists, so you will not find a competing modern material to worry about. That also means you have plenty of room to interpret it: a real ruby, anything in ruby red, or simply a gift that marks the number 40.

Traditional and modern ruby wedding gifts

People often search for the 40th anniversary gift "traditional and modern" – or modern and traditional – expecting two different answers. For the 40th, both are ruby. Traditional ideas lean on the stone itself: ruby jewellery, ruby-set cufflinks or a piece of red glass or crystal. Modern ideas take the theme more loosely: experiences such as a dinner out or a weekend away, personalised keepsakes engraved with 40, family photo books, and handmade pieces with the couple's names. Mixing the two works well – a modest traditional gift for the day itself, with something personal from the family at the party.

How much to spend on a ruby wedding present

There is no etiquette rule, and after forty years most couples would rather have something thoughtful than something expensive. As a rough guide, guests at a ruby wedding party usually spend £15 to £40 on a keepsake or card-and-gift. Close family often spend more, and children frequently club together for one bigger present – a sculpture, a framed family piece or a short break. If you are buying for your own husband or wife, let the story behind the gift carry the weight, not the price tag.

Ideas for celebrating a ruby wedding

A ruby wedding is often the first milestone that children organise for their parents. Popular ideas include a family meal or garden party with red flowers and ruby wine, recreating a photo from the wedding day, collecting messages from guests who were there forty years ago, and a short trip back to where the couple married or honeymooned. For more ways to mark the day, see our guide to marking an anniversary milestone, and if you are also planning for other years, the full list of anniversary gifts by year covers every one.

Other milestone anniversaries

Buying for a different milestone? The 35th coral and jade anniversary gifts come five years before the ruby wedding, and the 45th sapphire anniversary gifts five years after. Looking further ahead, our golden wedding anniversary gift guide covers the 50th, and our anniversary gift ideas article has inspiration for any year.

Shop ruby wedding anniversary gifts

Forty years deserves something made with care. Browse the full range of ruby wedding anniversary gifts – every piece handmade in Cornwall, with 1 to 3 day UK delivery and 14-day returns.

Frequently asked questions

What is the traditional gift for a 40th wedding anniversary?: Ruby. The 40th is the ruby wedding anniversary, and UK lists give ruby as both the traditional and the modern theme. A real ruby is lovely but not required: anything red, a keepsake engraved with 40, or a gift presented with red roses honours the theme just as well.
What do you buy a couple for their ruby wedding anniversary?: Couples married forty years rarely need things, so aim for shared experiences and keepsakes. A date night game, a personalised family plaque or a scrapbook of their forty years all suit a couple, and each can be given jointly by children or friends.
How much should you spend on a ruby wedding gift?: There is no rule. As a guest, £15 to £40 is typical for a thoughtful keepsake. Children often club together for something larger, such as a handmade sculpture or a weekend away. Personal meaning matters far more than price at a 40th.
What colour is the 40th wedding anniversary?: Red. The ruby's deep red is the colour of the 40th, so red roses, red ribbon, ruby wine or port and red table flowers are all popular ways to carry the theme through a party or a gift.
Can I get a ruby wedding gift delivered quickly in the UK?: Yes. Everything in our 40th anniversary collection is handmade in our Cornwall workshop and dispatched with 1 to 3 day UK delivery, so there is usually time even if the date has crept up. Personalised pieces are made to order, so allow a little extra.
What gemstone and flower go with the ruby anniversary?: The gemstone is ruby. There is no single agreed flower for the 40th: red roses are the most popular choice because they match the ruby theme, while some lists suggest gladioli or nasturtiums instead.

Ruby Wedding Anniversary Gifts: A 40th Anniversary Buying Guide