Anniversary Gifts - Thirty-Fourth Anniversary
By: Michael Russell
This is the second month where the anniversary gift is another kind of stone. This month it’s opal. If you had trouble with last month’s offering, this month isn’t going to be much easier. Fortunately, we’re here to give you a hand and hopefully pop some ideas into your head that will make for one very happy spouse when this anniversary is over.
For those of you who want to know a little something about opal, before deciding on a gift for the occasion, opal is classified as a mineraloid. The reason for this is that it is not completely crystalline. Aside from the minerals in it, there is also quite a bit of water. The amount of water can be anywhere from 5 to 10%. So, what exactly do they make out of opal?
One of the more common things that people usually have made out of opal is a birthstone necklace. Opal is actually the birthstone for the month of October. So if your anniversary is in the same month as your spouse’s birthday and both are in October, this serves as a double gift. Just don’t forget to get your spouse a birthday gift as well.
Another thing you can get is an opal pendant necklace. These are not cheap. The opal that these are made from usually comes from the Andes Mountains. The chain that the pendant hangs from is about 16 to 18 inches long and made out of 14 carat gold. You can pick one of these up for slightly under $100.
If you have a little more money to spend, you might want to spring for a meanings of friendship necklace. The pendant on this necklace is circular to symbolize the never-ending circle of love and friendship that is around us. The pendant is about a half an inch in diameter and comes on a 16 to 18 inch chain. These little gems go for about $125.
If necklaces aren’t your thing, you might want to get your spouse some opal drop earrings. You can get a handcrafted pair of these from the island of Bali for about $43. They’ll even throw in a Native Leaf Jewelry Bag at no extra charge. They do have other opal earrings from the same island that range in price from $13 to $34 if the drop earrings are a little too expensive for your taste.
One thing you have to understand about opal stones. They are not mined the same way as other stones because they are more delicate, so the miners have to take great care when mining them. So if you spring for something like an opal bracelet, you want to inspect it carefully before taking it home to make sure that it is structurally sound.
If you want something unusual and your spouse is an avid reader, why not get him or her a midnight glass opal bookmark? They’re not too expensive and look very nice. You can pick up one for about $15.
With a little thought, you can get your spouse an opal made anniversary gift that is certain to bring a smile to his or her face.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Anniversary Gifts