16th Anniversary
gemstone: Peridot.
Sixteen years — volcanic fire, cooled to green
Quick answer
The 16th anniversary gemstone is Peridot. The 16th anniversary traditional gift is wax — candles, whose light the Roman-era word honey-moon (from honey wine and a month of it) connects naturally to the sixteenth-year dinner table. Peridot, the modern stone, has the most dramatic origin story in the calendar: it is the gem variety of olivine, the dominant mineral of Earth's upper mantle, carried to the surface by volcanic activity. Some peridot arrives in pallasite meteorites and comet dust — making it one of the very few gems that is also literally from space. The Romans called it the evening emerald because its green holds its brightness under lamplight; Hawaii's tradition names it the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess. At Mohs 6.5-7, peridot is suitable for earrings, pendants, and protected ring settings; its strong double refraction (visible as doubling of back facets under a loupe) is its diagnostic fingerprint. The oldest workings are on Egypt's Zabargad Island in the Red Sea, mined for over three thousand years. Fine 5-carat-plus stones are genuinely rare, with prices jumping significantly above that size.
16th anniversary gift ideas
- ✓Peridot ring or pendant — the volcanic modern stone
- ✓A candle set with peridot accents — the wax tradition
- ✓Peridot earrings — the evening-emerald glow
- ✓A peridot and gold combination — fire and metal
- ✓A large peridot (5ct+) for the sixteenth-year statement
Choose Peridot for your 16th
Every piece below can be personalized with Peridot — the August birthstone and the traditional 16th anniversary stone. Pick the style she wears daily, choose the Peridot stone, and the milestone is marked.
18K Gold Vermeil
Star Birthstone Necklace — All 12 Months
✦ Choose your birth month stone — all 12 months available
925 Sterling Silver
Birthstone Cabochon Ring — Choose Your Month
S925 Sterling Silver
Birthstone Drop Necklace — All 12 Months
✦ Choose your birth month — 12 natural gemstones
S925 Sterling Silver
Zodiac Birthstone Necklace — All 12 Months
16th anniversary FAQ
What is the gemstone for the 16th anniversary?
Peridot is the modern 16th anniversary stone. Wax is the traditional gift.
Does peridot really come from space?
Some of it does — peridot is found in pallasite meteorites and comet dust, making it one of the few gems with an extraterrestrial source. Most peridot is volcanic, brought up from the mantle in basalt.
Why is peridot called the evening emerald?
The Romans noticed that peridot's green stays bright under lamplight and in dim light, unlike emerald which darkens. It makes a fitting sixteenth-anniversary candlelit dinner stone.
Is peridot expensive?
At $50-200 per carat for eye-clean material, peridot is one of the more affordable fine gems. Above 5 carats, clean stones become rare and prices jump significantly.